Danny Sullivan is to chair 2007 Search Engine Strategies Conferences. He will leave Search Engine Watch and start a new blog.

In August we reported that search engine expert and celebrity Danny Sullivan was to leave Search Engine Watch and the Search Engine Stategies conferences.

He explained his choice by referring to contractual difficulties with Incisive Media, the owner of the site and the conference series. Quite a few observers wondered why Incisive Media would let Sullivan go, arguing that it would have serious consequences for brands as well as products.

Sullivan to chair some 2007 SES conferences

Incisive Media has probably listened. Not that everything is back to normal, but Sullivan will continue working on the conferences next year.

In his blog Sullivan writes that:

• For the SES New York April 2007 he will be chairing the conference as before.
• He will co-chair the SES San Jose August show with another person, probably Chris Sherman of Search Engine Watch.
• The SES Chicago December conference will be chaired by someone else, probably Chris Sherman. Sullivan will take part as speaker and moderator.

So it seems that someone has done some damage control here, trying to alleviate the negative effect caused by Sullivan’s previous announcement. It might work — as long as it lasts. What will happen in 2008 and beyond is unclear.

New blog from Danny

Danny Sullivan will not remain at Search Engine Watch, the world’s most influential search engine oriented site (which it is because of him.) November 30 is his last day as an SEW writer and editor.

Instead he will start a new blog, which will be launched later this year.

Source: Danny’s blog: News On My Plans For Next Year via Unofficial SEO Blog