The man who has overseen CBS’ interactive division since 2006 is leaving the network, reports the Los Angeles Times’ Company Town blog.

Quincy Smith, who leads CBS Interactive, will leave to start his own consulting company, the story says, with CBS as a client.

According to the article, Smith "engineered a series of acquisitions, culminating in the $1.8-billion purchase of the Internet tech portal CNET. Some analysts have argued that CBS overpaid for CNET."

The piece also quotes CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves as praising Smith.

–Chuck Ross