Angie’s List exec takes over as interim CEO as Oesterle exits
Longtime Angie’s List Inc. CEO Bill Oesterle has officially resigned from the company while COO Mark Howell takes the reins during the search for a permanent successor.
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Familiar culprit holds up Anthem-Cigna merger
Anthem Inc.’s proposed $47 billion buyout of Cigna Corp. is the latest example of corporate deals that get hung up over executive egos and turf battles. For example, Anthem CEO Joe Swedish wants to lead the merged firm, to the chagrin of Cigna’s CEO.
Indiana’s top power provider appoints new president
Duke Energy Indiana has filled its president’s position from within, elevating Melody Birmingham-Byrd to the electricity provider’s top spot.
Oesterle could follow Angie’s List exit with gubernatorial run
Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle, a Mitch Daniels confidant who strongly opposed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is well-positioned for a run at Gov. Mike Pence’s seat, observers said Wednesday.
Local Goodwill hires from within for new CEO
After a national search, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana Inc. has named its own chief operating officer to succeed CEO Jim McClelland, who has held the job for 41 years.
Ambitious Browning stayed for civic work
Michael Browning never envisioned he’d still be in Indianapolis after arriving nearly 40 years ago from South Bend. But the Detroit native and University of Notre Dame grad bought a business here and became one of the city’s biggest developers.
Shareholder coup of Steak n Shake parent firm fails
A Minnesota-based investment group that for months has been waging a campaign to oust Sardar Biglari from atop Steak n Shake’s parent company weathered a resounding defeat Thursday afternoon.
Growing Bluebridge lands new investment, Dorsey’s attention
Mobile-app developer Bluebridge Digital is moving to bigger offices, adding employees, and including ExactTarget co-founder Scott Dorsey as an investor.
Dorsey takes chairman’s seat at TinderBox
Former ExactTarget CEO Scott Dorsey will help steer the growth of local sales-software firm TinderBox.
HHGregg snags new exec from New York chain
The appliance and electronics retailer has hired its fourth chief merchandising officer in about three years, snagging a veteran executive who will move on from a much smaller chain.
Steak n Shake profit falls as franchised restaurants grow
The Indianapolis-based burger chain’s smaller annual profit resulted from an ongoing effort to increase the company’s number of franchised restaurants, with plans to open units as far away as the Middle East.
Lawyers branch out as business execs, entrepreneurs
Sometimes attorneys aren’t completely satisfied with their high-pressure day jobs. Many start unrelated businesses like bakeries, vineyards, breweries and clothiers as an escape, or even a new career.
UPDATE: Angie’s suitors could include Amazon, Yelp, IAC
Amazon has been developing its own local services marketplace. Yelp is the leading consumer-review service in the retail space. Website Holding company IAC, meanwhile, has a big stash of cash and owns competitor HomeAdvisor.com.
Conversations with a spectrum of big thinkers
Welcome to IBJ’s inaugural Interview Issue, featuring dozens of Indy bigwigs and up-and-comers. Which top banker escaped a tough neighborhood? How does a Democrat exist in an ecosystem of conservative talk radio? Who launched a soccer team and invented Schlabst? Check it out.
ITT Educational CEO signals resignation amid stock freefall, federal scrutiny
Carmel-based ITT Educational Services Inc. announced late Monday afternoon that CEO Kevin Modany planned to resign within six months. The struggling for-profit education firm has drawn scrutiny from government officials for its marketing and lending practices.
Digital detox: More executives want break from 24-hour connectivity
A growing number of people are seeking a kind of digital detox at least once a year, but many still resist the idea. According to Wired magazine, less than 10 percent of all Americans unplug—even for one week a year,
ExactTarget acquisition boosted Indy’s tech mojo, local execs say
Near the first anniversary of ExactTarget’s $2.5 billion purchase by Salesforce.com, local tech gurus explain how the acquisition lifted all ships by bringing new prestige, investment and expertise to the city.
Lab software firm raises $8.5M, names new CEO
A San Diego venture capital firm has made a big bet on Indigo BioSystems Inc., which just installed its founder as the new chief executive.
Longtime exec now in driver’s seat at marketer ExactTarget
Company observers praised the elevation of Scott McCorkle to CEO for his combination of tech smarts, people skills, and experience with international operations.
CEO pay at public companies crosses $10M mark
Propelled by a soaring stock market, the median pay package for a chief executive of a typical large public company rose above eight figures for the first time last year, an increase of 8.8 percent from 2012.