Andreas Schmidt is to quit his job as the global head of ecommerce at media giant Bertelsmann.

Reports claim that the former head of AOL Europe decided to jump ship because he was at loggerheads with a number of key figures about the company's future e-strategy. In a statement, the company said he is leaving to "pursue new entrepreneurial opportunities outside Bertelsmann".

But the FT cites unnamed sources who claim that Schmidt and Klaus Eierhoff, the CEO DirectGroup Bertelsmann (the company's customer-facing division) didn't get on.

If that's the case, there there was little sign of any animosity - in public at least.

In a statement Eierhoff said: "Andreas Schmidt has made an essential contribution to the development of digital distribution with his ideas and initiatives.

"He has played a major role in making Bertelsmann the internationally leading enterprise in digital music distribution today.

"This is a tremendous achievement for which we are thankful," he said.

Of course, El Reg has fond memories of Andreas.

Like the time he was captured posing with a Triumph motorbike while sporting a leather jacket emblazoned with the Netscape Online logo on the back.

Ah, those were the days. ®

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