AOL has launched men's lifestyle destination site called Mandatory in partnership with LA-based Web studio shop BermanBraun.  

Yesterday we spoke with AOL General Manager Chris Grasso about the new site, AOL's plans to quickly scale a new vertical in a competive space and the opportunity for sponsors on the site.  

Gillette is the launch sponsor of the site.

AOL's launch comes at time of retrenchment from at least one big player in the men's lifestyle field Maxim, which has downsized its Web operations this week, according to this report in TechCrunch.

Andy Plesser