Changing of the guard at Go Daddy: 2012 Impact Stories

Major changes at the top of the world’s largest domain name registrar.

In late 2011 Go Daddy closed on an investment from KKR, Silver Lake, and Technology Crossover Ventures.

We all knew changes would result, but how they manifested themselves in the C-suite was a big story this year.

When the investment closed last year, Go Daddy founder Bob Parsons stepped down from the CEO position and tapped longtime Go Daddy president Warren Adelman to fill his shoes.

The first big executive change under Adelman’s leadership was the departure of general counsel Christine Jones.

It was the next person to go that was a big shocker: Adelman himself.

He disclosed his departure following just seven months as CEO.

Adelman was replaced by Scott Wagner, a member of KKR’s portfolio operations team, on an interim basis.

The prior week Go Daddy disclosed it has found its fresh CEO — former Yahoo! Chief Product Officer Blake Irving.

It recently named two more senior executives, which means a transition is in full effect.

It all points to a 2013 where a PE-backed Go Daddy goes long on acquisitions, product line expansion, and international growth.