Pierre Chappaz and Dominique Vidal have been appointed to lead its consumer internet operations in Europe.
As President of Yahoo! Europe, Chappaz, 45, will lead the European operations of Yahoo! and Kelkoo, which Chappaz co-founded and which was acquired by Yahoo! Inc. earlier this year. Chappaz will report to John Marcom, SVP of International Operations, Yahoo! Inc. Vidal, 40, becomes Yahoo! Europe Chief Operating Officer reporting to Chappaz.
“Chappaz and Vidal bring to Yahoo! a rare combination of superior understanding of European online consumer behaviour, coupled with entrepreneurial drive seasoned by the experience of building a uniquely successful pan-European internet business,” said John Marcom, SVP of International Operations, Yahoo Inc. “Their combined reputation as internet visionaries within the European marketplace, combined with their strong strategic and exceptional track record, make them powerful additions to our global management team.”
Chappaz will lead the company’s product, marketing and technology initiatives across the region, while Vidal will oversee day-to-day operations in the ten European territories in which Yahoo! and Kelkoo operate. Overture will continue operating under its current management structure in Europe.
Chappaz and Vidal join Yahoo! Europe from Kelkoo, Europe’s leading shopping search engine, which Yahoo! Inc., acquired in April 2004. Chappaz was the founder and CEO of Kelkoo, which he established in 1999, and developed into Europe’s leading shopping search engine. Its index of more than ten million product offers, in ten European countries, is used by one out of ten European internet users. Before founding Kelkoo, Chappaz spent five years at IBM, most recently as Director of Marketing, IBM Western Europe. During this period of time Chappaz was responsible for a significant reorganisation of the IBM marketing teams and revamping of the brand as a European e-business leader. Previously, he held several senior management positions in the European high-tech industry, including Marketing Director at Toshiba France and Legent/Computer Associates.
Chappaz commented; “Since becoming part of the Yahoo! group of companies, I have been particularly impressed by the depth of opportunity that exists for Yahoo!’s operations and brand within the European market place. Having founded and developed Europe’s leading shopping comparison portal site, Dominique and I believe that our background is very well suited to driving Yahoo! Europe as it enters into its next phase of development. I believe in the vision that Yahoo! has for its International operations and look forward to working with the European management team to build, create and execute upon new opportunities for the European business.
Vidal was most recently Group Managing Director of Kelkoo, where he conducted the successful expansion of the company in the UK and Northern Europe. Prior to this he headed up the IT department at Banexi Ventures and also spent 10 years at Schlumberger within both the USA and France, focusing on M&A and strategic ventures.
Vidal added; “I am very excited to be joining a fantastic European team at a key tipping point within the European internet industry. Yahoo! already has over fifty million unique visitors to its European network, a top quality advertiser client base and a market leading position. I believe that we will be able to embrace and execute upon even more opportunities within Europe to make Yahoo! European internet destination of choice for both consumers and advertising clients across Europe.”
Murdok | Breaking eBusiness News
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