Baer, who is also worldwide vice chairman of communications firm Burson-Marsteller and a former writer and editor, will provide strategic guidance to a company that he expects to have “a guiding impact on the future of news media at a time of serious challenges”.

DailyMe licences content from a range of traditional news sources. It has an editorial team which compiles its own pick of the most important stories of the day, but the site also features a personalised DailyMe section where news is displayed based on topics, sources and keywords selected by individuals.

Such a model paves the way for interest-based advertising that does not rely on some of the more controversial methods being considered by advertisers to target marketing messages at web users based on the tracking of their web-surfing behaviour.

DailyMe founder and CEO Eduardo Hauser said: “Don is a true expert in media, both traditional and digital, and his knowledge of journalism is superb. His vast experience with media, coupled with his work to strategically and successfully build world-class brands, are major assets and skills for our growing company.”