Fred Hilmer completed his tenure as CEO of Fairfax in late 2005. With his academic background, he was a surprise appointment to the position that he ended up holding for seven years.

By 2006 Fairfax's earnings had doubled, costs were down and revenues were up; more importantly, in a highly competitive climate, Hilmer had restored the health of the flagging newspaper and publishing empire and built a digital platform.

In The Fairfax Experience: What the Management Texts Didn't Teach Me Hilmer discusses his time at Fairfax - his mistakes and what he learned from them, the negatives of change management and how he made the tough decisions while coping with the fall out.

A fascinating look at what it takes for leaders to achieve sustained business success The Fairfax Experience shows how theory can fall short in an industry dominated by strong personalities, family empires, legislative reform and the media spotlight.