AOL hires tech chief

America Online has filled its top technical post, a position left vacant since a reorganization last year. Maureen Govern has joined Time Warner' AOL as chief technology officer, the company said Wednesday. She was previously the CTO at Convergys, a business operations outsourcing company in Cincinnati. In her new post, Govern will manage AOL's network infrastructure and data center operations. As a member of the group's executive team, she is also charged with setting its technical strategy. She reports to AOL boss Jon Miller. AOL's former CTO, John McKinley, was promoted last fall to head of the group's Digital Services business in an executive shuffle.

Govern's appointment comes amid speculation that Time Warner may sell its Internet unit and that Microsoft and Google may be eyeing a buy. Time Warner has said recently, however, that it's committed to reinvigorating the group.