He'll be replaced by David Eun, Google's former vice president of strategic partnerships.
Armstrong writes:
After nine years with the company and after the significant changes we made this year moving from licensing content to becoming a principle in content, he wants to take a step back. Bill built a strong management team and laid the groundwork for the content strategy that we’re now pursuing. While I’m disappointed by his decision, I respect his intent and have asked him to work with me, not only to find his replacement but also to transition with that person to ensure that, as a company, we don’t miss a beat on the execution of our content strategy.
Armstrong added that content "is at the core" of AOL's strategy and that the company plans to scale its content platforms, production and partnerships to offer original content and attract people to its sites.
Wilson is credited with positioning AOL's content in key verticals and will stay on through May 1. Based in New York, Eun will begin March 1.
"AOL is now in a phase of transition from playing defense to playing offense," Armstrong wrote. "As I said on the employee earnings call yesterday, AOL's back in the game and we're playing to win. We have a lot of work to do, but we're going to do it."