Ending weeks of speculation, Jonathan Miller has been named chairman and CEO
of America Online Inc.
Miller, former president and CEO of USA Interactive's USA Information and
Services, will take over for former online head Barry Schuler, who resigned in
April amid rising scrutiny of AOL's direction and slowing cash flow and
ad-revenue intake.
That was followed by the resignation last month of AOL Time Warner Inc. chief
operating officer Bob Pittman.
A cable veteran, 45-year-old Miller's background includes a stint from 1993
through 1997 at Viacom Inc.'s Nickelodeon/MTV Networks, where he was in charge
of all activities outside of the United States.
'Jon's success in building consumer-driven businesses online and offline has
given him the right blend of expertise and experience to revitalize America
Online,' AOL Time Warner CEO Richard Parsons said in a release. 'He is,
moreover, a person of unquestioned integrity and character and a great team
player, to boot.'
Miller's task won't be an easy one. After failing to meet aggressive revenue
projections, the AOL division faced more bad news recently when the Securities
and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice opened investigations
into possible accounting irregularities.
