Blyk, the free mobile network for young people funded by advertising, has today announced that as part of the company's recent organizational realignment, Antti Öhrling, the co-founder and current executive director of Blyk will take the helm in the UK as Shaun Gregory, Blyk's current UK CEO, resigns for personal reasons.
"In 2008 Blyk achieved milestones in member and advertiser growth in the UK and it was a pivotal year for Blyk in demonstrating that the model works for both young people and advertisers alike. We thank Shaun for his contribution to this success." said Antti Öhrling.
Antti Öhrling co-founded Blyk in 2006 with former Nokia president, Pekka Ala-Pietilä, and has been a driving force in the company's strategic direction. Öhrling's move to the top spot in the UK will ensure that the company's innovative model continues to be a leading force in UK youth media.
At the same time Pekka Ala-Pietilä will lead Blyk's international media partnering approach through which the company will gain greater flexibility and speed to capitalize on new growth opportunities and global demand for its media model.
The announcement follows the company's recent news of an additional €40 million in funding to support it's ongoing operations and accelerated international expansion.