• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, April 14, 2010

Ecommerce services provider GSI Commerce on Wednesday named Chris Saridakis chief executive officer of its marketing services segment.

In this role, Saridakis will oversee GSI's existing marketing services businesses, including e-Dialog and TrueAction, and will be expected to execute the company's overall marketing services growth strategy, including the addition of new business lines, geographic expansion and acquisitions.

Last week, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Saridakis planned to leave Gannett Co., where he has served as chief digital officer since early 2008.

Saridakis first joined Gannett in 2005 upon its acquisition of rich media provider PointRoll, where he was then serving as chief operating officer. From 2005 to 2008, Saridakis served as PointRoll's CEO.

GSI says its marketing services division has seen rapid growth in recent years. Indeed, the segment contributed annual revenue of $127.6 million in 2009 -- up from $26.9 million in 2007, and now has approximately 800 employees.

"Marketing services represents a tremendous opportunity for GSI with the dramatic shift of marketing dollars moving from traditional channels to online," said Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of GSI. "Our e-commerce clients -- and the industry as a whole -- are becoming more sophisticated when it comes to interactive marketing."

According to Saridakis: "We are in the midst of a shift in consumer behavior, with people spending more time than ever online."

Saridakis is expected to officially join GSI on May 17, and report directly to Rubin. As of Wednesday, Gannett had yet to name his replacement.

Gannett's digital division posted an operating revenue decline of 7.2% to $157.7 million in the fourth quarter, which was largely attributed to its struggling CareerBuilder unit.

GSI acquired e-Dialog in early 2008 for $157 million in an effort to broaden its interactive marketing services division. The plan was to provide e-mail marketing services to GSI's e-commerce clients including Bath & Body Works, Toys 'R' Us, and Major League Baseball.

More recently, in late 2009, GSI agreed to acquire Retail Convergence, the owner of invitation-only, discount luxury shopping site Rue La La and discount shopping site SmartBargains, for as much as $350 million. GSI said it would pay $180 million in cash and stock, along with an earn-out of up to $170 million.