Colin Digiaro - S 2015
Courtesy of Business WireAn executive shakeup has occurred at male-focused digital media startup Woven Digital, the owner of websites Uproxx and Brobible.
Co-founder and CEO Scott Grimes has transitioned into the role of chairman and president Colin Digiaro has been named interim CEO in his stead, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Grimes sent a memo to staff on Friday that THR has obtained explaining that the move will allow him to focus on strategic opportunities for the company while Digiaro takes over day-to-day operations.
“It was a great honor and pleasure to co-found and lead such an amazing organization for so long,” he wrote, later adding, “I believe these changes will further strengthen our position in the media industry and take Woven to the next level.”
Related Stories
Grimes, who previously ran News Corp.’s now defunct Slingshot Labs, co-founded Woven in 2010 with former Yahoo Michael Laur. The company operates a network of pop culture websites including recently acquired Uproxx, a BuzzFeed competitor, and sells advertising for affiliates like The Chive and Cheezburger. The company’s website currently advertises that it reaches 86 million monthly unique visitors and one in two men ages 18 to 34.
Much like fast-growing digital media firms BuzzFeed and Vox Media, both of which recently raised $200 million from NBCUniversal, Woven has made strides to enter the video space, hiring Anonymous Content veteran Ben Blank to run creative and building out studios in Los Angeles and New York for original programming like web series Luminaries.
Woven raised $18 million in funding from Institutional Venture Partners, UTA, Shari Redstone‘s Advancit Capital, law firm Ziffren Brittenham, the San Francisco 49ers and others late last year.
Digiaro, one of the co-founders of Myspace and an early executive with the company, was a Woven board member before joining the company full-time in 2014 as president.
“I want to thank Scott for his more than five years of service at the helm of Woven Digital,” he said in a statement. “Without his perseverance and ability to adapt to the changing digital media landscape, I wouldn’t be here. Having been part of the Woven family for a long time — first as a board member and most recently as president — I am honored to be working with such a talented team and look forward to taking the company into its next chapter, building on our incredible momentum in producing and distributing content and video that touches the lives of tens of millions of millennials.”
Here is Grimes’ full note to staff:
Woven,
Five and a half years ago, a dream was set into motion; thoughts became action and an idea to disrupt traditional publishing birthed Woven. Since that day, an unbelievable journey has taken place resulting in the creation of one of the most premium and scalable publishing and content studios anywhere. It was a great honor and pleasure to co-found and lead such an amazing organization for so long. We have achieved so much, but there is still a great deal more on the horizon.
As of today, I am transitioning to the role of chairman and in that capacity focusing on strategic opportunities. Colin Digiaro, who has served as a board member, and, most recently, our president, will serve as interim CEO.
I believe these changes will further strengthen our position in the media industry and take Woven to the next level.
Best,
Scott
