Dan Laikin

Daniel S. Laikin is an American business executive. He was chief operating officer and chief executive officer of National Lampoon, Inc. from 2002 to 2008.

Laikin was co-chairman of Indiana-based real estate development company Biltmore Homes, Inc., until 2000. He also was a managing partner of technology investment firm Four Leaf Partners, LLC.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2001, Laikin's group moved to buy a majority stake in J2 Communications Inc., the owner of the moribund National Lampoon properties. ^{[1] [2]} From 2002 forward they built media businesses around the brand, becoming active in film, television, radio, and print, as well as building the largest Internet-based comedy network in the world.^{[ citation needed ]}

Laikin was the largest shareholder of National Lampoon, Inc. In December 2008, the SEC alleged Laikin conspired to inflate the company's stock price. In 2010, a federal judge sentenced Laikin to 45 months in prison. ^[3] (Laikin was replaced by Tim Durham, who himself was arrested in 2011 for looting more than $200 million from National Lampoon, Inc.) ^[4] Laikin was released from prison in 2012.

References

1. "Chief of J2 Communications to Resign, Sell His Shares". Los Angeles Times . Bloomberg News. March 7, 2001. Archived from the original on Dec 8, 2015.
2. "Laikin group grabs controlling stake". Indianapolis Business Journal . Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-12-01– via NewsBank.
3. "Dan Laikin sentenced to 45 months in Lampoon fraud". Indianapolis Business Journal. Sep 8, 2010.
4. Wallace, Benjamin (2017-05-01). "Can Anyone Repair National Lampoon's Devastated Brand?". Vanity Fair.