Yahoo has hired Vulture alum Josh Wolk to head Yahoo Entertainment, replacing the editor in chief role vacated by Scott Robson, two individuals with knowledge of the situation told TheWrap.
His official title at Yahoo is the newly-created executive editor, entertainment, in which Wolk will oversee all of Yahoo’s entertainment coverage including movies, television and music. He starts April 7.
A Yahoo spokesperson also confirmed Wolk’s hire to TheWrap.
Wolk, who had served as Vulture’s editorial director the last four years, offered his farewell thoughts in a post on Friday titled, “Farewell From a Vulture.”
Also read: Scott Robson Out as Editor of Yahoo Entertainment (Exclusive)
“It is with misty eyes and throbbing, blog-induced-RSI-plagued wrists that I say goodbye today after just over four years here at Vulture,” Wolk noted,” later adding, “I was considering signing off with a list of my favorite posts by all the Vulture writers, but it would be impossible to know where to stop. So just keep reading Vulture — I sure will — because every day that list of favorites gets longer.”
Robson, outgoing head of entertainment, served as general manager of MTV Networks’ NextMovie and Film.com, and was editor-in-chief of AOL’s Moviefone and AOL Television before coming aboard Yahoo in July 2012 to oversee the site’s TV, Movies, Music and Celebrity Brands.
Yahoo’s divisions have undergone a significant amount of turnover since former Google executive Marissa Mayer became CEO in July 2012. Mickie Rosen, head of global media, quit in July 2013 — and that role still has yet to be filled.
Rich Cusick, who became vice president of Entertainment and Women’s Lifestyles just before Mayer came aboard, left Yahoo last fall before moving to Tribune Media Services.
Also read: Marissa Mayer Hammers Home Yahoo’s Mobile Future in Earnings Call
Yahoo News has seen two editors in chief in as many years — New York Times deputy editor Megan Liberman replaced Hillary Frey in September 2013, who left to head up NBCNews.com after less than a year at Yahoo.
In January, Mayer let go of COO Henrique de Castro — who she brought on from Google just a few months after she started at Yahoo.
Yahoo editor-in-chief Jai Singh left January 16, the day after de Castro’s firing. Though Singh’s exit did not at the time appear voluntary, a memo Mayer sent to staff announcing de Castro’s departure revealed that responsibilities that fell to Singh as part of the role that was created for him in 2011 were being reassigned to Yahoo’s CMO Kathy Savitt.
Also read: Yahoo COO Henrique de Castro Out
Savitt also took over control of the media role, after nearly six months of vacancy left by Rosen’s exit.