The World Company announced Tuesday that it has selected a new top officer for its award-winning online operations.

Dan Cox, who has been the senior designer for World Online, has been selected as director of World Online, in charge of new media for the company.

Cox succeeds Rob Curley, who is leaving July 15 to become director of new media at the Naples (Fla.) Daily News.

“We’re thrilled to have Dan step up to a higher leadership role in our online ventures,” said Dan Simons, president of The World Company’s electronics division.

“We were grateful to have Rob’s leadership and direction, but Dan was always there as a member of the team and was instrumental in the success we enjoyed,” Simons said. “One of the wonderful aspects about Dan is that he can see how the end user wants to use the information we provide. And through his knowledge of the Internet and what it can do, he facilitates that information to come through in a very friendly fashion.”

Cox assumes his new post immediately.

Dan Cox

“I’m honored and excited to take over the online operations for The World Company from my predecessor and friend, Rob Curley,” Cox said. “We’re looking forward to creating world-class, innovative Web sites that serve the community well.”

Cox, a Council Grove High School graduate who attended Emporia State University, has been with The World Company for three years. He previously worked for Morris Communications in Augusta, Ga., and Topeka.

Since joining The World Company, Cox has been instrumental in creating nationally and internationally award-winning Web sites.

The latest was an EPpy Award for Best Internet News Service for the Journal-World’s Web site, LJWorld.com.

That award was presented June 9 by Editor & Publisher and Mediaweek magazines at the Interactive Media Conference and Trade Show in New Orleans.

Earlier this year, the Newspaper Association of America awarded World Company Web sites with four Digital Edge Awards, or “Edgies.”

At that time, LJWorld.com won Best Overall News Site, lawrence.com won Best Home Page User Experience, and LJWorld.com/sports won Best Sports Site for its sports sections on LJWorld.com and KUsports.com. Cox designed KUsports.com and lawrence.com, and redesigned LJWorld.com.

Cox, a Lawrence resident, and his wife, Shanda, have four children.