Gawker
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cubicle culture
How MySpace Humiliates Fired Workers
MySpace's CEO purportedly keeps his body pretty tight. But he should lay off the weight obsession at work. Owen Van Natta said MySpace was "bloated" when he laid off 400 workers; now they're reportedly called "fat" to their faces. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by Airvault: You can tell who the fat ones are. Their photos are black and white and taken from above. (Where did I... 2 Responses | Other threads
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breaking
MySpace Lays Off 400
Two months after taking over as CEO, Owen Van Natta is laying off 30 percent of MySpace employees. His outlook remains bleak; when was the last time you heard a CEO call his company "bloated" in a press release? More »
6,361
By Ryan TateComment by The Real JR: How and why in the world did MySpace have over 400 employees to begin with? The platform hasn't changed in... 4 Responses | Other threads
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valleywag
New MySpace Regime Lowers Expectations
MySpace chief Own Van Natta is a consummate dealmaker; at Facebook he helped sweet talk Microsoft into a critical ad buy. MySpace is a trickier case: insiders at the social network are spreading word it faces "horrendous" user disengagement. More »
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By Ryan TateComment by The Dominant Glee Club: Own Van Nutta? Really? You don't have to use typos to make his name sound weird. It's already there. 1 Responses | Other threads
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housekeeping
Valleywag: An Instruction Manual
Dear Ryan:
As I head to NBC to run its Bay Area site, I'm leaving you one Silicon Valley gossip blog, used but in good condition. A few thoughts on how to keep it that way. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by RheaPollstry: Is that Owen? Mmmmmm, I do luv me some bears. And working in a bar, no less! My heart is... 4 Responses | Other threads
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hires
MySpace Job Is Sweet Revenge for Ex-Facebook Exec
Owen Van Natta, Facebook's former COO, is officially taking over MySpace, News Corp.'s social network. With its user numbers stagnant, MySpace desperately needs a restart. Is Van Natta the guy to do it? More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Cheap Shot: I don't know why I haven't killed my MySpace account. It would be great if he rechristened it 'MySpaceBook' just... 2 Responses | Other threads
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hires
Should MySpace Hire the Hero or the Zero?
Former Facebook COO Owen Van Natta is the frontrunner to replace Chris DeWolfe as MySpace CEO. Blog lordling Jason Calacanis has been jokingly nominated for the News Corp. gig. Here's who should get it. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by nirreskeya: Obviously it's possible, but is it common for execs to live in the Bay Area and commute to L.A.? 3 Responses | Other threads
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nerdspotting
Is Former Exec Still Tangled in Facebook's Web?
It's a day of high intrigue at Facebook headquarters, with CFO Gideon Yu leaving abruptly. So why was former COO Owen Van Natta, who left last year, spotted walking out of a Facebook office? More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by kazillion: Obviously, business isn't going so well for him, as evidenced by the Ikea pillowcase to his left. 1 Responses | Other threads
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Mike Sheridan
Project Playlist hires a second ex-Facebook exec
A tipster tells us that Project Playlist, the online-music startup which has just hired former Facebook COO Owen Van Natta and raised $15 million, has hired Mike Sheridan as its CFO. Sheridan served less than a year at Facebook, where he was replaced by Gideon Yu. -
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owen van natta
Ex-Facebook COO takes Project Playlist CEO gig
Be careful what you wish for. Owen Van Natta, the former Facebook COO who left the social network in February, has gotten the CEO job he said he wanted — as the new chief of Project Playlist, an online-music startup. (It's been widely reported that MySpace wooed him to run its MySpace Music spinoff. He also had conversations with social-news site Digg and shopping search engine Nextag, among others.) Van Natta's an investor in Project Playlist, and the company has just announced funding from former AOL CEO Bob Pittman's Pilot Group. But powerful backers won't change the toxic business environment all online-music startups face. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Figaro: Don't you just wish you could short startups? more » | Other threads
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owen van natta
MySpace Music's fruitless CEO search
Why can't News Corp. find anyone to run MySpace Music, the spinoff from its social network which is part-owned by major labels? No one seems able to state the obvious: MySpace Music is a feature, not a company. The outside investment it garners is just an elaborate way of cutting in the labels on MySpace's music-related profits. No wonder former Facebook COO Owen Van Natta turned down the job; TechCrunch reports that he cleverly tried to get MySpace to buy Project Playlist, a music startup he'd invested in, as part of the deal. Van Natta picked the right test: If MySpace had been willing to fold Project Playlist into MySpace Music, it would have proven that the music venture really had some independence. Any other CEO candidate should ask the same questions Van Natta raised with his quid-pro-quo deal.
