Overture appoints new general manager for local sponsored search in Europe

Overture Services has today named Ruud Smeets as General Manager, Local for Overture Europe.

Ruud Smeets, previously General Manager of Overture Netherlands, takes up the role with immediate effect. He replaces Rob Jonas, who recently moved to Head of Business Development for Yahoo! UK and Ireland. Based in the Overture Netherlands office in Amsterdam, Smeets will report to Gianluca Carrera, Overture Europeís Commercial & Strategy Director. He will be based in Overture Netherlands office in Amsterdam.

Smeets will be responsible for managing the European strategy for Overtureís Local product and services - the companyís local search solution currently only available in the US.

Under Smeets management Overture made a successful entry into the Dutch market. Prior to joining Overture, Smeets held senior roles in marketing and general management and was involved in Internet businesses for over eight years. He launched the online business directory Scoot in the Netherlands and was commercially responsible for the electronic version of De Telegraaf, the biggest Dutch newspaper. Most recently responsible for the Information, Communication and Entertainment market at KPMG Business Advisory Services, Smeets formerly served as Chief Commercial Officer for Newconomy, a publicly traded Internet incubator.

Overture Netherlands will now be jointly overseen by Joost Hagesteijn, Sales Director and Gilbert den Hertog, Business Development Director.

The success of our Netherlands operation to date is testament to Ruudís leadership and we congratulate him on his new role,î comments Martin Child, Managing Director, Overture Northern Europe. Ruud will now lead the rollout of Overtureís local search product in Europe ñ an area that represents a significant opportunity for both small and large advertisers, and which is a key focus for the company, moving forward.î