Cruickshank appointed global head of VideoJug

by Alex Donohue, Brand Republic 22-Oct-07, 11:00

LONDON - Nancy Cruickshank, the former managing director of Hearst Digital, has been appointed global chief executive of VideoJug.

Cruickshank, who stepped down from Hearst Digital last week after 12 months with the company, will take over from co-founder of VideoJug, Dan Thompson, in early 2008.

VideoJug, which is an online archive of factual how-to videos, has recruited Cruickshank to help build its international presence, which currently stands at around 4m visitors a month.

She will be responsible for growing the international audience of VideoJug and maximising revenue for the site, which has partnerships with MSN, Virgin Media and YouTube, and around 30,000 wholly owned video clips.

Cruickshank also held the title of managing director at Handbag.com for four years, before it was bought by NatMags to become a subsidiary of Hearst Digital in October 2006, for £22m.

During her time at Hearst Digital, Cruickshank oversaw the development of a number of NatMags online titles, including Cosmopolitan.co.uk, GoodHouseKeeping.co.uk, NetDoctor.co.uk and Handbag.com.

Prior to this, she held director-level roles at Sky.TV and Conde Nast Online, and is founder of property website Smove.co.uk, which was sold to Norwich Union in 2000.

Dan Thompson, chairman of VideoJug, said: "[Nancy] brings a wealth of experience and a successful track record in growing and monetising audiences. She is ideally positioned to take VideoJug through its next exciting growth phase."

On Friday, Hearst Digital said Alex Ballantyne, founder and managing director of NatMags' website NetDoctor.co.uk, would take over as Cruickshank's successor with immediate effect.