Angie's List names COO as interim chief to replace Bill Oesterle

Angie's List named its chief operating officer as interim CEO Wednesday to replace co-founder Bill Oesterle.

J. Mark Howell, who has been COO for the past two years, will serve as chief executive officer until a permanent replacement for Oesterle is found, the Indianapolis company said.

"Mark has extensive leadership experience in a public company setting and, having served successfully as Angie's List's COO for more than two years, has a deep understanding of the company's strategy and operations, which will be critical during this transition period," said John Chuang, Angie's board chairman.

Oesterle, 49, who co-founded Angie's with Angie Hicks in 1995, has said he wants to get back into politics to push for statewide legal protections for people who are gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual. He formerly managed the first electoral campaign of two-term Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Oesterle also simultaneously resigned from the company's board of directors. He continues to hold 2 million, or 3.4 percent, of the company's 58 million shares.

Chuang, who got to know Oesterle when the two were earning their master's in business administration at Harvard Business School, also said that, "On behalf of Angie's List and its shareholders, I want to thank Bill for the many years of service, dedication and innovation he has provided to the company and wish him the best of luck as he moves onto his civic endeavors in a fulltime capacity."

Chuang heads the Boston investment company TRI Investments, which is Angie's largest shareholder with 20 percent of its stock.

Howell, 50, formerly worked as president and in other positions for Indianapolis-based cellphone distributor Brightpoint from 1994 to 2012, when it was acquired by Ingram Micro Mobility. Howell then served as president of Ingram Micro for a year.

Oesterle released a brief statement, saying, "I have decided that now is the right time for me to step down as CEO in order to concentrate more fully on the civic issues that matter most to me. I am very proud of what we have accomplished over 20 years and look forward to following the company's progress in the future."

This is a critical time for Angie's and its 1,800 employees. The provider of online reviews for home, health and classic car service companies is facing new competition, including Internet powerhouse Amazon, in its business. Angie's List in June sued Amazon Local, accusing it of stealing provider lists and other proprietary information from Angie's website. Its stock price is also lagging, linked in part to its profitless history. The company has relied on continued infusions of investor capital to keep operating. But it ended two recent quarters in the black.

This is a critical time for Angie's and its 1,800 employees. The provider of online reviews for home, health and classic car service companies is facing new competition, including Internet powerhouse Amazon, in its business. Angie's List in June sued Amazon Local, accusing it of stealing provider lists and other proprietary information from Angie's website. It's also facing a lagging stock price, linked in part to its profitless history. The company has relied on continued infusions of investor capital to keep operating. But it ended two recent quarters in the black.

Earlier this year Angie's proposed a $40 million, 1,000-job expansion at its Near Eastside corporate campus. Oesterle put that expansion on hold during the controversy this spring over the state's passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Angie's stock price fell 7.8 percent in trading Wednesday, down 48 cents to $5.68 a share. That's far below its 52-week high of $12.65.

Call Star reporter Jeff Swiatek at (317) 444-6483. Follow him on Twitter: @JeffSwiatek.