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By Owen ThomasComment by nirreskeya: Was Owen planning on moving to LA, or just commuting from the Bay? Both sound terrible to me. more » | Other threads
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rumormonger
Ex-Facebook COO Owen Van Natta to run MySpace Music?
Embarrassingly, MySpace unveiled its plans for MySpace Music without a CEO in place. The store's set to open later this month, but who will mind it? The Los Angeles Times suggests the shortlist is down to two names: Owen Van Natta, Facebook's former COO (left), and Andy Schuon, a longtime Universal Music executive (right). TechCrunch says Van Natta is a "top contender." Insiders say MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe is wooing him even more aggressively than Paris Hilton. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Goog_Diddy: OK. So let me get this straight. Zuckerberg replaces Owen Vannatta with Sheryl Sandberg? Maybe I'm not so smart, but... more » | Other threads
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mark zuckerberg
Who's in charge at Facebook?
A tipster reports spotting Mark Zuckerberg in San Francisco today, outside 21st Amendment in San Francisco. He was "having a conversation (all smiles) with two other guys," our tipster tells us. The restaurant and bar is near San Francisco's South-of-Market startup epicenter, so there's any number of reasons Zuckerberg might have been in town. But I can think of one reason why he'd be all smiles: He's not in Palo Alto, where Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is busily wrecking his company. When Zuckerberg hired Sheryl Sandberg as Facebook's COO, he said she would not be in "overall charge" of the company, but would stick to running business operations. As she's repeatedly meddled in technology and product, Facebookers have asked Zuckerberg what's going on — and he's kept repeating his "overall charge" promise, even as Sandberg pulls an Al Haig — "I'm in control here" — down in Palo Alto. Zuckerberg's misdirection is entirely intentional — and very revealing of his management style. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by debbydeb: I'm keepin an eye on this duo- the S--- is def going to hit the fan, that's not a give,... more » | Other threads
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OutCast Communications
At OutCast CEO Dinner, Robert Scoble greeted us warmly
FERRY BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO — Let's be clear: Local PR firm OutCast's CEO Dinner event Thursday night wasn't really a dinner — most people ate standing up. Nor were there many CEOs. (I counted one: Jim Louderback of Revision3.) It's a far cry from years past where the decimated post-bubble survivors of San Francisco's tech press corps would gather in a room and listen to OutCast clients like Gordon Eubanks of Oblix, a salty former submarine officer, utter zingers about the wonders of Viagra. OutCast is a sizable firm now, and it's got big clients like Facebook and Yahoo. But Mark Zuckerberg? Jerry Yang? Nowhere to be seen. Instead, you had a hall full of hacks and flacks. I wonder how many of them shook videoblogger Robert Scoble's hand? Photo gallery after the jump: More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Adam Rock: Have confidence problems? Need a few tips on how to handle those tough everyday situations? well just watch this video and learn... more » | Other threads
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caption contest
So, seriously, neither of you spray tan? Hahahaha
CARLSBAD, CA — D6 conference organizer Kara Swisher and bicoastal überflack Brooke Hammerling prepare to torment former Facebook COO Van Natta, who doesn't seem to mind. Can you suggest a better caption? Do so in the comments, but behave yourselves and be clever, or I'll ban all you filthy louts. The best one will become the new headline. Yesterday's winner: Jimmy the Saint, for "Sometimes that new iPhone is just a cigar."
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By Owen ThomasComment by Rachel Marsden: @colonelpanic: BTW, would you happen to know of anyone named Ian Bell who is being investigated by authorities for his... more » | Other threads
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nerdspotting
Could Owen Van Natta toast a reunion with another ex-Facebooker?
