Alcone Marketing Group named CHRISTINA DOWNEY as vice president, group account director in the Chicago office. Downey joins Alcone from Ryan Partnership where she was a vice president.

Euro RSCG Chicago named JOHN RAUSCH as SVP/group creative director on the Sprint account. In addition, the agency promoted ANDERS DA SILVA from associate creative director to creative director on Sprint, and MERRIDETH KALIL from copywriter to associate creative director on Cabot, Powershares and new business.

MARY JEANNE CAVANAGH was promoted to executive vice president of advertising sales at Oxygen. Cavanagh will oversee all aspects of the company’s advertising sales department including regional sales, direct response and the company’s integrated sales efforts. She previously served as senior vice president of national ad sales.

Simmons Research named STEVE WALSH SVP, director of sales; SARAH THOMSON as the director of west coast advertiser sales; and DREW SIMPSON as vice president and director of Experian local market services.

TERRY SEMEL resigned as CEO of Yahoo and was replaced by co-founder JERRY YANG. Former executive vice president SUE DECKER now assumes the role of president.

Captivate Network named JEANNINE ANTUS KONCAR as vice president of sales, west coast, responsible for overseeing the west coast sales team and continuing to grow the national ad sales business.

BURL OSBORNE has joined Mochila’s Media Advisory Board.

AL KELLY has been named executive creative director for Fallon Minneapolis. He joins the company from Strawberryfrog Amsterdam where he was executive creative director for the past two years. He lead creative work for Heineken Global, the ASICS fashion brand Onitsuka Tiger, Douwe Egberts coffee products and Barilla.

Carton Donofrio Partners named CRAIG STRYDOM associate creative director.

Initiative North America established an East Coast presence for its Los Angeles-based Innovations unit. DAVE ROSNER, previously a project manager and based in Initiative's Los Angeles office, has been named director, Innovations, Initiative East, and will move to New York to head the group. In addition, former account manager JONATHAN HABER has been named director, Innovations, Initiative West. Lastly, GREG CASTRONUOVO, formerly vice president, group account director, was elevated to senior vice president, group account director, Entertainment.