Dow Jones (NSDQ: NWS) has picked a local publishing exec with online tenure to lead The Wall Street Journal’s assault on Europe next year as it squares up to The Financial Times on its own turf. Andrew Langhoff, CEO of DJ’s Ottaway local publisher, will be publisher of WSJ Europe and MD of DJ’s consumer media group across the whole EMEA region, starting January 5. For extra brownie points, he will also run the South America consumer business, including The Wall Street Journal Americas.

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Over the last year, DJ has upped its European news coverage, debuted the US WSJ edition in some London locations and added a magazine to the European edition. But the ‘09 push is online. Guardian editorial development director Neil McIntosh is already due to start as WSJ.com’s Europe editor in the new year and WSJ’s LA bureau chief Bruce Orwall is moving to run the London bureau.

In the announcement, Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton stressed Langhoff’s “proven track record at growing print and digital publications” - his resume includes stints overseeing ESPN.com and ABCNews.com development for Walt Disney’s internet group and he was internet development VP at Ottaway for two years. One of Langhoff’s goals will be developing “local sections on WSJ.com to create a more regionally relevant experience for readers”. It points to the likelihood of either a bolstered European WSJ.com or country-specific editions within Europe. Patrick J. Purcell will replace Langhoff at Ottaway, also taking the executive chairman role there.

Update: Another change: Christine Brendle, managing director for CMG in Asia, also will become publisher of The Wall Street Journal Asia. Langhoff and Brendle will report to Todd Larsen, COO for Dow Jones Consumer Media Group. Hinton and Larsen explained the moves to staff in an internal memo; you can read the relevant sections after the jump.