Jordan Hoffner, the head of content partnerships for YouTube, is leaving the company, and joining Ben Silverman’s new content venture at IAC (NSDQ: IACI), we have learned. The move from YouTube was announced internally today. This is the second senior digital exec to join Silverman’s venture, after we first reported on Drew Buckley also joining it last month. Replacing Hoffner in his position at Google/YouTube will be Chris Maxcy, who has been heading YT’s music partnerships till now; media/video will also now fold under him. No word on what Hoffner’s formal role at Silverman’s company will be, but could likely be in building up media partnerships, judging from his background. Also, not clear if he will move from his current abode in San Francisco to Los Angeles, where the new venture is based.

SEE ALSO: Buckley Leaves Semel’s Windsor & Joins Silverman At IAC

Hoffner’s leaving at a delicate time for the dominant online video service, right when it seems content/media industry’s frosty relationship with YouTube is beginning to thaw a bit, with the latest U2 live webcast as a small example of it. Another deal, in the works, would bring streaming movies to the video service; it is in talks with Lionsgate, Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX) and Sony (NYSE: SNE) for it, as reported in Sept.

Hoffner joined YouTube in 2006, right after Google (NSDQ: GOOG) bought it. He came from NBC, where he was the VP of digital running the NBCU digital studios. Prior to that at NBCU, he and Mike Steib, also now a Googler, conceived and launched NBC Weather Plus, a 24-hour digitally broadcast weather-news service. (later usurped by NBCU’s Weather.com part-acquisition). More on Hoffner’s career here in this B&C profile.