Miss America Chief Executive Resigns
Billie
resignation of its maverick chief executive, Robert Renneisen, on Friday, two
weeks after a public flap over the treatment of reigning Miss America Katie
Harman and her parents.
Renneisen, 55, a former casino executive, is the second Miss America president
and CEO in a row to step down after clashing with the pageant hierarchy in the
process of seeking to reform the 81-year-old beauty contest.
He attributed his resignation in a brief statement to differing philosophies
with the 16-member Miss America board of directors, which met with him last
week.
"The board and I want only success for the Miss America Organization," he said.
"However, it has become clear that we differ in our definition of success and
on the means necessary to achieve it. Perhaps a change in leadership will bring
new perspectives to the many challenges facing this organization."
Renneisen, who threatened to move the pageant from its Atlantic City birthplace
last year, told reporters in February that he was facing opposition from
traditional-minded state pageant directors who disliked his aggressive style,
his staff and his ideas for marketing and sponsorship.
One marketing proposal would have created the world's first Miss America casino
slot machine.
Renneisen joined the Miss America Organization in 2000, several months his
predecessor, Robert Beck, had resigned from the helm amid a storm of protest
over a proposal to open the pageant to women who have been divorced or
pregnant.
He said in interviews that his aim was to enhance the financial size and scope
of the organization. But late in January, 45 of 51 state directors who make up
the National Association of Miss America State Pageants criticized Renneisen's
growing staff and expenses in a formal resolution.
Their concerns were forwarded to the Miss America board, along with a letter of
complaint from Harman's parents, who said that they and their daughter had been
mistreated by members of the Renneisen staff.
Harman later appeared alongside Renneisen at an Atlantic City news conference
to deny claims that she was unhappy about her allotment of lucrative speaking
engagements and to complain about the release of her parent's letter to the
news media.
Miss America board chairwoman Toni Fultz Fauntleroy declined to comment on
Renneisen's departure on Friday, beyond a prepared statement in which she
described his contribution as meaningful and his departure as regrettable.
The organization appointed Executive Vice President George Bauer as interim CEO
and president. There was no immediate word on plans to find a permanent
replacement.
"STUPIDITY IS NOT A HANDICAP. Park elsewhere!"
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