MARIO RUSSO has been promoted from Account Executive to Sales Manager of Christal Radio in Philadelphia. Also at Christal Radio, NICHOLE PIKUR has been promoted from Account Executive to Senior Account Executive.

MONICA SEARES OLSEN has been hired as media director TroneAtlanta. Olsen joins TroneAtlanta from Tellme Networks, Inc., of Mountain View.

JURIE PIETERSE, former Vice President of Internet Strategy Practice at Foote Cone & Belding, has joined ING Direct as Director of Online Channels.

LOU SCHULTZ, chairman and CEO of Initiative Media Worldwide, was reportedly asked to step down after two years at the helm of the Interpublic Group of Cos. global media network.

Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. today announced that DEBORAH MAIOCCO has been named National Sales Manager of Comcast MarketLink Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York, the company's advertising interconnect in central Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Comcast, Maiocco worked as VP of Advertising Sales for CNX Media in Los Angeles.

Backbone Media, a Massachusetts-based company that specializes in website promotion, search engine optimization, and email services, has announced the appointment of GREG JARBOE as VP and Chief Marketing Officer. Jarboe was previously VP of Marketing for WebCT and held various positions at Ziff-Davis and Lotus Development Corp., where he launched Lotus Notes.

Primedia Enterprises, the licensing arm of Primedia Inc., announced that SEAN HOLZMAN has been promoted to Vice President and that KAREN CAHILL has been promoted to Vice President of Retail and Product Development. Holzman was previously the company's Senior Director of Licensing Sales, while Cahill was previously the Senior Director of Retail and Product Development.

JEFFREY A. PULLEN has been named president of Commission Junction, responsible for overall management of the company, and elected to the company's board of directors.

Online advertising company DoubleClick Inc. added two new executives, promoting DAVID ROSENBLATT, the president of the company's largest divisions, to company president, and naming MOK CHOE to the new executive-level position of chief information officer. Choe had been the co-CIO of online brokerage Ameritrade. The company also named its acting chief financial officer, BRUCE DALZIEL, as company CFO. Dalziel was named acting CFO in August, when Stephen Collins stepped down.

Avnet, Inc. announced the June 30, 2002 planned retirement of BRIAN HILTON, president of Avnet's largest global operating group, Avnet Electronics Marketing. 20-year Avnet veteran, ANDREW BRYANT, who is currently the president of Avnet Computer Marketing, has been selected to become his successor. In turn, 18-year Avnet veteran RICHARD HAMADA has been promoted to president of Avnet Computer Marketing, effective immediately.