After a little more than two years as president of LinkShare and eight years total with the performance network, Steve Denton resigned today. In a call shortly after the news hit the wire services, Denton told Revenue that it was “truly a personal decision” to step down. He says that he’s made a decision to “spend more time being a dad” and with his family.

Denton also stressed that he’s leaving the team at LinkShare in “great shape” and in “good hands”. “The LinkShare team is ready and up to the task.” While LinkShare conducts a search for a new president, John Kim, CEO of LinkShare’s parent company Rakuten USA will step in as interim president.

In addition, Kelli Beougher, Vice President of Lead Generation Services, was
promoted to Senior Vice President and will add responsibilities for LinkShare’s push into new businesses, as well as day to day management of its extensive publisher network.

While Arun Bordoloi, Senior Vice President of Services, who currently runs LinkShare’s Affiliate Marketing business, was given the additional responsibility of leading LinkShare’s growing Search Engine Marketing (SEM) business.

Denton also stressed that relationships are powerful things and that LinkShare was a “wonderful place to practice” that relationship building. Although not sure what he’ll do next, Denton is sure that he’s “too young to retire.”

On this week’s episode of Geekcast, the gang chats about the departure of Denton. Listen here.