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The University of Tennessee

College of Business Administration

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Charles C. Anderson, Jr. - 2005 Distinguished Alumnus

Charles Anderson

Charles C. Anderson, Jr. is CEO of Anderson Media, the nation’s largest magazine and book distribution company. Anderson credits the University of Tennessee for providing him with the business insight to help change his company from a small magazine distributor to a national multimedia entertainment company with over 10,000 employees.

Originally from Florence, Alabama, Anderson enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1972 on an athletic scholarship. He was a three-year letterman in football and received his degree in business administration, majoring in marketing, in 1976. After graduation, he joined Anderson News Company, the family’s magazine and book distribution business headquartered in Knoxville. Anderson progressed through the company, becoming its president and CEO in 1994. In 1994, the Anderson family entered the music distribution business with the acquisition of Western Merchandisers, which was renamed Anderson Merchandisers and is presently the nation’s largest distributor of pre-recorded music. In 1998, ARAMARK merged its magazine and book distribution business into Anderson News.

Anderson is the immediate past chairman of the board of the Country Music Association. He currently serves on the International Board of Advisors at Auburn University and is on the athletic board at the University of Tennessee. He also serves the Knoxville community as treasurer for the Knoxville Boys & Girls Club capital campaign.

We are honored for Charlie to be the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus recipient. His accomplishments speak for themselves.