Real Branding has hired MARIAN THOMAS as its account director. Thomas, who previously handled interactive advertising for New Line Cinema, will continue to work on Real Branding's New Line Cinema account as well as their Warner Home Video account. Before joining Real Branding, Thomas created and negotiated media plans for films including “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy” and “Austin Powers.”

Global interactive marketing agency AKQA has opened a New York office and named LARS BASTHOLM as executive creative director, running New York’s creative department. Most recently, he was creative director at European agency Framfab.

Home & Garden Television has promoted CHAD YOUNGBLOOD to vice president of on-air promotion, while SHARON FLEISCHHACKER will assume the role of vice president of special projects. Youngblood will oversee the production of on-air creative for HGTV and contribute new strategies to the continued, creative evolution of the HGTV brand. Youngblood joined the network as a writer/producer of special projects in 2000. Fleischhacker joined the network as a producer in 1994 and will continue to support off-air creative endeavors, including the production of corporate video presentations for the network’s affiliate and advertising sales teams.

People’s insider columnist ZORIANNA KIT has agreed to a new position as the entertainment reporter for the KTLA (Channel 5) nightly newscast in Los Angeles.

PAUL ROTHKOPF has been named vice president of advertising-sales for WhenU. Prior to joining WhenU, Rothkopf was vice president, associate publisher for The Sporting News Online where he worked for eight years and helped launch its online presence.

MSNBC.com has promoted KYOO KIM to vice president, sales, and added MORITZ LOEW as East Coast sales manager. Kim previously served as director of ad sales for MSNBC.com and has been with the company for more than three years. Kim will lead advertising sales efforts, and Loew is responsible for generating new business opportunities on the East Coast.

FRANCESCO LEBOFFE has been named senior vice president of events and professional development and EDWARD BYRNES was tapped as vice president of sales for The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). Most recently, Leboffe was at the Center for Association Leadership in Washington, D.C., and also served as a senior vice president for the Direct Marketing Association for nearly 10 years. At the IAB, Leboffe will lead the organization's special events department, and will also create a Professional Development Division. Byrnes will lead IAB’s overall sales efforts, including membership and event sponsorships.

MATT GOLDBERG was named executive director, Dow Jones Integrated Solutions, a group that Dow Jones & Company. Prior to joining Dow Jones, Goldberg worked at Bertelsmann where he helped establish and lead the company's first integrated group, which focused on cross-media programs such as American Idol.

NewsStand recently added PAM CLARK to serve as account manager for newspapers and magazines. She will act as the main liaison to publisher clients, managing all digital circulation marketing programs using NewsStand e-Editions.

KEVIN L. WALKER and ANDERSON CROSS III have joined E. Morris Communications as Account Supervisor and Account Executive, respectively. Walker is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Tyson Foods account, and Cross manages the American Family Insurance account.