Irvine-based WebVisible Inc., which helps businesses buy and target online ads, announced an executive restructuring as a NetZero Inc. cofounder takes the top spot on the heels of job cuts.
Webvisible said Monday that Ron Burr, who joined the company as chief operating officer last year, is taking over as chief executive.
Founder Kirsten Mangers stepped down as chief executive and remains on the board.
WebVisible said that Mangers plans to “dedicate more time to philanthropic activities.”
Burr helped start Woodland Hills-based Internet service provider NetZero, now part of Woodland Hills-based United Online Inc. in 1998.
He’s also a managing partner along with other NetZero alums at Westlake Venture Partners, a venture capital firm.
Burr was introduced to WebVisible by Greg Martin, an investor at Menlo Park-based Redpoint Ventures, which invested in NetZero.
Martin, a director at WebVisible, thought the company would be a good fit for Burr.
Before joining WebVisible, Burr was chief product officer for Los Angeles’ LRN Corp., which makes software for governance, ethics and compliance management.
As chief operating officer, Burr was responsible for overseeing product development, engineering, technology, media and operations.
“I’ll be the nuts and bolts guy in the house, so (Chief Executive Kristen Mangers) doesn’t have to worry about it,” he said last November.
The company also has made a 15% reduction in its headcount after months of hiring announcements.
According to WebVisible, the cuts come on Burr realigning the company “to focus on performance, quality in scale and healthy growth.”
