In a move that ends recent speculation that it might be closed, the Chicago office of J. Walter Thompson this week named BARRY KRAUSE its new President. Krause has been Chairman-CEO of Publicis, New York, since Oct. 1, when Publicis Groupe merged its Chicago operations into its New York office as part of a massive reorganization of the holding company's assets after buying out Bcom3 Group. The JWT post had been vacant since September, when Brian Heffernan resigned under pressure as the agency was reportedly struggling on the Kraft Foods and SABMiller Brewing accounts.

Tribune Publishing just announced that LOUIS SITO, President, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Hoy, one of the nation’s largest Spanish-language daily newspapers, has been named to the newly created position of Vice President/Hispanic Media. In his new role, Sito will be responsible for the strategic direction of Tribune Publishing’s initiatives in Hispanic media and for coordinating group activities that include Tribune’s four Spanish-language newspapers.

Tribune Broadcasting, a division of Tribune Company announced that Washington D.C. Bureau Chief CISSY BAKER has been appointed Vice President/News Operations and that Marketing Executive RICK FELTY has been named Vice President/Creative Services. Felty has more than 10 years of experience with Tribune and has been instrumental in helping shape promotion of the on-air product at each of the 24 television stations. Previously, she was Director/Creative Services for WGN-TV, Chicago, from 1997 to 2000. Baker joined Tribune Broadcasting as Washington Bureau Chief in 1994. She was named Director/Creative Services for Tribune Broadcasting in July 2000.

The Advertising Council announced that KATE EMANUEL has joined the organization as Vice President of Government Affairs. In this newly created position, she will expand the Ad Council’s partnerships with Congress, as well as federal government agencies and national non-profit organizations. Prior to joining the Ad Council, Emanuel worked in Congress for five and half years and most recently, as the Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard.

Tacoda Systems Inc., an enterprise software company, announced that YORAM EZRA will join the company this month in the newly created position of Deployment Manager. Ezra comes to Tacoda from Oven Digital, New York, where from 2000 to 2002 he was Managing Director, Director of Project Management and Account Manager, handling Tiffany’s among others. Prior to this, Ezra worked as a project manager for March First, New York, where he handled the Audi North America account. From 1996 to 1999, he led the multimedia development team at Times Mirror Magazines.

MICHAEL GALKIN has joined CandidateSeeker.com as the Director of Sales and Marketing. Galkin’s prior company was ranked in the top 150 of the Inc. 500, and he was a finalist in the 2002 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His experience in marketing and new media is expected to broaden the companies marketing efforts.

Quintacom Inc., a company that will create new and alternative communications through a mix of creative entertainment, media and marketing, was recently announced by its founding partners. MATT RYAN is the Founder and CEO of the former Ryan Drosman & Partners advertising agency; CAROLYN WALL is the former Publisher of Newsweek; REGGIE LUCAS is a multi-platinum selling, Grammy-winning producer, composer and songwriter; and MARK GRAHAM is former President of Graham Marketing & Communications Group, Inc. Ryan said Quintacom will produce integrated entertainment as brand and marketing solutions, and specialize in bringing to market recorded music.

MICHAEL GENTRY has joined Roska Direct as National Account Director. He is responsible for new business development in the healthcare and consumer industries for the $50 million direct marketing agency. Prior to Roska Direct, Gentry was Senior Account Manager at IMS Health, Inc., and previously he held several sales and brand management positions with Johnson & Johnson of New Brunswick, N.J.

ANDREW M. NIBLEY has been named Chairman of Marsteller, the advertising, interactive, event management and television production unit of Burson-Marsteller. Based in New York, Nibley will oversee Marsteller's U.S. operations in New York, Washington, Chicago and Pittsburgh, and coordinate with Marsteller operations in London, Frankfurt and Hong Kong. Previously, Nibley led Vivendi Universal's Internet music portals on a global basis, serving as President and CEO of Rollingstone.com and GetMusic.com. Before that, Nibley co-founded Reuters NewMedia, which became the No. 1 provider of news on the Web and one of the first profitable Internet companies.

ANN LYDECKER was named Director of Business Development at Semaphore Partners in New York. Semaphore Partners is the interactive technology provider of Publicis SA, the world's fourth largest advertising and communications group.