Kontera named JOE KOLLER as southwest regional sales manager.

Cramer-Krasselt has tapped NIGEL CARR as director of brand planning in its Chicago headquarters. Carr most recently served as a senior partner at Ogilvy New York.

JOHN DESCHNER is returning to AKQA as …

THOMAS SANTEN joined Empower MediaMarketing as growth director. He previously worked at Mars Advertising, where he served as vice president/director retail channel marketing.

Arbitron named MICHAEL P. SKARZYNSKI as president and chief executive officer. Skarzynski will also be appointed to Arbitron’s Board of Directors. Most recently, he served as chief executive officer of …

ROBIN GARFIELD joined CNN Worldwide as senior vice president of CNN Research. Garfield joins CNN from Scripps Networks where she served as vice president of sales research and strategy supporting HGTV, Food Network, DIY Network, Fine Living Network and Great …

Cactus hired CHRIS STIRLING as account supervisor to lead campaigns and projects for Westwood College.

LAUREN SILVERMAN was hired as director of sales at EyeWonder in Chicago. Also adding to their MidWest sales office, EyeWonder named GEORGE CURIS senior account executive and RASHAD DAOUDI account executive.

OgilvyActionnamed SHEILA HARTNETT chief executive officer. She succeeds JACK ROONEY, who continues to lead The Ogilvy Group operation in Chicago.

STEPHEN LEPS, currently a creative director in Zig’s Toronto office will move to the agency’s Chicago office in February.