ABC News Digital announced a number of changes to its leadership team today. Laiea Smith, who had been managing editor for ABC News Digital since October 2010, will be leaving the company. With the move Eric Noe has been promoted to managing editor, he started at the company in 2004 as a general assignment reporter.

Ali Gazan has been promoted to head of lifestyle, which will include GoodMorningAmerica.com (which she already manages) as well as the entertainment, travel and lifestyle verticals of ABCNews.com.

John Shehata, the head of SEO, will be expanding his duties with the company, while Andrew Springer has been promoted to senior editor of social media, and Katie Moisse has been promoted to health editor.

More information in the note from ABC News Digital executive producer Lea Ann Leming, below.
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ABC News Digital is looking to strengthen its search-engine optimization and publicity with the respective hires of John Shehata and Michelle Levi.

Shehata is an SEO expert who had been with Advance Internet. He will be executive director of search and social media for ABC News Digital.

Levi joins as publicist for digital platforms. She had been media manager for Politico and worked at CBS News in DC before that.

“John brings the incredibly unique perspective that combines a detailed technical background and superb editorial insights,” says ABCNews.com executive producer Ed O’Keefe. “His groundbreaking work in search and social media has made him one of the nation’s foremost experts in a dynamic and challenging field. We are enormously proud to welcome John and Michelle to the ABC News Digital leadership team.”