Yahoo names Amazon's Utzschneider as head of sales in Americas

Yahoo! Inc. named Lisa Utzschneider, a former Amazon.com Inc. executive, as senior vice president of its advertising business in the Americas, bolstering the leadership team as it seeks to jump-start sales.

Utzschneider, who most recently led Amazon's display advertising efforts, will report to Yahoo Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer, the company said today in a statement. She replaces Ned Brody, who will assume the new role of senior vice president of advertising technology and strategy.

Mayer, more than two years into an attempted turnaround at the Web portal, is looking for new ways to drive sales growth as she comes under pressure from activist shareholder Starboard Value LP. Last week, the company reported a third-quarter revenue gain of 1.5 percent, and analysts estimate sales will be unchanged for the year. Mayer fired Chief Operating Officer Henrique de Castro earlier this year.

"Lisa has a demonstrated track record as a leader and as a business builder, focused on creating and expanding sales relationships," Mayer said in the statement. "She brings unique strengths to Yahoo in terms of identifying new opportunities to maximize the value of advertising in a rapidly expanding and evolving media landscape."

Before joining Amazon in 2008, Utzschneider worked at Microsoft Corp. for 10 years, Sunnyvale, California-based Yahoo said.