Say Media (the blog and advertising network that owns ReadWriteWeb, XOJane, Dogster, and others) is announcing some big executive changes today. President Troy Young is stepping down from a full-time role, and he’s being replaced by Kim Kelleher, who was previously worldwide publisher for Time.
Last year, Kelleher was named Ad Age’s publisher of the year. (Ad Age also got the scoop on her new job.) Kelleher’s resume also includes working as vice president and publisher for Sports Illustrated (which is how she started at Time), as well as holding that same title at Self Magazine and Golf For Women. In other words, she has some impressive credentials, and it seems like a pretty big vote of confidence that she’s willing to join Say.
CEO Matt Sanchez tells me that one of the reasons for bringing Kelleher on is that Say is ready for its “next phase.” More specifically, he says Say needed to have a senior presence in New York City: “I think that a really important element of what it means to be a modern media company to have roots in Silicon Valley and Madison Avenue.”
And Say’s press release announcing the change includes the following statement from Kelleher:
“SAY is creating unique and memorable digital experiences for brands that reach today’s social consumer. I’m fascinated by how quickly media consumption habits are changing and the innovation that’s happening at SAY as a result. I am thrilled to join this incredible team to help create a ‘once-in-a-generation media company’ that will lead the industry for years to come.”
In a company blog post, Sanchez notes that Young has been at VideoEgg (whose merger with Six Apart led to the creation of Say Media) and Say for the past six years. Apparently Young will be leaving at the end of the month to “pursue opportunities outside of the company,” but he will stay involved on an advisory basis, with the title Special Advisor to the CEO.