Neil Ashe to Step Down as President, CBS Interactive

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Neil Ashe is stepping down as president of CBS Interactive, a position he assumed approximately a year ago.

Ashe was CEO of CNET and helped broker the tech site's sale to CBS in 2008. He later took charge of CBS's digital properties, including mobile, when previous interactive head Quincy Smith stepped down. A spokesperson said CBS expects to name a replacement by the middle of 2011.

AllThingsD first reported his departure.

"Neil has helped make CBSi into the successful and profitable business it is today," said a statement from CBS. "Looking out into 2011, we are working on a relaxed timeframe to name a successor to his post, as he embarks on his next great thing."

In October, CBS Interactive had 82.6 million U.S. unique users by comScore's count, up from 59.1 million a year earlier. Since Ashe took charge, the company has sought to go it alone in online ad sales, nixing its ad network relationships and selling its inventory exclusively in-house.

"What we're saying is, we've got the audience, sales force, technical capabilities in-house," Ashe told ClickZ at the time. "We have no need for third parties."