When I ran into former Facebook COO Owen Van Natta at last night's Fast Company party, he was in high spirits, claiming to enjoy life as an unemployed dad. But he's made no secret of his desire to get back into the startup game at some point — this time as CEO, not a dispensable No. 2. Which is why this photo, sent by a tipster, of Van Natta doing shots of Jägermeister with ex-Facebooker Darian Shirazi, got us thinking. Shirazi has a startup, Redux, which raised $3.5 million in funding last month. Redux is working on automated ways of finding friends online, but it's better known for its FlickIM instant-messaging client for the iPhone. It may not be the next Facebook, but one has to think Van Natta could do worse than running Redux, and Shirazi could do worse than landing Van Natta. -
wantrepreneurs
Startup will pay to hear from Facebook ex-COO, investor
Chris Leach, the CEO of Pwned.com, describes his company as "the worlds first social networking website dedicated to videogamers that launched in December," distinguishing it from the first social networking websites dedicated to videogramers which launched in November or January. With credentials established, Leach informed us that he loved our post about finding a CEO gig for departed Facebook executive Owen Van Natta and would we please tell Mr. Van Natta that his company needs a new CEO, too? Leach promises Van Natta "salary/stock," and that he "would demote myself to COO, and out COO would switch to CTO." Then in all caps, Leach explained how he'd like us to convince Van Natta to join up.CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US GET IN CONTACT WITH OWNE VAN NATT TO OFFER HIM TO TAKE THE HELM OF PWNED.COM, AND GET GREAT $ TO REPEAT WHAT HE DID WITH FACEBOOK
The full email — and his followup: More »
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Comment by andyfox1979: funny personal story about pwned.com... Some goof from that site offered a coworker and I 1% equity for every 1 MILLION... more » | Other threads
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jackpot
Hong Kong tycoon doubles Facebook stake as employees eye exits
Li Ka-shing, the Hong Kong telecom billionaire, has upped his stake in Facebook, investing another $60 million in the social network. His new total: $120 million, or half of Microsoft's stake. The valuation: Still $15 billion. All the cash flowing into Facebook has gotten some Facebookers thinking about selling. CEO Mark Zuckerberg remains too cash-poor to buy his own house, but a handful of employees are cashing out. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Fidel on the Roof: They won't wise up. They are going the way of the AOL Keyword... outta here! more » | Other threads
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your privacy is an illusion
Facebook security lapse exposes Mark Zuckerberg's private Facebook photos
Canadian Byron Ng found a way around Facebook privacy safeguards and forwarded pictures of Paris Hilton's brother drinking beer to the Associated Press. How'd he do it? As we reported in January, Facebook doesn't provide much security for its users' photos. With the right URL, anyone can see any photo, whether its marked private or not. Take, for example, the photos from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's own private album, embedded below. In it, Zuck shows that he drinks beer and even sometimes wears a tux. More »
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Comment by MyEasyTV: boring pictures, I'm sure they don't care that everyonés having gander. more » | Other threads
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exits
Owen Van Natta was't fired, "we just decided it was time for him to go"
As congratulations rain down on new Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, her predecessor, Owen Van Natta, is left under a cloud. Van Natta left Amazon.com for Facebook when it was barely out of an Ivy League dorm, and turned it into a company with plans to take over the world. Then he got demoted. Then he abruptly left. Why? Because he wanted to be a CEO someday. But his ambitions did not match his talents, Mark Zuckerberg now implies. In Zuck's words: "With bringing in a COO, we just decided it was the right time for him to go and do that." Somewhere else. Ah, then we shouldn't call it a firing.
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Comment by OddTODD: Somehow I think Owen will be fine with severance package in hand he will be seen as a really smart... more » | Other threads
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careers
Mr. Van Natta, we found you a CEO gig!
