Steckler to head revamped Platform A

by Andrew McCormick, Media Week 30-Jun-08, 11:45

LONDON - AOL is restructuring its commercial operations to revolve around its ad-targeting business Platform A.

Michael Steckler, managing director of AOL UK, will take over as head of Platform A's UK business, in the most high- profile change. Meanwhile, Kevin Cornils, the former Buy.at chief executive, appointed managing director of AOL's Advertising.com UK in April, is to leave the company in August.

An internal memo distributed by Brendan Condon, head of Platform A's international operations, and obtained by Media Week, outlines wholesale changes at the online publisher, reflecting a three-division structure incorporating the ad platform, the publishing platform and the people network, following its recent acquisition of social network Bebo.

All of AOL UK's ad staff will be housed in Platform A and Steckler's previous role of managing director of AOL UK will not be replaced. All AOL UK staff, who will primarily work on content, will report to Dana Dunne, chief executive of AOL Europe.

Duncan George will become head of agency sales at Platform A, a role he previously held at AOL UK and the rest of the AOL UK commercial team will work under Steckler and George.