Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) announced that Eric Channing Brown has been appointed senior vice president of global communications. Brown will direct the company’s global communication efforts, overseeing functions that include public relations, executive communications, product promotion, public affairs, internal communications, corporate reputation management, as well as social media outreach. Brown will join the company in early July and report to Yahoo!’s chief marketing officer, Elisa Steele.

“Our communications strategies and programs for Yahoo!’s key audiences are core to the company’s success, and we are very excited that Eric will be joining Yahoo! in this critical role,” said Steele. “Eric’s extensive track record as a communications leader will be invaluable to our efforts to globally reinvigorate Yahoo!’s brand.”

Prior to joining Yahoo!, Brown was vice president of corporate relations at NetApp, driving global communications strategies that spanned more than 30 countries. He was responsible for media relations, social media, internal communications and executive communications. Brown was integral to NetApp’s recent rebranding campaign as well as instrumental to the communications program behind the company’s recognition by Fortune magazine as the “Best Company to Work for in America” in 2009.

Before joining NetApp, Brown was head of public relations for Adaptec and oversaw their B2B communications strategy, as well as brand and consumer public relations for the company’s retail products. He has also held additional leadership positions in both corporate and agency environments.

“This is such a pivotal time to join Yahoo! and I look forward to being a part of the team that helps the company reassert its brand relevance globally,” said Brown. “Yahoo! has an amazing combination of assets and I am excited to work with the talented communications team to tell the Yahoo! story around the globe.”

Brown holds a B.A. in English with high honors from the College of William and Mary.

About Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo! is focused on powering its communities of users, advertisers, publishers, and developers by creating indispensable experiences built on trust. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.