AOL social network subsidiary Bebo.com has named a new head of global operations, Stephane Panier.  Panier will be responsible for scaling the social network’s media operations and advancing the global reach of the service.  Currently Bebo has 24 million users around the world.  Panier was previously the VP and COO of Bebo.  Panier will be reporting to Jon Brod, the EVP of AOL Ventures.

Before joined Bebo in January 2009, Panier worked at Google for 6 years in finance and operations positions.  “Stephane is a proven strategist and operator with executive experience from some of the world’s leading brands and businesses,” stated Brod. “He is the ideal leader to build on Bebo’s existing successes, to chart a course for its future, and to execute against that vision.”

AOL has bought out a local news website called Patch.com.  Tim Armstrong invested seed capital in Patch.com back in 2007.  As part of the deal, Armstrong will not profit from the seed investment he put in.  However, he will receive his seed capital back through AOL shares once the company separates from Time Warner.

Armstrong’s seed capital was made through his private investment company Polar Capital Group.  Another acquisition that AOL announced is Going.com.  The price of both properties were not disclosed.

The full press release is available after the jump.

[via BusinessInsider]
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