McCann Erickson promoted JOYCE KING THOMAS from her current position as executive creative director to chief creative officer of the agency’s New York office. Additionally, NINA DISESA who had the posts of chairman and chief creative officer remains chairman with expanded responsibilities. Thomas began her advertising career as a writer in the Midwest, before moving to New York for creative posts at Wells Rich Greene, then Young & Rubicam, and then to Wells Rich Greene again, where she rose to creative managing partner. DiSesa started in the ad industry at Cargill, Wilson, and Acree in Richmond, Va., moved to New …

Hill, Holliday has named SAMANTHA ADAMS as senior vice president of new business in the agency’s New York office. Adams was most recently director of marketing at Discovery Health Channel, where she provided strategic management to the network's programming and marketing initiatives. Prior to this, Adams was a consultant at Bain & Company in Boston, where she conducted analysis and developed strategies for Fortune 500 companies, particularly for those in the packaged goods and catalog retailing businesses.

Maven Networks has made numerous hires recently, including: GIAN LOMBARDI, who joins Maven from DoubleClick. Lombardi will work with consumer packaged goods marketers and the agencies that support them. Prior to DoubleClick, Lombardi worked at Firefly and Wired Ventures. BRENT FRASER will focus on selling Maven-powered solutions to automotive marketers. Fraser worked for International group of @Home, where he led a team of sales executives in developing media partnerships between the Unites States and the @Home and Excite International operations in fifteen countries. JAY VANDERZEE was most recently at Advertising.com and will focus on agencies and marketers in New York …

Barry Group announced that RUSSELL BEDELL has joined the marketing firm as an account executive. He will oversee client services and handle new business.

SKYLIST, a self-service e-mail service provider, has named RICK WESTERVELT as president. Westervelt will be charged with overseeing day-to-day operations and providing strategic business direction. Westervelt joins SKYLIST from JPS Corporation, a Dallas-based manufacturing company.

DoubleClick has named KEITH JONES as managing director of Abacus Europe. Jones will support Abacus' European operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the newly opened French operations. He will also play a key role in launching the business into new markets; developing client acquisition and retention strategies; creating value propositions and product enhancements; and devising sales management and forecasting systems. Jones joined DoubleClick from D&B, where he was the head of European sales and marketing solutions.

La Agencia de Orci & Asociados, has hired TONY STANOL as senior vice president of client services. In this newly created position, Stanol will oversee executive management for all agency service departments that interface with clients. Most recently at J. Walter Thompson, he ran the global Adams Confections account, creating advertising for Trident Gum and Halls Cough Drops around the world. Before this, he was at BBDO New York where he managed the Frito-Lay account internationally.

JUDITH ORLOWSKI has been named vice president of program scheduling and acquisitions for Home & Garden Television. In this newly created position, Orlowski will manage all aspects of the HGTV program schedule, and facilitate all program acquisitions for the network. Prior to joining HGTV, Orlowski served as vice president of program planning and acquisitions for WE: Women's Entertainment in New York.

ANTHONY RUGGIERO has joined Gorilla Nation Media as director of East Coast sales. His primary responsibility will be to enhance Gorilla Nation Media’s exposure and sales on the East Coast. Prior to joining Gorilla Nation Media, Ruggiero was a regional sales director for Winstar Interactive Media, vice president of sales for FortuneCity.com, and director of sales and marketing for Virtual Communities.

The Advertising Council announced that BARBARA LESHINSKY has joined the organization as executive vice president, development. Leshinsky will oversee the strategic planning and implementation of all organizational fundraising activities as well as the management of the organization’s 94-member board of directors. Prior to joining the Ad Council, she served as associate dean for institutional advancement at New York Law School.