AOL Executive Shuffle: Eun Is Out

Eun

David Eun, the man tasked with revitalizing AOL's content strategy, is leaving the company as part of a broader post-Huffington Post acquisition restructuring.

"I came to AOL last year to be the leader of the media organization," Eun explained in an internal company memo released Thursday, but noted: "With the historic acquisition of The Huffington Post, my role and responsibilities as president, AOL Media are changing."

Per AOL's $315 million acquisition of HuffPo -- which is still pending regulatory approval -- Arianna Huffington is expected to assume the role of president and editor in chief of the newly formed Huffington Post Media Group.

Following what he called lengthy discussions with AOL CEO Tim Armstrong, Eun said he ultimately concluded: "There isn't a role that matches what I am seeking to do" at AOL.

In his memo to staff, Eun called Armstrong's decision to buy HuffPo "great for AOL."

Along with the departure of Eun, Jon Brod -- currently president of ventures, local and mapping at AOL -- will serve as COO of the Media Group, and report to both Armstrong and Huffington.

Post acquisition, AOL also plans to align its "network services" assets -- including Studio Now, 5Min, Goviral, Adtech, Advertising. com, Pictela and Seed -- as a new, yet-to-be-named group headed by Ned Brody. Brody presently serves as COO of advertising, media and commerce, and president of paid services at AOL.

Patch, meanwhile, will be managed as a separate media group, and the business operations will continue to be handled by Warren Webster.

Also, AOL CFO Artie Minson will now oversee paid services, along with corporate marketing, while Brad Garlinghouse will now oversee the company's commerce efforts.

During his stint at AOL, Eun is credited with relaunching AOL Video and its front page, along with strong traffic gains. Indeed, inbound traffic is up 23% since Eun joined AOL last March, while its video property now ranks in fifth place on comScore's video index.

Still, during the fourth quarter of 2010, AOL's total revenues fell 26%, while ad sales plummeted 29%. Display -- especially domestic sales -- was the strongest component of AOL's fourth-quarter ad pie, although its overall display revenues declined 14%, as international display sales dove 53%.

 

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