RICHARD BATES joined BIG, Ogilvy's branding, design and innovation company, as executive creative director. Most recently, he worked as a consultant with BIG on Johnson & Johnson, Coke and Mattel. Prior to that he spent 11 years at Atlantic Records.

DOUG STRUBEL joined Slack Barshinger & Partners as a partner in charge of agency growth. He joins the agency from Mobium Creative Group, where he led the agency's strategic and growth initiatives.

Iq Marketing named ADAM BENSCOTER as account manager. Benscoter will manage several of Iq's major accounts, focusing on brand management and strategic planning.

LEE SLATTERY was named publisher of Fitnessmagazine. She joins Fitness from Golf for Women, where she served as vice president and publisher overseeing sales and marketing for the publication.

Strategis named KLAUS GENSHEIMER as creative director. Prior to joining Strategis, Gensheimer was creative director at Trinity Communication in Boston.

Madison Square Garden promoted LOIS FRIEDMAN to senior vice president of audience insight and planning; BRIAN HOFFMAN was named vice president of marketing solutions; ERICA HERBST was promoted to director of audience insight and planning; and KEVIN MAROTTA was promoted to director of entertainment and sports properties.

GJP Advertising named ELLEN ZABITSKY executive vice president of client development. Zabitsky will lead the customer relationship and direct marketing discipline for GJP's three offices. She joins the agency from Rapp Collins/DDB Canada.

Reuters promoted SHAUN HEKKING from senior account manager to director, New York advertising sales and elevated JEREMY RANDOL from account manager to senior account manager, New York for Reuters Media.

Underscore Marketing named DAVID SINGH as a manager in its New York office. Previously, Singh was an account director at Kinetic Results.

TYLER GOLDMAN was named chief executive officer of Buzznet. Prior to joining Buzznet, Goldman served as acting president of Feedster.

MY Entertainment Company and Carat Entertainment promoted SARA CHAZEN to senior vice president, head of development and production.

MEC Retail, a division of Mediaedge:cia, named ANN MCGRATH client services director. She will be responsible for managing clients Colgate-Palmolive, Cadbury Schweppes and Pepperidge Farm and will focus on building business for MEC Retail and Retail Media Link. Most recently, McGrath managed customer marketing agency J. Brown, developing customer-specific initiatives for various clients, including FTD, Fort James, Nabisco/Kraft Foods, Dannon and Irving.

Pure Brand Communications named KEN BARBER as head of digital strategy. He joins the company from Digitas where he designed, executed and measured online promotions as manager of the Strategy and Analysis group for such clients as General Motors and the Intercontinental Hotels Group.

MELISSA WASSERMAN was named vice president of advertising sales marketing for AMC. Wasserman was formerly vice president of marketing activation and promotion at CBS Radio.

RPA named SELENA CHIN as local media manager in the agency's Chicago office. Most recently, Chin worked for Carat USA as a senior spot supervisor.

JAIME SABERITO was promoted to senior director, corporate communications, up from director, for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel.

JIM HOOS joined Nationalgeographic.com as vice president of advertising sales. Most recently Hoos was national sales director for TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile.

ELLEN CUMMINGS was named director, fragrance and grooming for Men's Health magazine. Cummings comes to Men's Health from Traditional Home Magazine where she served as senior account director managing beauty, jewelry and home decorating accounts.

Jumpstart Automotive Media hired DAVID LIEBLER as director east coast sales, a newly created position. Liebler joins Jumpstart from CO-ED Magazine where he served as president/publisher.

TiVo named KAREN BRESSNER as senior vice president of advertising sales.

dominonamedJEFF BARISH as advertising director and ERIK KOKKO as executive director of home furnishings and beauty.

ROBERT RASMUSSEN joined R/GA as executive creative director on the Nike account, a position previously held by NICK LAW, now chief creative officer, NA. Most recently, Rasmussen was creative director on the JetBlue account at JWT.

Energy BBDO promoted BRIGETTE WHISNANT to the new role of svp, director of film and digital production. She replaces DIANE JACKSON who recently left the agency. Whisnant joined Energy BBDO in 2006 from Fallon, serving as an executive producer.

MayoSeitz Media named JARED ORTH as a senior communications planner. Orth previously served as a communications manager on the Saturn account at Goodby Silverstein & Partners.

Zenithmedia promoted STEPHANIE LOREDO to vice president, account manager.

The Laredo Group hired JASON HELLER as executive vice president, a newly created position. He previously served as managing director of Horizon Interactive.

ED HECHT was named associate publisher ofRolling Stone. He previously held the position of advertising director.

RLR ADVERTISING & MARKETING named GABRIELA TORRES account executive, responsible for the agency's healthcare and financial services clients.

Stanton Communications named RICK LEONARD managing director of its New York office.

CLARK KOKICH was promoted to CEO of Avenue A | RazorFish.

MARC USA promoted JASON DILLE to supervisor of online investments. In addition, ANDY COLEMAN, KIMBERLY GUNTHER, KEVIN LAZZARO and ANGELA POTTS were hired as media assistants.