The Daily Mail’s website, Mail Online, has taken on former Buzzfeed president and chief operating officer Jon Steinberg.
Steinberg (pictured, Reuters), who held the position at Buzzfeed for four years, has been appointed North America chief executive officer of Mail Online.
Steinberg described himself as a “huge fan” of Mail Online’s “editorial content that is second to none when it comes to entertainment, breaking news and telling the stories of the day that matter”.
“I have long been impressed by the MailOnline’s exponential growth," he said.
“MailOnline’s big American audience is formidable and over the past couple of years, they have made a major investment in their US editorial and business teams.
“Martin and the company's plans to double down on this success with more investment in world news, video, and mobile/social technology are thrilling. And I look forward to helping them do just that.
“I can't wait to start telling the MailOnline story to so many of the brands and agencies in the US who know their audiences have already discovered MailOnline in growing numbers.
“I also look forward to developing innovative ad solutions with the advertising community – combining the very best of native and display formats.”
Steinberg announced he was leaving Buzzfeed in May, saying he wanted to find a “big challenging project in media and tech”. He added: “Either I’ll start something or join something that needs to be built,”
Publisher Martin Clarke said Steinberg was being recruited to help Mail Online build on its success in the United States, both on the editorial and advertising sides of the business.
He said: “It's amazing that MailOnline is already America's second biggest newspaper site and has such fantastic reach – thanks to our unbeatable editorial.
“But we are still only really getting started in terms of the opportunities we see for expansion, both in editorial and advertising and across new technology platforms.
“Jon is the perfect person to lead the charge as we grow and mature as a product in the US and also to help us expand globally.
“He comes to us with an amazing track record as one of the key people who has made BuzzFeed such a success story in recent years.”
Clarke added: “We have already made great strides in America and we wanted a North America Chief Executive Officer who could take MailOnline North America on the next stage of its evolution.
"Jon is the perfect person to do this by seeking out new investments and initiatives to grow the MailOnline’s audience, while ensuring that our advertising clients reach their customers no matter what the channel – web, mobile, video and social."
Lord Rothermere, chairman of Mail Online owner Daily Mail & General Trust, said: “I have no doubt that Jon’s passion, enthusiasm and leadership experience will only continue to increase MailOnline’s momentum in both the United States and around the world.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog