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Former Facebook Exec To Lead MySpace?

Peter Kafka on Wednesday reported that Projejct Playlist CEO Owen Van Natta is the frontrunner to succeed Chris DeWolfe as MySpace CEO. Citing "multiple sources close to the situation," Kafka's colleague Kara Swisher says the deal to bring Van Natta in as CEO "is still coming together now," and that "settling all the specifics could take at least a day and there is always the possibility that this changing-of-the-guard deal could fall apart."

Van Natta, of course, is the former VP of Operations for Facebook, and "was a key early player in making the social-networking site into the juggernaut it is today," says Swisher, adding that he played a big part in both its advertising and investment deals with Microsoft, as well as hiring many of the company's current executives. Van Natta is currently CEO of music startup Project Playlist. Swisher notes that while MySpace was searching for a CEO for MySpace Music, there was speculation that News Corp. might acquire Project Playlist as part of the deal to bring Van Natta in as CEO.

The talks to bring him to the big job at MySpace are being led by Jonathan Miller, News Corp.'s new digital chief. Apparently, News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch requested the change in leadership after growing frustrated with MySpace's stagnating traffic, as social networking industry buzz and momentum moved to Facebook.

Read the whole story at D: All Things Digital »

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