Former Yahoo Exec Brad Garlinghouse Joins AOL

AOL, under new management and with a spinoff IPO on the horizon, continues to fill out its executive ranks.

The newest hire: former Yahoo exec Brad Garlinghouse will join AOL as President of Internet and Mobile Communications. Garlinghouse will report directly to CEO Tim Armstrong.

Garlinghouse will take control of AOL’s mail and instant messaging products. He’ll also head AOL’s Silicon Valley operations in Mountain View and serve as west coast lead for AOL Ventures. Bebo, acquired by AOL in early 2008, is now part of AOL Ventures.

Garlinghouse was most recently an advisor to Silver Lake Partners. Prior to that he spent nearly six years at Yahoo in a variety of executive roles. His last role at Yahoo was SVP Communications and Communities. His team grew Yahoo Mail to the no. 1 mail provider during his tenure, from no. 3 when he arrived at Yahoo.

AOL SVP David Liu was also strongly considered as a candidate for the position, we’ve heard from multiple sources.