Idearc Media announced yesterday that it has named Briggs Ferguson president – Internet, replacing Eric Chandler, who departed in January to accept a position in another industry. Ferguson spent five years at IAC Citysearch. He left in March 2007, replaced by current Citysearch CEO Jay Herratti.

Since leaving Citysearch, Ferguson has been active advising media and technology companies. Last November, for example, he joined the board of directors of Ripple, a California company that distributes advertising through video screens installed in high-traffic locations. Before Citysearch, Ferguson held positions at EMI and Launch Media (later acquired by Yahoo!).

Ferguson certainly brings substantial experience in local online directional media. His experience offers some familiarity with the directory world and how it operates without being steeped in the Yellow Pages culture. It’s a nice balance and a smart choice for Idearc to make. Ferguson will have a demanding job ahead, as the IYP and local search arena becomes more competitive and the stakes for publishers rise, as they become increasingly reliant on their digital products to drive growth.

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