• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, April 21, 2009

In a surprise move, Wenda Harris Millard has stepped down as co-CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and joined influential media consulting firm Media Link LLC as president. The move links two of Madison Avenue's highest profile players: Millard who ran ad sales for Yahoo, headed a string of ventures, and was a one-time publisher of Adweek, with Media Link founder and CEO Michael Kassan, a former top Initiative/Western International Media executive, who has deep Hollywood connections, and is frequently referred to as the ad industry's "player" for making deals and relationships between marketers, agencies and media companies happen.

The move represents another in top-level executive departure at MSLO, a company known for the mercurial reputation of its founder and namesake. As co-CEO, Millard was head of MSLO's media division, including publishing, Internet and broadcasting operations, and advertising sales.

Millard joined MSLO in July 2007 from Yahoo, where she was Chief Sales Officer, where she developed a reputation as one of the digital media world's most influential players. She is a member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau's board, and is famous for generating industry buzz when she speaks at conferences and forums, such as her trademark "pork bellies" quip about the emergence of advertising networks during an IAB conference on the subject a couple of years ago.

Prior to Yahoo, Millard was Chief Internet Officer at Ziff Davis Media and President of Ziff Davis Internet, and was a founding member of the executive team at DoubleClick, where she served as executive vice president responsible for establishing the DoubleClick brand and overseeing the operations of DoubleClick Media.

She also served as President and group publisher of SRDS, senior vice president and publisher of Family Circle and executive vice president-group publisher of Adweek, Mediaweek and Brandweek magazines.

Media Link describes itself as "the preeminent media representation and strategic advisory firm to the marketing, media, entertainment and advertising industries," and Millard said she plans to "apply my skills and knowledge in helping major global companies plan and execute intelligent marketing strategies."