The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America announced that RALPH PAGAN has been appointed Senior Advisor, Brand Strategy and Corporate Identity working in Guardian's Corporate Marketing Group. Pagan will coordinate the development and branding of marketing materials for all Guardian business units. Most recently, Pagan was Managing Director of RP Enterprises, a boutique consultancy agency that specializes in web-based branding solutions and new product development.

RENEE BATURA has been promoted to manager of integrated advertising solutions for The Weather Channel Media Solutions group. In this newly created position, Batura will provide sales support for integrated deals and campaigns on weather.com. Batura joined The Weather Channel in January 2002 as international advertising product manager. Previously, she held positions at Carat USA, Initiative Media-One Team and T.G. Madison Advertising, all in Atlanta.

Planning Group International (PGI) announced the appointment of COLIN PAYNE as interactive account manager. Payne will be responsible for managing the online efforts for PGI's MasterCard and Citibank's private bank division accounts, as well as creating sponsorships and promotions to promote these clients' initiatives. Most recently, he served as a senior product manager at 24/7 Real Media, Inc.

The Advertising Council announced that JAMES B. HUNT, JR., Former Governor of North Carolina, will serve as Co-Chairman of its Advisory Committee on Public Issues. As Co-Chairman, Hunt succeeds VERNON JORDAN, Managing Director of Lazard Frères & Co. LLC. Governor Hunt will co-chair the Advisory Committee along with ROBERT WEHLING, a former Procter & Gamble advertising and marketing executive who began his term as Co-Chair in 2001. The Advisory Committee plays an instrumental role in shaping the direction of the public service advertising (PSA) campaign docket produced by the Ad Council.

Budget Living has promoted SCOTT WILLETT to Executive Vice President and Associate Publisher. Willett joined the Budget Living team in June 2002 as Associate Publisher in charge of spearheading advertising sales for the magazine. Previously Willett was with Teen People magazine, where he was entertainment/technology manager, overseeing accounts such as Verizon, Motorola, Sony and Panasonic.

Euro RSCG Tatham Partners has hired copywriter JEFFREY B. ROSS as Associate Creative Director. Ross will work on the Walgreens and Red Lobster accounts as well as new business.

RACHEL SOTO has joined PTMG/Project 13 Media as Director of Business Development for media buying and placement. She will be in charge of new and existing accounts, handling everything from print, broadcast, outdoor/OOH and interactive. Soto was the head of advertising sales at The Auto Trader prior to starting Advance Ads, which was merged with PTMG/Project 13 Media two weeks ago.

Dunnhumby USA announced the appointment of STEVE GOODROE as CEO of dunnhumby USA. Goodroe will drive the company's strategic direction and build out its U.S. operations, a joint venture between dunnhumby and The Kroger Co. Prior to dunnhumby, Goodroe worked for Procter & Gamble (P&G) from 1972 to 2001. Goodroe's career with P&G spanned three decades and three continents, with key sales and marketing assignments in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Global Customer Marketing.

Keiler & Company, a business-to-business advertising and marketing agency, has promoted LIV PIKUL to Business Development Manager. Pikul, who joined Keiler in 2001 as Business Analyst, will spearhead a focused new business program for the agency.

Kovel/Fuller announced that JULIE FOSTER has been hired as Associate Media Director. Foster will co-head Kovel/Fuller’s expanding team of media planning, buying and research experts. Her traditional agency background includes six cumulative years of automotive experience at David and Goliath, Deutsch, Saatchi & Saatchi and Ketchum Advertising where she developed plans for Kia, Mitsubishi, Toyota and Acura respectively.