NEW YORK >> AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case expressed confidence about the troubled media conglomerate's future yesterday, and indicated that he sees his role at the company continuing. Case remains bullish
on AOL Time WarnerAssociated Press
At an investment conference sponsored by Goldman Sachs, Case acknowledged that the past year has been difficult but said the company he helped create has the right mix of businesses to succeed -- despite accounting questions at its America Online division and a struggling stock price.
"I have tremendous confidence in AOL Time Warner and in our ability to be the leader," he said. "Unstoppable consumer trends are moving our way, providing real opportunity for growth."
Case also sounded upbeat about his future at the company, although he did not directly address speculation that he is under pressure to resign.
"I'm a little more active now than I might have been in the first year of the merger because of the challenges the company faces now," Case said, adding that he is meeting weekly with America Online's new chief executive, Jon Miller, to help him understand the division and strategize.
Published reports have suggested that some of AOL Time Warner's board members and largest shareholders are angry about the decline in the stock price and want Case to leave. Case, who co-founded America Online, was a primary architect of the AOL Time Warner merger in 2001. The company has repeatedly denied the rumors, saying his position is secure.
Case did not discuss specifics concerning the government investigation into accounting practices at America Online, other than to say that the company's internal review continues and shareholders should get an update later this month.
He admitted, however, that the challenges are significant. When asked to rank the success of internal collaboration at AOL Time Warner on a scale from one to 10, Case gave the company a 5. Collaboration between divisions was a key selling point in the approval of the 2001 merger.
Case also said he sees opportunity in improving the quality of content available to America Online subscribers, expanding the number of subscriptions sold for high-speed Internet access lines, and increasing e-commerce partnerships.
Also in the works, Case said, is a personalized television service and digital music offerings.