• by Wendy Davis  @wendyndavis, August 1, 2006

Carat Fusion's John Durham is leaving the agency to join Jumpstart Automotive Media, where he will serve as president of sales and marketing.

Durham, who joined Carat Fusion last year as executive vice president, business strategy and development, is slated to officially begin at Jumpstart later this week; he has served on the company's board for the last year.

Durham is one of several high-level online executives to depart the UK-based Aegis Group's Carat Fusion recently. Greg Smith, former executive vice president for media insights, planning, and analysis, left last month to join Neo@Ogilvy as chief operating officer.

Additionally, Cory Treffiletti, former senior vice president and engagement architect at Carat Fusion (and MediaPost columnist), exited the agency at the end of March. He recently joined another digital shop, the San Francisco boutique Real Branding.

Toby Gabriner, former Carat Fusion president, also departed at the end of the year to become CEO of ad optimization firm [x+1], formerly known as Poindexter Systems.

Sarah Fay, president of Carat Fusion's parent network, Isobar U.S., said that Carat Fusion remains strong despite the recent defections. "As an agency, Carat Fusion is soaring," she said. "It's doing better than it has in years. Client relationships have never been stronger."

She added that the shop also has recently brought in key people, including Scott Sorokin, who took over as president in April. Sorokin previously served as global account leader at MRM Worldwide and before that was managing director of Modem Media/Digitas West, and also co-founded and served as managing director of Grey Interactive Worldwide.

Durham, president and founder of the Bay Area Interactive Group, previously founded political online marketing firm Pericles Communication, which worked on interactive campaigns with political groups. He also held the position of chief operating officer of online ad sales company Interep Interactive.