"Effective: immediately." These words (when connected with one's employment) indicate one of two things: (a) a highly-charged resignation, or (b) someone was on the business end of a "you're fired!"
AOL Chief Technology Officer Maureen Govern was, it's being reported, in category (b). I think we all knew something big would happen as a result of 1000s of search results being made available on the internet and, in my opinion, it's too bad it was a firing (I so prefer principled, stiff-upper-lip resignations). A firing is redolent with the mental image of closed doors, red faces, swear words echoing down the halls of AOL. Instead of this being an unfortunate learning experience it looks like a red-faced, expletive-filled, closed-door firing.
Maureen is to be replaced by former CTO John McKinley. According to the Wall Street Journal [subscription required], two other employees were fired along with Maureen, although they didn't say who.
Best & Worst in Money 2008: Most shocking financial collapse
Closing Bell: Stocks slump as AMD, AT&T, GM and Merck decline
Global Q&A: A rocky road, but profits ahead
