Venables Bell & Partners hired Mitch Lee as head of communications strategy; Jeff Jan as communications strategy director and Suzanne Szostak as senior brand strategist.

The Martin Agency promoted Michelle Moorman to media planner; Ali Quigley to media planner; Carla Seay to media planning supervisor; and Austin Scott to interactive media supervisor.

GSD&M Idea City announced the return of Jerry Courtney to the agency as executive media director. Courtney will lead a 105-person media department and is charged with enhancing the agency's cross-functional media capabilities.

Eric Einhorn adds corporate planning to his chief strategy officer role at McCann Worldgroup. In addition, Daryl Lee joins as chief integration architect; and Lee Daley was promoted to chief strategy officer for McCann Erickson Worldwide.

Jim Elms joins Universal McCann as head of global strategy. He was most recently at Grey as executive vice president, director of context planning.

Havas Digital launched a consumer insight and strategy group, Innova. Media Contacts' senior vice president/director of digital Adam Kasper will lead the innovations group as senior vice president, managing director, digital innovation. Additionally, David Puner was named Innovations director, along with Sabine Cummins.

The Gate Worldwide named Neil Silverzweig as CFO/COO; A. Louis Rubin as director, business development; and Nick Mamola as account director.

Blitz named Keren "KC" Cole as associate director of planning. Prior to Blitz, Cole was an associate media director at PHD.

Jon Bond, co-founder of Kirshenbaum, Bond, Senecal + Partners, has become a strategic partner at Victors & Spoils.

Barbara Yolles was named executive vice president, chief marketing officer for McCann Midwest. Yolles joins McCann from Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners in New York, where she served as executive vice president, group managing director.