eNews
AOL launches web `sweeps` contest aimed at women
MUMBAI: AOL is launching a nationwide search for women who play multiple roles in their professional and personal lives –a segment the company has dubbed “CEOs”, or “Chief Everything Officers”.
The search is patterned after TV sweeps, with the goal of attracting more eyeballs and luring sponsors. The company says that through research conducted with Roper Public Affairs, the “CEO” title resonated with women who are juggling careers, families and personal lives.
The search for ‘women who can do it all’ is being sponsored by Dove, said media reports. Said AOL network programing chief Tina Sharkey, “We’re acting like a TV network. This is sweeps on AOL.”
The new channel, AOL.com/CEO, collects tips, stories and relevant editorial from AOL’s own Coaches and Money & Finance sections, as well as from the Time Inc. titles Real Simple, Health and All You. Also, the site will include several social networking elements, including message boards and blogs on various lifestyle topics.
To promote the new channel, AOL has initiated a contest aimed at discovering real-life CEOs by inviting users to nominate candidates. Five winners will be selected to attend a luncheon in New York City on 17 May, when they with also receive a $1,000 shopping spree and their choice of several prizes values at $10,000 each.
The star of ‘Desperate Housewives’ and real-life mom Felicity Huffman is the spokeswoman for the promotion and is being featured prominently on the new site. Huffman will meet with the contest winners in New York in May, the report said.
Starting this week, Dove will be promoting the “webisodes” in TV, print and online ads. The rules, along with a series of video vignettes starring Huffman, can be viewed on the web site.
In January, the company had co-launched a similar content channel with Good Morning America (GMA) titled America Takes It Off, which featured content designed to help women shed post-holiday pounds. That section generated 22 million page views in January, with the GMA promotion yielding close to 130,000 registrants who then pledged to lose 4.5 million pounds, according to AOL.
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
