Update: We originally reported on this story on 4/24 and now it's official. Be sure to read the full press release from News Corp. here.
Social networking giant MySpace announced today that former Facebook COO Owen Van Natta will replace founder and former CEO Chris DeWolfe as the company's new Chief Executive Officer. DeWolfe will become a strategic advisor to MySpace in a deal that has been the topic of much speculation in recent days.
Official Press Release:
Chris DeWolfe to Step Down as CEO of MySpaceWill serve as strategic advisor to Company
______________________Los Angeles, CA, April 22, 2009 - MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe and News Corporation's Chief Digital Officer Jonathan Miller, announced today that, by mutual agreement, Mr. DeWolfe will not be renewing his contract and will be stepping down in the near future. Mr. DeWolfe will continue to serve on the board of MySpace China and will be a strategic advisor to the Company.
Additionally, Mr. Miller announced that he was in discussions with Tom Anderson, MySpace's president, about Mr. Anderson assuming a new role in the organization.
"Chris and Tom are true pioneers and we greatly value the tremendous job they've done in growing MySpace into what it is today," said Mr. Miller. "Thanks largely to their vision, MySpace has become a vibrant creative community with 130 million passionate followers worldwide. It is an enormously successful property and we look forward to building on its achievements with a new management structure we'll announce in the near future."
"In a little under six years we've grown MySpace from a small operation with seven people to a very profitable business with over 1,600 employees," said Mr. DeWolfe. "It's been one of the best experiences of my life and we're proud of, and grateful to, the team of talented people who helped us along the way. We thank them, as well as the MySpace community for making our vision a reality."
"From the very beginning, our driving passion has been simple - to create and foster a platform where people across the globe can not only meet and interact, but share music, videos, thoughts and ideas," said Mr. Anderson. I look forward to working with Jon. I love this business, and look forward to its next chapter."
There is additional information in an email from Chris DeWolfe to MySpace employees, discovered by TechCrunch. Kara Swisher has paid particular attention to what has been going on at MySpace recently, be sure to read her BoomTown blog on AllThingsD
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