AOL Reorganizes Ad Sales Unit

Creates seven discreet practices following acquisition of The Huffington Post.

AOL has revamped its ad sales team following the acquisition of The Huffington Post (and four straight quarters of double-digit declines).

The “industry development team” has been organized into seven discreet practices: health/CPG, travel, automotive, finance, entertainment, technology and retail. John Burke, who joined AOL earlier this year as SVP of global sales strategy, will oversee the entire unit, though each practice will have its own lead.

  • Jennifer Wiley, formerly sales director for AOL’s health category, will lead the health/CPG practice.
  • Debbie Menin, who’s been working in entertainment marketing for AOL since 2010, will lead the entertainment practice.
  • Mike Feeley, who’s been leading AOL’s travel sales category for eight months, will take over the Travel practice.
  • Julia Edvardsson, who joined AOL in 2004 and has spent the past four years leading AOL’s automotive sales, will head up the automotive category.
  • Amy Starwalt, head of AOL’s finance sales since last year, will lead the finance practice. Heads for the technology and retail practices will be named within the next month.

“The Industry Development team is the next evolution of our strategy to be the most customer centric sales team in the marketplace,” said Burke in a written statement. “The Industry Practice Head brings domain expertise, strategic vision and significant client experience in their respective categories.”

In February, AOL reported a 30 percent drop in ad revenues year-over-year from $468.6 million in Q4 2009 to $331.6 million in Q4 2010. Display revenue fell 14 percent to $151 million in Q4.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource