• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, October 31, 2011

NBCUniversal has officially found a new head of digital ad sales in Linda Yaccarino, the company confirmed on Monday.

As previously rumored, Yaccarino -- who recently left Turner Entertainment, where she served as COO and EVP of ad sales, marketing and acquisitions -- is replacing Dave Cassaro.

Also taking on cable entertainment ad sales at NBCU, Yaccarino will report to both Bonnie Hammer, chairman of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment & Cable Studios, and Lauren Zalaznick, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media.

 In her new role, Yaccarino will oversee all digital and cable entertainment ad sales for the company, including USA, Syfy, Bravo Media, E! Entertainment, Oxygen Media, Style, G4, Sprout, Chiller, Cloo and their respective digital platforms.

Additionally Yaccarino will oversee the sales efforts for NBC.com, AccessHollywood.com, NBCSports.com, NBCOlympics.com and GolfChannel.com and the stand alone digital businesses DailyCandy, Swirl, Fandango, iVillage and Television Without Pity.

Yaccarino was not available on Monday to discuss her plan of attack, or why it’s in NBCU’s best interests to combine digital and cable ad sales.

 Still taking shape under Comcast's umbrella, NBC Universal has recently undergone a number of executive changes. This summer, the company named Jeffrey Schneider to the newly created position of EVP, business affairs, Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media.

This past March, Nicholas Lehman was named president of digital of E&DN/IM, where he is now overseeing the pure-play digital businesses within the division's portfolio, including iVillage, DailyCandy, Swirl and Fandango. Lehman is also working closely with the leaders of each of the TV network's online platforms, including the sites for Telemundo, Bravo Media, Oxygen Media, Style and mun2.

At Turner, Yaccarino was responsible for all ad sales, sales marketing, and program acquisitions for the company’s television networks, including TNT, TBS and truTV, as well as overseeing acquisitions for sister networks TCM, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim.

 During her time at Turner, Yaccarino is crediting with growing Turner Entertainment’s business year-over-year, and was a principal architect of the company’s “broadcast replacement” initiative.

She is also recognized for her work on “inContext” -- a contextual ad platform designed to feature the right ad, in the right place, at the right time.