Owen Van Natta reluctantly left Amazon.com to become Facebook's COO in 2005. What he really wanted was a CEO gig. And so after three years and a demotion, Van Natta left Facebook yesterday in order to become CEO somewhere, anywhere. Well, Mr. Van Natta, boy are you going to owe us. Here's a note we received from a Valleywag reader that's going to make your day. More »
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Comment by sggrf: That looks like a compelling opportunity. Owen should run, not walk. more » | Other threads
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exits
Owen Van Natta out of Facebook
Once Mark Zuckerberg's right-hand man, Owen Van Natta is leaving Facebook in a couple of weeks. Van Natta, who openly aspired to be CEO — of Facebook or another company — was demoted from COO to vice president of revenue operations last summer. While he downplayed it at the time, it was a clear signal Van Natta was getting no closer to the executive suite. One question: Will Facebook buy back Van Natta's shares at the company's $15 billion valuation? Private companies sometimes do that for departing executives. Whether Facebook extends that lucrative courtesy to Van Natta will be the best indicator of ator of how friendly his departure was. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by sggrf: @ThatKid: I totally believe you and you're right. We used one of those outside firms. They can credibly come up with... more » | Other threads
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media
Facebook's foolish foes
I remember, distinctly, when former Business 2.0 editor Josh Quittner's love affair with Facebook began this spring. He couldn't stop talking about it, and I could hardly avoid hearing about it, since my office was next door to his. With all the zeal of a late convert, Quittner evangelized Facebook for most of this year — and now, feeling betrayed by Facebook's Beacon ads, he has attacked them with all the betrayed fury of a new apostate. Facebook is dead — to him, at any rate. Quittner's fickle rage perfectly captures the Silicon Valley hype cycle, and the press's complicity in it. Having built up Facebook, Quittner and his fellow reporters must, inevitably tear it down. But in this latest episode, it's Facebook's critics, not Facebook, who have jumped the shark. More » -
your privacy is an illusion
Facebook ad opt-out — the 100-word version
You probably didn't watch the video. So you might have missed the part where Owen Van Natta, Facebook's chief operating officer, told Kara Swisher that users will be able to opt out of the site's new Social Ads and Beacon ad network:Users have the opportunity to opt out of having any of this information distributed that they don't want to. It's part of the product today. If you are getting an action that is occurring on the site, you have the opportunity to determine whether you want that shared with your friends or not. If you're receiving those actions in your news feed and other places, you can determine whether you want to receive those from people or not. If you're coming from other sites, you get to opt out of that before it gets sent to Facebook and then again once it actually is at Facebook.
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Comment by karaswisher: Hey Nick: I did write a post too with the video and did address the illegal stuff at length (i just... more » | Other threads
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facebook
Facebook rejects MySpace OpenSocial invite
Speaking at a conference over the weekend, MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe reportedly asked Facebook to join Google's OpenSocial initiative. Facebook COO Owen Van Natta politely rejected the idea. He said Facebook's developer platform protects user privacy better than the open standard. More »
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Comment by Paul Lindner: No need to worry about OpenSocial compatibility. The fine folks over at Open Socket are already running open social... more » | Other threads
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facebook
For hiring, Facebook keeps options open
Put down the Viking helmet and champagne, Facebook founders. There's actually a downside to that $15 billion valuation. Facebook plans to double its workforce from 350 to 700 in the next year, but that might be difficult, the Wall Street Journal argues. Why? Because the high valuation raises the value of stock options to the point where there's little potential upside for employees just signing on now. Owen Van Natta, Facebook's chief revenue officer, admits, it's a "real issue." Nah. Hate to disagree with another Owen, but my namesake is wrong here. More »
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By Owen ThomasComment by Love2wagit: never ask anyone from UC-Santa Cruz anything, because you can bet they're smokin' something more » | Other threads
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facebook
Mark Zuckerberg demotes his No. 2 exec
Founders never share power willingly, gracefully, or for very long. That's a lesson that Facebook's Owen Van Natta should have learned at the knee of Jeff Bezos, when Van Natta was an executive at Amazon.com. Instead, though, he's been schooled in it by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who just demoted Van Natta from COO to chief revenue officer and VP of operations, Kara Swisher reports on AllThingsD. Zuckerberg's former No. 2, once trusted to attend the Sun Valley media-mogul conference in his stead, now shares key duties with a host of other executives. Here's a rundown on Van Natta's new rivals. More » -
sun valley
Mark Zuckerberg's substitute player
The moguls wandering through Sun Valley, Idaho, in the hopes of running into Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, will be sorely disappointed. Contrary to reports, he's not attending the conference, appearing instead at Fortune's iMeme conference in San Francisco. Sun Valley will have to settle for Facebook COO Owen Van Natta. Though they might not mind the substitution. Van Natta comes with several years of experience as Amazon's vice president of worldwide business and corporate development, where his duties included brokering deals with the same Hollywood types now clogging Sun Valley's streets.
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Comment by Carlos: haha, I love it when Zuckerberg does stuff like this. more » | Other threads
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