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There has been a succession of CEOs since time immemorial.

Conde Nast's chairman Si Newhouse, on Conde's relatively new president and CEO, Charles Townsend, successor to the "legendary and flamboyant" Steve Florio. Much like the recent trope categorizing the blogosphere as the Wild West — and just in time for "Talk Like a Pirate Day" — Florio is described as a "pirate captain" who ran Conde Nast as "a very swashbuckling sort of an organization." Arrr! Of course, others say he ran the company like "a high school"; Townsend diplomatically calls that era a "very emotionally charged environment." Just like high school! Or a pirate ship. No matter your metaphor, remember that Si Newhouse endures, always waiting, seeing all who have been and all who are still to come.

Charles Townsend's Cooler, Calmer Conde Nast [Ad Age]