Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Outrider has named PATRICK GARRETT to the position of director, strategic services. His responsibilities include client strategy for Microsoft and solution development. Garrett was previously vice president of sales and marketing at interactive design firm SteadyRain.

Meredith Corporation has promoted PATRICK TAYLOR to executive director, Meredith Publishing Group Communications. In this new role, Taylor will oversee all media relations, marketing communications, and internal communications for the entire Meredith Publishing Group. He joined Meredith Corporation in 2002 as director of New York Media and Marketing Communications.

CAREY GRAEBER, producer and founder of Great Plains Productions, will serve as the president of New York Women in Film & Television.

SCOTT LEDDER has joined Horizon Media as an account supervisor. Ledder comes to Horizon from MediaVest where he was assistant media director for the past four years, overseeing clients such as Heineken USA and Kraft/Nabisco. SAMANTHA TOUCHSTONE has been promoted to account supervisor, up from account executive. Prior to joining Horizon in January 2004, Touchstone was a media planner at Mediaedge:cia working on clients including Campbell's Soups Brands and AT&T Wireless.

American Profile has made numerous additions to its sales team. KELLY FIRTELL has joined the company as associate marketing director, a new position. She was previously marketing manager at Playboy magazine. MELISSA WERNER-MARICI has joined as account director in the New York office. Werner-Marici was formerly director of sales for Madison Direct Marketing. SHANNON HAY has joined as advertising account manager in the New York office. Formerly a showroom sales manager for the Marvin Richards line of women's outerwear, Hay has sold advertising for New York Magazine, Field & Stream, and Outdoor Life. PRISCILLA MACK has joined as account manager in the Midwest office from Essence, where she specialized in national beauty and retail advertising. Lastly, ERICA SCHULTZ is a new advertising account manager in the Midwest office. She comes to the magazine from Bauer Publishing.

JOSÉ ANTONIO MARTINEZ has been named vice president and general manager of the newly launched Mediaedge:cia Puerto Rico, based in San Juan. Martinez, formerly vice president/media services for Y&R Puerto Rico, will lead a staff of 15 employees.

JEFFERY KISSINGER was promoted to vice president of promotion strategy at Scripps Networks. Kissinger, who was previously director of strategy and planning for HGTV, will help coordinate cross-promotion efforts involving Shop at Home, Scripps newspapers, and Scripps television stations.

WILLIAM GASPERONI has been named the director of marketing at Blender magazine. Gasperoni will oversee the New York-based marketing staff and serve as the marketing and sales support manager for seven of the Blender offices. Prior to joining Blender, Gasperoni was the director of promotions at Life & Style where he developed and executed promotional programs and handled retail and charity events for the publication.

ABC Radio Networks has named BELIA JIMENEZ to the position of director, sales development research. Jimenez will be responsible for developing a number of brand-specific research marketing initiatives that support the advertising sales team. In her new position, Jimenez will work with the affiliate and brand marketing groups to highlight ABC Radio Networks' profile in the marketplace. Prior to joining ABC Radio Networks, Jimenez served as director of ad sales marketing for Premiere Radio Networks.

CSTV Networks has named JOHN DUFF as executive vice president, distribution. In his new role, Duff is charged with overseeing cable affiliate and university affiliate channels. Duff joins CSTV from AOL, where as executive director he oversaw the company’s broadband distribution into the cable MSO and telecommunications channels.

Mosaica, a multicultural communications agency under The Bravo Group umbrella, has named NILDA VELEZ as general manager. Velez will oversee the Payless ShoeSource, Citibank, and Unilever accounts, among others. Velez joins Mosaica from Bravo, where she most recently held the title of vice president, managing director. In this role, she led a team of 11 and managed the Kraft Foods, Lifetime Television, and Toys "R" Us accounts.

SIRIUS Satellite Radio has hired JENNIFER BETKA as vice president of interactive. In this position, Betka will be responsible for creating an Internet presence and marketing platform for SIRIUS, including the development and implementation of enhanced programming features and e-business initiatives. Betka previously served as vice president of global marketing for Time Warner.

R. L. BULLOCK has joined MediaComm Inc. as vice president of sales. He was most recently vice president, broadcast operations, Christian Broadcasting Network.

PETER HAEFFNER has been named national advertising director of Better Homes and Gardens magazine - the flagship publication of Meredith Corporation. GARY WENSTRUP has been promoted to Western director. Haeffner will oversee all advertising sales functions in Meredith’s offices around the country. Wenstrup will manage the day-to-day sales efforts for the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago offices.

Discovery Networks has promoted ANDREA KOLB from sales manager to vice president/national sales manager to oversee advertising sales efforts for Discovery Times Channel, Discovery Home Channel, Military Channel, The Science Channel, Discovery HD Theater, Discovery Kids Channel, and Discovery Kids on NBC. In her new role, Kolb serves as the advertising sales liaison to various divisions within Discovery Networks and is responsible for the development of key pricing strategies and sponsorship opportunities. Prior to joining Discovery, Kolb spent five years as an account executive for Turner Broadcasting and three years in the same capacity at ABC Family.

CMD recently promoted PATRICK ANDERSON to account director, DANIEL GETACHEW and PAULA WESSELLS to account managers, CARYN HERDER to customer reference program director, and LINDSAY MICHELET and SCOTT PETERS to account supervisors in the account services department.

IGE has hired DAVID D. CHRISTENSEN, MATTHEW P. SMITH, and HEATHER GORE to aid in the strategic growth of the company. Christensen, former head of business development for Universal Interactive and Black Label Games (both divisions of Vivendi Universal Games), was recently named vice president of business development. Smith has joined IGE as senior vice president of finance and controller, and Gore has been appointed as the company's vice president of marketing and communications.

MARK O’CONNOR has been named vice president, public relations for Food Network. O’Connor has served as the director of public relations for Food Network for more than three years. In his new role, he will continue to oversee Food Network’s public relations department.

MARY MAZZA joined ML Rogers as a senior planner. Prior to joining ML Rogers, Mazza served as vice president/director of account planning/research at The Bravo Group.

Kelliher Samets Volk has promoted CHERYL EATON, who was named a partner of the firm in September, to director of brand management. Eaton has worked at Kelliher Samets Volk since 1994 and was previously director of strategic planning and research.

VogtGoldstein promoted DEIRDRE FLETCHER to senior vice president, management supervisor from vice president. Prior to joining the agency in 2002, Fletcher was the vice president of marketing at E-Sync Networks.

Publicitas LHM has named RAFAEL GUERRERO as its national account executive for the West Coast region. In addition, FRANCISCO FRAMIL joins the company as marketing manager. Framil will be responsible for developing the research and marketing strategies addressing both publishers and advertiser’s needs.

JON WYVILLE has returned to Y&R Chicago to work with DAVE LOEW to lead creative work for the agency’s Miller Brewing Company and Travel Channel clients, among others. Wyville rejoins Y&R Chicago leaving Fallon Minneapolis as group creative director in charge of the BMW and Archipelago accounts.

RAND RAGUSA has been named director, online business development at Active Marketing Group.

Draft New York has tapped STEVEN KINDER to lead its DraftWorks division as senior vice president, director of DraftWorks. Kinder comes to the agency from Prudential Securities Incorporated, where he served as first vice president, director of marketing services.

MARLA HOPPENFELD has been promoted to vice president of public relations and affiliate marketing at The Weather Channel. Hoppenfeld was previously vice president of customer marketing.