Danny Sullivan Leaving SES and SEW

A leader is planning to part ways with a potential (almost there) leader! Danny Sullivan's declaration of leaving SES and SEW (Incisive Media) came as an earthquake for the search industry. Matt Cutts went to the extent of measuring it at 9 on the Ritcher scale!

Danny's blog entry has it all in detail. His journey write from the starting till at least November, '06. The beginning of SEW, selling it to JupiterMedia, beginning of SES, JupiterMedia selling SES and SEW to Incisive and the one year negotiations at Incisive."Lack of long-term incentive" has been sited as the primary reason for this break off of the master with his babies. Some have termed it as unjustified "greed"! And there are others who say this "greed" is justified, explaining that this greed is what should drive Danny to hold on the leader stature in the search industry. Whatever be the words used, everyone - commenting or non-commenting - is shocked with the news. The reasons might be XYZ, but what everybody is looking for is an answer to many questions!

• What next?
• Which direction does Danny Sullivan go in?
• He charts his own way? Or joins an organization again?
• How does that effect the search industry and its professionals at a macro level?
• Should the industry expect a rival to SEW?
• A conference competing with the SES?
• And lots more!

One thing Danny has confirmed in the post declaration phase is his active participation as the leader in the industry. The means may be different, but the goal does not change! And as Matt Cutts rightly puts it - "My spidey sense tells me that backchannels in search are probably lit up like Christmas trees talking about this." The search industry is going to be abuzz with this for some time to come.

Here's wishing the best to Danny for his next endeavour(s). :)

cheers,

- J