A Top Amazon Executive Could Be One Step Closer To Joining Yahoo

Amazon has confirmed its top sales executive Lisa Utzschneider, is leaving the company, AdAge reports.

Earlier this week, Kara Swisher at Re/code reported that Yahoo's Marissa Meyer was trying to poach Utzschneider from Amazon, although it was unclear for which role.

Utzschneider, currently Amazon Media Group's VP of global advertising sales, will leave the company at the end of the month and is to be replaced by its VP of North American advertising sales, Seth Dallaire, according to AdAge.

As Re/code reported, if Utzschneider moved to Yahoo she could be hired as a sales chief, or COO, as Yahoo never replaced Henrique De Castro who had held that role for just a few months until Mayer forced him out of the company in January.

Not much is known about Amazon Media's ad business and in rare press interviews Utzschneider has been stereotypically tight-lipped about the size of the division or what percentage of group revenue advertising is responsible for. EMarketer estimated Amazon Media generated around $840 million in ad revenue last year.

Using that comparative, Yahoo's display advertising business will be a step up for Utzschneider. The division generated $396 million in revenue in the last quarter alone, although this was down 5% on the same quarter on 2013.

If the reports are correct, Utzschneider will be joining Yahoo shortly after the company hired The Washington Post's chief revenue officer Kevin Gentzel as its head of sales. Industry sources have told Business Insider Gentzel is the kind of sales rep Yahoo needs to really kickstart its ad business.

Business Insider has contacted Yahoo for comment. This article will be updated once that has been received.

Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.