Cable Vet Jim Robbins Passes AwayCable Vet Jim Robbins Passes Away

ATLANTA -- James O. Robbins, a board member of Atlanta-based Cox Enterprises, Inc. and a former president and chief executive officer of Cox Communications, died yesterday following a battle with cancer.

“The passing of our dear friend and valued colleague is a sad event for me, my family and all the employees of Cox,” said Jim Kennedy, Cox Enterprises chairman and chief executive officer. “Jim embodied the spirit of our company – to do the right thing by the people the company touches – employees, customers, vendors, partners and the communities Cox serves. We will miss him terribly.”

In April 2006, Robbins was elected a member of the Cox Enterprises board of directors following his retirement from Cox Communications, the nation’s third largest cable telecommunications company. Robbins joined Cox in 1983 and was named president in 1985. He added CEO to his title when Cox Communications went public in 1995.

His professional legacy remains the re-invention of Cox Communications from a stand-alone cable TV provider into a powerhouse entertainment, broadband and telecommunications company that pioneered the innovative triple-play service bundle. Under his leadership, Cox transformed itself into a corporate role model for fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, delivering a superior customer experience and giving generously to the communities in which it operates.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Robbins,” said Pat Esser, president of Cox Communications. “He was a friend, leader and mentor to countless people, including me, and is widely regarded as an industry pioneer who led our company with brilliant vision, courage and heart. Jim’s influence on Cox and everyone who had the honor of working with him will live on.”

Cox Communications Inc.