paidContent Nabs Former Dow Jones Senior Exec as CEO, Expands Staff and Opens New York Office

Congrats to Rafat Ali and the growing success of paidContent, the essential online publication about digital media.  Today, Rafat announced the "next phase" of his company with appointment of Nathan Richardson, former head of Dow Jones Online as the new CEO.

Rafat announced other hires, the promotion of Staci Kramer and said the Santa Monica-based publisher would open an office in Manhattan.  Welcome to the 'hood!

I've republished an interview I did with Rafat in nearby Madison Park last summer.  It's a thoughtful conversation where Rafat speaks about the growth of his company and the economic realities of the current digital media frenzy.  This is a good piece.

Congrats Rafat.  You and the team have built an astonishingly important media organization from the ground up.  You are an inspiration to many, my friend.

Update:  Here's an interview with Nathan Richardson that just went up on TechConfidential. The new CEO tells Mary Kathleen Flynn that the company will be making acquisitions. Here's what he says:

Acquisitions may play a role, too, and Richardson confirms that the company has cash it can spend. "We'll be looking at build, buy, partner opportunities. We're nimble and small enough that we can do things like that, and we have active backers that want to help us do that because they believe in our platform."

Update.2:  Here is a Q&A on TechConfidential conducted with Rafat and Nathan by Mary Kathleen Flynn.

-- Andy Plesser