The American Association ofAdvertising Agencies has named DON RICHARDS senior vice president, AAAA Agency Diversity Programs. A newly created position, Richards will be responsible for all association diversity programs, including oversight of operation success, a diversity initiative launched September 2004, the AAAA’s multicultural advertising intern program, and operation jumpstart, the AAAA Foundation’s minority scholarship program. Most recently, Richards served as associate national director, affirmative action and diversity, at Screen Actors Guild. Previously, Richards was senior vice president, director of resource development, at Leo Burnett.

Nellymoser, a provider of interactive mobile media solutions, has hired MICHAEL FOWLER and DANIEL WEST as vice president of solutions and vice president of marketing respectively.

Concrete Pictures has named KEITH JOHNSTON as creative director. Johnston will identify new business efforts, maintain agency relationships, and design and produce animation for broadcast brands and commercial visual effects projects. Prior to joining Concrete Pictures, Johnston was CGI director, visual effects for GTN Inc.

Meredith Corporation promoted DAVID BALL to vice president/consumer marketing for the Meredith Publishing Group. Ball replaces KARLA JEFFRIES who was promoted to vice president/finance and consumer marketing for the Meredith Publishing Group.

Freedom Orange County Information, publisher of The Orange County Register and its related products, has named STEVEN BARTH to the newly created position of vice president, interactive. In his new role, Barth oversees the creation of strategic business, sales and marketing plans for continued Internet growth. He most recently served as vice president, general manager of interactive publishing at the Los Angeles Times.

Gospel Music Channel has appointed JEFF BROWN as director of affiliate sales, central region. Most recently, he served as regional sales manager for Great American Country.

Draft New York has hired three strategic planners in its New York office to join the agency's Insight Services team. LIN DAVIS has been named vice president, group director; while ERIC SALKIN and SARAH THOMPSON have been named vice presidents, associate directors of strategic planning.

EMILIO W. CIVIDANES, a privacy lawyer, has joined Venable LLP as a partner in its Washington office. Cividanes was formerly a partner with DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary in Washington, D.C.

Meredith Corporation has named JAMES T. CARR publisher of Family Circle magazine. Additionally, LINDA FEARS has been named acting editor-in-chief of Family Circle. Most recently, Carr was publisher of Midwest Living and Fears served as editor-in-chief, new business development for G + J USA. Lastly, JACK BAMBERGER has been named vice president, corporate sales for the Meredith Publishing Group. He joins Meredith from Gruner + Jahr USA where he spent the last four years, most recently as vice president corporate sales and marketing.

McGarrah/Jessee hashired BECKY BROCK as account manager and LAUREN MARKAVERICH as a media planner.