Verizon taps HuffPo CEO Jimmy Maymann to run its forthcoming mobile video service

Jimmy Maymann, currently serving as chief executive of the Huffington Post, is being promoted to oversee Verizon's upcoming mobile video service, as well as AOL's consumer brands.

Maymann joined Verizon this spring after the wireless company paid $4.4 billion to acquire AOL. According to the Wall Street Journal, Maymann's expanded role is part of a larger reorganization that will group AOL into three units.

Maymann's unit will focus on consumer brands. Another unit will be devoted to business-to-business platforms, including the company's suite of advertising tech products. A third unit called "Area 51" will focus on investments in emerging technologies including virtual reality. AOL President Bob Lord will oversee the business-to-business segment, while CTO Bill Pence will lead Area 51.

Verizon said last month that it will launch its mobile programming service later in the summer. Variety reported last month that the service will be called "Go90" and will feature full episodes of TV shows, along with music videos and other short-form content. The report, which cited a pre-launch Verizon website that has since been taken down, said the platform will initially be ad-supported and free to consumers. 

However, during Verizon's recent second quarter conference call with investors, Verizon's Fran Shammo said the service will likely rely on a variety of business models.

On Wednesday, Discovery Networks revealed that it has become the latest traditional programmer to license content to the upcoming Verizon service. 

Verizon had already signed content deals with other major cable programmers, notably Scripps Networks Interactive and ESPN. Verizon also has deals with Vice Media and YouTube programmer AwesomenessTV, among other content companies.

For more:
- read this Wall Street Journal story

Related articles:
Verizon adds Discovery programming to mobile video service
Report: Verizon's mobile OTT video service to be called 'Go90,' will have some content exclusively for Verizon Wireless subs
Vice joins AwesomenessTV, ESPN, others in providing content for Verizon's upcoming mobile video service