DAVID MURGA has been named the Midwest Advertising Director at Latina magazine. The former Director of Marketing at iHispano.com will be based in Chicago.

DAVID HESSEKIEL has been named President of Cause Marketing Forum, Inc., a new company producing events, an awards program and causemarketingforum.com, an online service for the growing field of business-nonprofit marketing alliances. Hessekiel honed his integrated marketing expertise at Rodale, Ryan Partnership and Matchmaker Marketing.

Independent shop Wongdoody has hired longtime Los Angeles adman BRUCE SILVERMAN as President of its Los Angeles office. Silverman was President-CEO of Initiative Partners, which focuses on buying media for the clients of independent agencies. Initiative Partners is a unit of Interpublic Group of Cos.’ Initiative Media North America. Silverman has also worked at agencies such as BBDO Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and Bozell & Jacobs. For 11 years, he was with now defunct independent shop Asher/Gould Advertising.

Youthstream Media Networks Inc. announced this week that JONATHAN DIAMOND resigned as Interim Chief Executive and a Director, as the company continues creditor talks. The on-campus marketing and media company said in a press release that a bankruptcy filing is probable if it fails to conclude an arrangement with its creditors. Diamond's departure follows the resignation of Sidney I. Lirtzman and G. Kelly O'Dea from the board.

Speaking of AOL, job cuts in areas not key to the company's turnaround strategy are expected over the next couple months, some possibly before year-end. Potential job cuts could match the layoffs seen at AOL after the merger, when close to 2,000 jobs were cut at the online division. Cuts will not all be made at once.

JACK M. GREENBERG, Chairman-CEO of the McDonald's Corp., ended 21 years of service with the fast-food giant when he announced his retirement this week. Jim Cantalupo, formerly Vice Chairman and President, will succeed Greenberg as CEO and Chairman of the boards. The board also elected Charles Bell, President of McDonald's Europe, as President and Chief Operating Officer for the company, and Jim Skinner as the new Vice Chairman. Greenberg's retirement is effective Dec. 31, and Cantalupo officially takes over the next day.

JOHN J. SARSEN JR., President-CEO of the Association of National Advertisers since 1994, this week announced plans for his retirement effective Jan. 3. Sarsen joined ANA after posts at General Foods, PepsiCo, Canada Dry Corp., Grand Union Corp. and Chase Manhattan Bank.

DR. WILLIAM F. BAKER, President and CEO of Thirteen/WNET New York, has been appointed to its Board of Directors at Rodale, Inc. With more than 40 years experience in broadcasting, Baker has served as President and CEO of Thirteen/WNET since 1987. Prior to assuming his position at Thirteen, he was President of Westinghouse Television and Chairman of its cable and programming companies for 10 years.

Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation (RASCO) announced the promotion of COREY SILVERMAN to Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales for muchmusic.usa. Silverman, who had previously held the position of Vice President, Advertising Sales for Bravo and IFC, will oversee all advertising sales and sponsorship initiatives and manage the day-to-day operation of all ad sales related functions, including setting and implementing sales strategies and creating revenue goals for muchmusic usa.

ValueClick, Inc., a leading provider of multi-channel media and technology solutions, announced the appointment of SCOTT H. RAY to the post of General Manager for two business units within its Technology Division. In this new role, Ray will be responsible for the overall management and growth of these two units, as well as playing a key role in ensuring their overall fit within the integrated offerings of the ValueClick, Inc. enterprise. Ray comes to ValueClick from OpenTV, one of the world's leading interactive television companies, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.