Linda Griego.

AuthorMCCARTHY, KELLY
PositionBoard of Directors, Blockbuster Inc.

Longtime economic and political strategist, and gutsy restaurant entrepreneur, brings her personal recipe for success to the board of Blockbuster Inc.

DRIVING THROUGH the smoke-filled streets of Los Angeles, Linda Griego watched hopelessly as her city went up in flames around her. Businesses were destroyed and lives were lost. For Griego, the Los Angeles riots of 1992 were more than a tragedy. They were a wake-up call. "We've got problems," she said at the time, "and it's going to take everyone to shoulder them."

As deputy mayor of Los Angeles from 1991 until 1993, under then-Mayor Tom Bradley, Griego witnessed her city's destruction first hand. It was devastating. Much work needed to be done. In the aftermath, Griego was appointed as the Los Angeles liaison to President George Bush's riot-recovery government task force. And, just two years later, she was heading up Rebuild LA (RLA), a program initiated to help that city get back on its feet.

Through her work with Rebuild LA, Griego came into contact with John F. Antioco, then-president and CEO of Taco Bell Corp. The meeting made a lasting impression. "A number of their stores were destroyed during the riots, and I was very impressed with the kind of work he was doing" to help restore the operations, she explained.

Fast forward to 1997. After leaving Taco Bell, Antioco is now president and CEO of Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc. A mutual friend reintroduces the two, and in 1999 Antioco asks Griego to come on the board. More than receptive, Griego is anxious to get involved in Blockbuster's community outreach initiatives. For its part, Blockbuster gets a real powerhouse in Griego. "Linda's vast experience in government, economic development, and various entrepreneurial activities is a tremendous asset to our board," says Antioco, who is also the newly public company's board chairman. Acquired by Sumner Redstone's Viacom Inc. in 1994, Blockbuster returned to the NYSE in August 1999 when 17.7% of its shares were publicly offered.

Upon Griego's arrival, Blockbuster had plans underway to become accessible to communities lacking in video rental stores. But Griego wanted to do more. Today, she is quickly becoming instrumental in influencing the company to bring video rentals into crowded inner cities by using some alternatives to the traditional "big box" retail outlets. One idea is to make Blockbuster's product available through existing small businesses, such as grocery stores.

It's a concept close...

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