Yahoo appoints TV chief to head EMEA

Web services firm Yahoo has announced the appointment of British TV executive Dawn Airey as senior vice president of the company’s EMEA operation.

Airey brings 30 years of experience in TV, after leaving her role as president of a unit of RTL Group. In September 2010 she left British broadcaster Five where she served as chairman and CEO, overseeing all operations.

Prior to that she was managing director of global content at ITV where she oversaw its UK and international production and content businesses. She has also served as managing director for channels and services at BSkyB and held senior posts at Channel 4.

Airey will report to COO Henrique de Castro. Beginning November 1, Christophe Parcot, who has served as Yahoo’s interim EMEA head will take on a new role focused on expanding its business in the region.

Airey said the offer to work for Yahoo was “simply irresistible”.

Yahoo has been on somewhat of a spending spree since CEO Marissa Mayer took the reins in July last year. Three months into her role, Mayer recruited a former Google colleague in de Castro. The firm then splashed its cash to acquire blogging platform Tumblr for $1.1bn in cash, in May, which was followed by its acquisition of micro video specialist Qwiki in July for an undisclosed sum.