NBCi names new CEO

NBC Internet Inc. (Nasdaq: NBCI) named William Lansing CEO Monday. Lansing is expected to bring his e-commerce expertise to the company's network of entertainment, news and e-commerce sites.

Shares in NBCi, which recently bought AllBusiness.com, closed at 44 5/8 Friday. Despite reporting smaller than expected losses in its fourth quarter, the company's stock has languished in past months.

Lansing, a former executive at Fingerhut Companies and General Electric (NYSE: GE) will become the company's new chief executive officer, succeeding Chris Kitze, who becomes vice chairman of NBCi.

Lansing, 41, was previously the chairman and chief executive officer of Fingerhut, a division of Federated Department Stores (NYSE: FD). Fingerhut fulfilled orders for e-tailers in the peak holiday shopping season.

"He turned around Prodigy, moved Fingerhut into the Internet space, and was a pioneer in interactive marketing at McKinsey,'' NBCi Chairman Bob Wright said in a statement.

Lansing will be responsible for all aspects of NBCi's operations, including the strategic direction of the company, its daily operations and financial operations.

NBCi's current suite of Internet properties include its Snap portal service, the NBCi.com broadband portal, XOOM.com, NBC.com, VideoSeeker and NBC Interactive Neighborhood.