US Net giant hires Sunday Business md

Sunday Business managing director Andrew Hart is leaving to join the UK version of the US-owned Internet search engine Ask Jeeves as its chief executive.

Carlton and Granada TV have each spent &£20m on a 25 per cent stake in Ask Jeeves UK, with the remaining 50 per cent owned by Nasdaq-listed Ask Jeeves in the US.

Hart joined Sunday Business in October 1998 from IDG, where he was senior vice-president of client services for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

He will appoint creative and media agencies in time for the launch of the UK Ask Jeeves in February.

Hart is also recruiting a marketing team. He says: “Ask Jeeves is partnering two of the strongest media brands in the UK. We will be a market-leading force.”