Steve Case Tells Charlie Rose He's "Sorry" for AOL-Time Warner Merger

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 24, 2006 - 6:27pm.

Dulles, Va. - Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL, told a national interviewer that he was "sorry" for AOL's much-maligned merger with Time Warner. Appearing on PBS's "Charlie Rose" on Friday, Case said that the concept behind the 2001 mega-deal "made tremendous sense," but has not turned out the way he envisioned. "Ultimately it comes down to execution," he said. "One of the lessons learned, I think, is that an idea is important, but leadership and execution is really what matters… I'm disappointed and frustrated that it hasn't developed in the way that we all hoped at the time it could." In response to a question from Rose, Case added, "Yes, I'm sorry I did it." Case, who now heads Washington-based private investment firm Revolution, has in recent months publicly advocated for the break-up of the two companies.

http://tinyurl.com/eh778 (video of interview)