Sharon Rowlands will become Web.com’s next president and CEO.
The Jacksonville-based internet company’s board of directors named her Monday after company founder David Brown announced his retirement last month.
Rowlands will be joining Web.com on January 28 from Reach Local, where she currently serves as director and CEO. Reach Local is a Gannett company focused on online marketing and advertising.
She led a “strategic transformation and 2016 sale to Gannett,” while at Reach Local, according to Web.com.
"Sharon brings significant leadership experience and a proven record of driving strategic business transformation in our space. She shares our vision, dedication to serving customers, and commitment to driving profitable growth,” said Robert Aquilina, chairman of the Web.com board of directors and Siris Capital executive partner in a news release.
Rowlands is coming during one of the biggest periods of change in Web.com’s history. Last year Web.com went private when it was acquired for approximately $2 billion by an affiliate of Siris Capital Group.
“The company has great brands and a strong customer-focused culture. I am honored to be chosen to lead the organization into its next phase of profitable growth and expansion,” said Rowlands.
Web.com is building a new headquarters in Jacksonville at 5379 Gate Parkway, which is expected to open this spring.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org, 904-358-6349 or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
