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Facebook&amp;amp;amp;amp;#039;s Van Natta to be named MySpace CEO

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:April 24, 2009

News Corp. plans to announce as early as Friday that it has hired former Facebook executive Owen Van Natta as chief executive of MySpace, according to people familiar with the matter, as the company accelerates efforts to reinvigorate its social networking site.

Mr. Van Natta’s expected appointment comes after News Corp. announced Wednesday that it was reshuffling MySpace’s executive suite, with current chief executive Chris DeWolfe stepping down and president Tom Anderson taking on a new role in the organization, wsj reported.

News Corp said on Wednesday that MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe will not be renewing his contract, which expires in the fall, and will step down from the chief executive post. DeWolfe will continue to be a strategic adviser to the company and serve on the board of MySpace China.

He will replace CEO and Co-Founder Chris DeWolfe, who stepped down from the job yesterday. DeWolfe will remain a strategic adviser at MySpace.

No other top execs at the huge social networking site will be named yet, as some have reported.

Instead, it will be up to Van Natta, who will work closely with new News Corp. digital head Jon Miller, to energize the current staff and also recruit new talent to MySpace, which has seen its buzz and momentum wane in the face of the juggernaut growth of Facebook,Kara Swisher reported.

News Corp.’s “Chief Digital Officer” Jonathan Miller issued a press statement, in conjunction with MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe, announcing DeWolfe’s departure from the company that he’d helped to build. In the statement, Miller and DeWolfe spoke rosily of each other, and of their respective corporations, Miller making sure to point out that DeWolfe would remain with the company as an advisor.

Internal email:

To FIM Employees:

I am writing to share the news that MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe will be stepping down from his executive role in the near future. He has agreed to serve as a strategic advisor to the Company and will remain on the board of MySpace China.

In addition, I am currently in discussions with MySpace President Tom Anderson regarding his role within the organization.

I want to take this opportunity to thank them both for their incredible contributions to the Company, and for pioneering one of the greatest social media revolutions of our time. I wish Chris nothing but the best in any new endeavors and, like many in this industry, am eager to witness his next innovations.

I understand the importance of having a dynamic, inspiring and innovative management team, and am dedicated to ensuring that MySpace continues to benefit from the highest levels of passion and enthusiasm.

I also want to thank everyone across FIM for giving me the opportunity to work with all of you. With MySpace, IGN, Photobucket, Fox Audience Network and our Digital Publishing Group, this is an exciting collective of properties and I’m enthusiastic about the opportunities that lie ahead.

I hope to meet and work closely with many of you over the weeks and months to come.

Best regards,
Jonathan Miller

The First Few Things the New CEO Van Natta of MySpace Should Do.

1) Buy a network of high-value content sites.
2) Start offline meeting for members.
3) Focus of More Business orientation then just social networking.
4) Start a paid premium business club.
5) Participate in social cause like Aids awareness, Going green…
6) Let the user choose Governing council for Myspace.
Launch fine Mobile version.
9) Add AJAX to it.

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