Huffington Post Expands Business Side With Two New Positions

As other media companies contract, the Huffington Post continues to expand, and its adding people who can bring in more money to fund its expansion. Today, the online pub announced that its had added a CFO, Eric Ashman, formerly CFO at TheStreet.com. Additionally, HuffPo said ex-Elle associate publisher Samantha Fennell will be joining its sales team as executive director. In his newly created position, Ashman will be "responsible for the overall direction, coordination and administration of all financial strategies, policies and controls," for the Huffington Post, the company said in an announcement. Thanks to his work at The Street.com, Ashman has experience with acquisitions and raising money from private equity, skills that will come in handy at HuffPo. "His strong financial background is an important addition to our senior management team, especially at this moment in HuffPost's development as we extend our brand and expand our business," said Arianna Huffington. Meanwhile, Fennell is being tasked with targeting fashion and luxury marketers -- no easy job in today's economic climate. Her position, also newly created, will focus on leveraging HuffPo's content expansion, including its Style section, the company said. Her previous work at Elle, as well as eight years of experience at Conde Nast, including a stint at Vogue, have hopefully prepared Fennell for this undertaking. Full releases after the jump THE HUFFINGTON POST NAMES ERIC ASHMAN CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER New York, NY, May 27, 2009 -- The Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com), a leading news and opinion site, announced today that Eric Ashman has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of The Huffington Post ("HuffPost"). The Huffington Post Co-founders Arianna Huffington and Kenneth Lerer, and Betsy Morgan, CEO of HuffPost, made the announcement. In the newly created position, Mr. Ashman will be responsible for the overall direction, coordination and administration of all financial strategies, policies and controls for the company. Prior to The Huffington Post, Ashman served as Chief Financial Officer of TheStreet.com, Inc. In making the announcement, Kenneth Lerer, Co-founder and Chairman, said, "Eric has a solid understanding of the financial issues that come with rapid expansion and a strong track record of successfully driving and managing growth, both organically and through acquisitions. His strengths will help to broaden HuffPost's management team as we continue to focus on developing our business." Said Arianna Huffington, "I'm delighted to welcome Eric to the team. His strong financial background is an important addition to our senior management team, especially at this moment in HuffPost's development as we extend our brand and expand our business." Said Eric Ashman: "I've been impressed with how The Huffington Post has been able to implement its expansion strategy so effectively, and I look forward to working with the company's management team and board to continue growing what is one of the biggest success stories in the new media." During his tenure at TheStreet.com Inc., the company completed four acquisitions, expanded its content offerings to appeal to a larger audience and raised $55 million in private equity investment. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Text 100 Public Relations, a global technology PR agency. He earned his CPA in public accounting working in the areas of tax and audit at both Canby, Maloney & Company and Kenneth Leventhal & Company. Betsy Morgan, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Eric to the team. In addition to spearheading HuffPost's financial governance and strategy, Eric will also be a key member of our executive team, helping with overall corporate strategic planning." THE HUFFINGTON POST NAMES SAMANTHA FENNELL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SALES New York, NY, May 27, 2009 -- The Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com), a leading news and opinion site, announced today that Samantha Fennell has been named Executive Director, Sales, overseeing fashion and luxury categories for The Huffington Post ("HuffPost"). Prior to joining HuffPost, Fennell was Associate Publisher of Elle. Her new position was created to leverage the site's continued content expansion which began in 2007 and which includes a popular Style section. "The Huffington Post's broad editorial scope provides marketers the opportunity to engage one of the most influential and passionate media audiences today," said James Smith, Chief Revenue Officer of The Huffington Post. "We are confident that with Samantha's appointment, HuffPost will be even better positioned to leverage relationships with fashion and luxury marketers and create innovative, mutually beneficial partnerships.â€ "Fashion and style are having an ever-greater impact on our lives, moving far beyond their traditional boundaries," said Samantha Fennell. "DC is becoming an influential fashion capitol, and political figures have become part of pop-culture. It is no wonder that HuffPost's Style, Living, and Entertainment sections have developed such large and loyal followings. We are experiencing a true cultural convergence, and HuffPost is uniquely positioned to cover it." Prior to Elle, Fennell spent eight years at Conde Nast Publications, where her most recent job was Advertising Director of Vogue. Fennell has held various sales positions at Rolling Stone, VIBE and Paper.

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Huffington Post Expands Business Side With Two New Positions

Amanda Ernst

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Amanda Ernst