AOL UK seeks chief exec after promoting Thomson

by James Livesley, Media Week 04-Apr-06

AOL UK is searching for a new chairman and chief executive after current boss Karen Thomson was promoted to become president of AOL Europe.

Thomson now moves into the role vacated by Philip Rowley, currently
president and CEO, who has also been promoted to chairman of AOL Europe.
The changes will be implemented by the end of May.

Thomson has no direct deputy, but there is a senior management team of

eight reporting directly into the chief executive position: senior
vice-president of audience Andy Jonesco; senior vice-president of access
David Carr; chief operating officer Lori Friedman; chief marketing
officer Tobin Ireland; chief technology officer Colin McQuade;
vice-president of human resources John Shaw; general counsel Philip
Whall, and chief financial officer David Wolfe.

A spokesman for AOL would not confirm whether a headhunter had been
appointed or if an internal appointment was expected. How-ever, Thomson
will retain responsibility for the UK until a replacement is found.

Thomson has been chief executive of AOL UK since 2001 and became
chairman in February last year. She joined AOL as UK marketing director
in 1995 until 1998, when she became executive vice president - marketing
for AOL Europe and in 1999 took over the role of AOL UK managing
director.

European boss Rowley was appointed to the newly created position of
president in 2002 after joining in 2001 as executive vice-president and
chief financial officer from Kingfisher plc.