John Backe

John Backe was a former chief executive for CBS during the 1970s. During his tenure he took the network back to the top of the primetime rankings.

Backe was a former B-47 bomber pilot for the Strategic Air Command, after which he worked for General Electric. He subsequently moved into the publishing industry, joining the General Learning Corporation (a joint venture of G.E. and Time Inc.). He later became president of the division and then president of the parent company.

His relationship with CBS began in 1973, when the company poached him for its publishing division. He increased the division’s earnings from $3 million to $24 million in two years, and was promoted to president of the CBS network in October of ’76. The following May he was promoted again, to CEO. He resigned from his position in May of 1980.

After leaving CBS he became president of Tomorrow Entertainment, a television production company. He later founded his own management company, the Backe Group, as well as a mass-market paperback publishing company, a magazine publishing company and an advertising agency.

Backe died October 22, 2015, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. He was 83.