Philip Rowley has been named president and COO of AOL Europe.

Taking up the newly created position, AOL Europe's former executive VP and CFO will report to Michael Lynton, president of AOL Time Warner International and CEO of AOL Europe. President Rowley will oversee all corporate and operational functions of AOL Europe including the AOL France, AOL Germany and AOL UK.

Before that he held a number of senior positions at EMI Music. Which is nice.

Rowley's appointment comes as reports from the US suggest Steve Case may be about to be unseated from his post as chairman of AOL TW.

There's speculation that some of AOL TW's directors may try and get him booted off when they meet for a regular board meeting tomorrow.

There's also growing discontent among some of AOL TW's major investors over the media and Internet giant's lacklustre performance.

Reuters quotes an AOL TW spokeswoman who denied that Case was on the move. ®