• by Felicia Greiff , November 20, 2015

Publisher Bauer Media created a head of programmatic role for Ryan Skeggs, who previously served as programmatic account director at MailOnline.

Prior to MailOnline, Skeggs was digital account director at Net Communities, where he was lauded as one of the U.K.’s leading Obama look-alikes.

At Bauer Media, Skeggs will develop the publisher’s programmatic offering and develop opportunities for Bauer’s first-party data.

Life & Style, J-14 and In Touch are among the titles published by Bauer Media Group.

Many publishers, media companies, brands and agencies are bringing programmatic capabilities in-house, including Conde Nast, which is looking to hire a head of programmatic.

Bauer Media has seen a boost in online audience in the past few years, Publisher’s Daily reported last month, and the German publisher plans to build a billion-dollar business in online transactions spanning verticals, according to Bauer Xcel Media president Christian Baesler.

Skeggs will report to Abby Carvosso, Bauer’s managing director of advertising. In a MediaWeek report, Carvosso said the publisher is looking to strengthen its commercial operation’s digital capabilities.

In addition, Stephane Folquet is joining Bauer as digital account manager, coming from Sport magazine, where he was print and tablet advertising manager.