SMITH TAKES THE HELM AT YAHOO!7

Yahoo!, Inc. and Seven Network Limited have appointed former Cordiant Asia Pacific president Ian Smith as chief executive officer of Yahoo!7. Smith will build on Yahoo!7’s strengths to create a media company that delivers the most extensive range of content across a variety of platforms providing users with meaningful content and advertisers with the greatest value.
Smith brings an impressive track record of business growth in the advertising and media industry. Up until last year, Smith was president Asia Pacific for Cordiant Communications PLC, a unit of WPP Group subsidiary. The Communications Group Limited which owns 13 advertising, marketing, technology and communications companies in Australia and New Zealand. He was also president of international for Bates Worldwide, Cordiant Communications Group's primary ad network, where he grew revenue in Asia and Europe by more than US$800 million in the first two years.
The appointment of Smith follows the successful integration of Yahoo! Australia & NZ and Seven assets to form the new joint venture, Yahoo!7. In less than six months, Yahoo!7 has unveiled a number of ground-breaking products in the areas of search, entertainment, news and rich media, including Yahoo!7 News and Yahoo!7 Answers, as it tracks towards its goal of creating one of the most comprehensive and engaging online experiences for Australian consumers and advertisers.
Interim chief executive Rohan Lund will resume his role as Director of Digital Media & Strategic Investments and Member of the Board for Yahoo!7.