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Rumors of Wenda Harris Millard's imminent plans to join MySpace are categorically false, the former head of Martha Stewart Living Co. told Online Media Daily on Thursday afternoon.
"It's not true, and I'm furious that this is being reported as fact," said Millard, who is presently vacationing on the Adriatic Sea. "This has ruined my vacation."
Rather, consultancy firm Media Link -- where Millard has served as president since April -- was recently hired by MySpace to advise the company on matters regarding ad strategy, according to Millard.
"We are working with Media Link to improve our advertising product for our users as well as for our advertising partners," MySpace chief executive Owen Van Natta wrote in a blog post on Thursday afternoon. "As part of the broader strategic relationship Media Link will help manage our day-to-day sales organization under the leadership of Wenda Harris Millard."
Van Natta also confirmed that Berman has decided to leave MySpace "to explore other opportunities" after nearly three and a half years at the company.
Early Thursday afternoon, All Things Digital reported that Millard "is poised to take over all advertising sales at MySpace," citing an unnamed source. This accompanied news that MySpace's current ad sales head Jeff Berman is leaving the company.
In the post, the industry blog did clearly state that Millard would remain in her job at Media Link, "which has also been hired by MySpace to advise on restructuring the social networking company's salesforce."
Still, Millard emphasized to Online Media Daily that her relationship with MySpace would be no different than that of any company that hires Media Link.
"We're a consultancy -- hello?!" said a clearly perturbed Millard. "I just made a big move a few months ago; I'm the president of Media Link; I wouldn't make this change now."
Millard joined Media Link from Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, where she has been co-CEO and president.
Previously, Millard was chief sales officer at Yahoo, and prior to that was chief internet officer at Ziff Davis Media and president of Ziff Davis Internet.
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Damned industry gossip Pegged her Rupert’s new catch To salvage some ad sales That Facebook did snatch
“Media Link is my space now,” Her Beatles haircut insists “Even if I was tempted, I swear I’d resist.”
Euro-vacation “ruined” We weep with dismay For the non-millionaires Who lost their jobs today.
Enjoy the rest of Summer 2009.
Best, JB
you obviously don't know Wenda at all. She doesn't take her ball and go home to cry. Ever.