Industry Moves: AOL's International Head Maneesh Dhir Leaving; Unit Comes Under Bill Wilson
This story was written by Rafat Ali.
AOL's international head lasted two years at his position: long enough these days at the Time Warner-owned portal. Maneesh Dhir, who was appointed EVP-international in January 2007, is leaving the company in about two months, according to an internal memo sent by COO Ron Grant, obtained by Kara. Prior to this position, Dhir was the country head of AOL's India efforts, and has in fact been based there all along. He came to AOL (NYSE: TWX) from its acquisition of Netscape in 1999.
According to Grant, he will stay on for the next couple of months to help in transition and then "return to his entrepreneurial roots." All of international, including Europe, will be integrated and report to Bill Wilson, the head of the newly-formed MediaGlow business unit. AOL had been selling off its international ISP units in Europe over the last three years, and is now focused purely on online media/publishing and online ad technologies there. It has been rolling out international sites at regular intervals over Asia and Europe, though the reaction to them has been muted at best in the local countries.
Staci had hinted at this international reorg back in January, when AOL rolled out its 10 percent staff cut then.
Some other international changes at AOL:
Dana Dunne, who oversees European publishing business, will now report directly to Wilson.
AOL's publishing businesses in India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada will all report in to MediaGlow.
Its global technologies and search organizations will now come under Ted Cahall. Also, AOL India operations led by Philip Nelson will now report in to Cahall.
Lastly, Joe Arcuri is leaving AOL Canada and his direct reports will no report to their seniors in New York and Dulles.
This keeps up the steady flow of senior execs outward from the company including the recent departures of Kevin Conroy and Lynda Clarizio.
By Rafat Ali