Li Ya promoted Phoenix New Media president

On July 10, Phoenix New Media (NYSE: FENG) announced on the same day that it was going to be promoted to Li Ya, former chief operating officer, as its president, effective immediately. Prior to that, Li Ya served as chief operating officer of the company more than eight years, and in June 2006 to November 2010 during this period has served as the company's chief financial officer.

Li Ya has over 20 years of experience in startup and public companies in the United States and China, covering the Internet, media, finance and telecommunications. Prior to joining Phoenix, Li Ya served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Techedge Corporation from 2004 to 2006, and served as president of Brighttech Telecommunications USA from 2002 to 2004.

Li Ya founded Global Villager Inc. as online community in New York City in 1995 and became chief executive officer. The company was acquired by NASDAQ-listed Startec Global Communications Inc. in 2000.

From 1993 to 1999, Li Ya worked successively at Verizon Telecommunications Company, DLJ Securities and Exchange Department, Lehman Brothers Risk Management Department and Morgan Stanley as software engineer and Internet senior consultant. Li Ya is also the executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in China, the China Financial Association in the United States, and the U.S.-China Affairs Committee.

Li graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China with a master's degree in computer science from the University of Science and Technology of the United States of America with a Master's degree in Computer Science and later attended Wharton's senior management class in the next two years.