When J.K. Rowling's new Web site Pottermore opens in fall, Google will support the destination with a variety of services. Pottermore becomes the exclusive place to buy Harry Potter ebooks and digital audio books, and then push them to any Google Books library and store them alongside other Google eBooks. The agreement also means Google Checkout becomes the preferred third-party payment platform for all purchases made on Pottermore.com.

Following his recent appointment as president of Carat USA, Doug Ray just announced a slight reorganization of the Aegis media shop, naming three key executives to heads of a "consumer-centric strategy." Johann Wachs was promoted from director to head of strategy. Michelle Lynn was promoted from director to head of consumer insight. And Laura Hernandez joins as head of multicultural from vice president-connections director at Publicis' SMG Multicultural for Starcom MediaVest Group.

JWT North America just announced the acquisition of shopper marketing and media agency Lunchbox LP. The deal is the latest acquisition by the WPP division, and part of a broader diversification strategy to move into fast-growing markets. Last year, JWT North America acquired San Diego-based digital shop Digitaria. Lunchbox, which is led by CEO Adam Roe and CMO Kevin Weisberg, will retain its name, operations and staff. Roe and Weisberg will report to JWT North American CEO and Worldwide Digital Director David Eastman. The 70-person shop, founded in 2005, is based in Los Angeles with offices in San …

The Association of National Advertisers and the American Association of Advertising Agencies have joined the Interactive Advertising Bureau's call for an Impression Exchange Solution. The trade associations said they were endorsing the solution due to "ongoing issues surrounding impression count discrepancies, which have long been an issue for the media industry." They added that online ads pose "particular challenges" due to the different ways campaign data is managed by agency third-party and publisher ad servers. "Inconsistencies arise because advertisers and publishers use different systems to count impressions and clicks," the associations said in a joint statement. …

Online marketing firm The Search Agency Tuesday named Matt Kain CEO of Asia-Pacific. The new position marks the opening of an office in Sydney, Australia, to service the Asia-Pacific market with online marketing services.  Prior to this role, Kain served as The Search Agency's Chief Revenue Officer, with overall responsibility for sales and marketing. He has more than 10 years experience as a senior manager in digital marketing. Prior to joining The Search Agency, Kain served as managing partner at GroupM, one of the world's largest media investment management firms responsible for more than one-third of media buying. He was responsible for bringing global search …

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched two public service announcements Tuesday as part of a public awareness campaign designed to educate citizens about human trafficking. Calling it a fight against "modern-day slavery," the campaign aims to encourage public vigilance in Web banner ads on popular Internet sites, as well as in TV spots, billboards and more. The ads, created with feedback from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will run across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Washington DC. When asked why the ads won't run in California or in southwestern states, CBP Public Affairs Spokesperson Jaime Ruiz …

Google has published a white paper on real-time bidding (RTB) that outlines what the strategy means for media buyers and how best to use it. The document explains RTB "as a workflow solution tied to new opportunities in data-driven display advertising." It turns out 47% of advertisers and agencies who responded to a recent survey from Google and Digiday said they intend to spend more on digital advertising in 2011 because of the benefits gained from RTB. Eighty eight percent of advertiser and agency said they plan to buy online display via RTB in 2011, up from 75% in …

Slowing display ad growth combined with disappointing results from its search partnership with Microsoft led to falling revenue at Yahoo during the second quarter for the third straight quarter. Excluding payments made to partner sites, Yahoo Tuesday reported revenue of $1.07 billion, down 5% from a year ago and falling just below analysts' estimate of $1.11 billion. Display ad sales, minus costs, increased increased 5% compared to a 10% gain in the prior quarter, while search revenue fell 15% compared to an 19% decline in the first quarter. Second quarter net income rose 11% to $237 …

Fiat is serving as presenting sponsor of the owners club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited club's annual Fiat FreakOut (FFO). The automaker will have ride and drive opportunities in the Fiat 500 and 500 Cabrio, an "eco:Drive" simulator and Fiat Mobile Experience. The FFO event, in Nashville from July 20-24, includes driving tours, and vintage car displays among other things. The company says the mobile experience display includes complimentary gelato, espresso and cappuccino served by baristas, as well as Fiat-branded merchandise in a store area. The Fiat-Lancia Unlimited club says the event draws hundreds of Fiat and other Italian automobiles and …

With the economy still feeling unsteady, consumers plan to spend just about as much as they did last year on back-to-school purchases, reports the NPD Group. But marketers from Timberland to Macy's to Walmart are out to increase their share. Timberland, for example, is rolling out a boys', girls', and infants' line this fall, in a new agreement with the Parigi Group. (The company has designed childrens' duds for such marketers as Puma and DKNY.) Macy's is expanding its Material Girl collection, adding beauty products, denim and bedding, as well as its Jessica Simpson and Tommy Girl offerings. K …