Another Cablevision Exec Leaves As Analysts Question Jim Dolans Game Plan

Marketing EVP Jonathan Hargis, who has been with the company since 2000, is the latest high level exec to bolt — and that’s sure to leave investors even more baffled than they were before about CEO Jim Dolan’s plans forCablevision. The official word is that Hargis will resign this month “to pursue other opportunities.” But the company release didn’t name a replacement,which suggests that Jim’s wifeKristin — who’s senior executive vice president of product management and marketing, and a member of the Cablevision board– will play a bigger role.Analysts who have tried to determine how broad a mandate she has, and how Jim plans to manage things, say that they’ve yet to hear satisfying answers. Prior to Hargis’ departure, BTIG’s Rich Greenfield urged management explain how Kristin fits in. “We believe she has been taking the marketing reins (unclear whether John Hargis is still with the company and what is role is) and is currently leading the companys efforts to re-orient the marketing message for all of Cablevisionscable products,” Greenfield wrote.He isn’t the only one who’s concerned: The Street was stunned late last year when John Bickman resigned as president of cable communications, closely followedby respected COO Tom Rutledge (now CEO of Charter). That left Cablevision’s management team with “big holes,” Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett said before the latest departure. Last week Jim Dolan declined to tell analysts on an earnings call why Rutledge left.