• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, April 22, 2011

Briggs Ferguson is expected to join Meredith Integrated Marketing as digital chief operating officer, effective Monday.

In this newly created position, Ferguson will be expected to expand Meredith Integrated Marketing's network of digital agencies, including Genex, O'Grady Meyers, New Media Strategies, Big Communications and The Hyperfactory.

Across each agency, he will oversee brand awareness and customer loyalty, while working to grow operations.

Ferguson will report to Martin Reidy, president of Meredith Integrated Marketing, who insists that digital is top-of-mind for the company. "Meredith Integrated Marketing has achieved strong growth over the last several years, including the addition of leading-edge digital marketing capabilities," said Reidy.

Meredith Integrated Marketing is a direct and digital marketing solutions leader, which provides brands with customer relationship management strategies. Its portfolio of expertise includes digital, mobile, video, database, health care, word-of-mouth and social marketing capabilities, as well as CRM and custom publishing services.

With more than 700 employees across the United States and internationally, Meredith Integrated Marketing serves nearly 200 clients, including industry and brand leaders such as Kraft, Nestlé USA, Chrysler, Lowe's and State Farm.

Ferguson most recently served as president of "Internet" at U.S. Yellow Pages directory publisher Idearc. Prior to that, Ferguson served as CEO for Citysearch, including the overall management and strategic direction of the national and international local search business.

Earlier this month, Meredith Integrated Marketing announced that David Brown had been promoted to EVP/GM, with expanded oversight of Meredith Integrated Marketing's core customer relationship marketing business, including direct leadership of Directive, Meredith Integrated Marketing's database analytics agency.

Due to its expansion of digital and customer relationship management services for national marketers, Meredith reported that Integrated Marketing revenue grew 14% during its more recent fiscal quarter.