Ask.com CEO Jim Safka Steps Down!

Wall Street Journal recently reported that Ask.com CEO Jim Safka is leaving the firm. It is believed that the decision was based on personal reasons. Jim will most probably become the head of Chegg, Inc., which gives textbooks to students on rent.

Safka took over as the Ask's CEO in the early January 2008, replacing Jim Lanzone. As WSJ points out, Ask's market share has mostly remained flat during Safka's rein, with just under a 4% share of the search market in the US.

In an email to staff, Safka wrote, “This choice was not made lightly … When my brother John passed away unexpectedly less than a month ago, I began re-evaluating my personal and professional priorities and decided it was the right time for me to make a change … And whatever I do next will be smaller and more local, enabling me to have a better personal balance.”

Scott Garell is expected to take over as “President of Ask Networks.”

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