Tommy Hilfiger Group has promoted Avery Baker to CMO, where she will now oversee all global marketing and communication efforts. Baker has been with the PVH-owned brand for 15 years, most recently as EVP/global communications and marketing. She continues to report to CEO Fred Gehring.

Mobile video ad network Rhythm NewMedia has added a new in-banner video unit to its lineup. The company already offers in-stream and in-app pre-roll ads along with display formats. The new unit automatically plays video within a banner add, expanding to a full screen view when tapped. In its third-quarter metrics report released last week, Rhythm said in-stream ads on its network, which appear as a commercial break in full TV episodes or before video clips, had an 87% completion rate. The in-app video ads had a 17.9% completion rate on average. Running auto-play video ads online is generally not …

Shopping search engine TheFind has incorporated checkout technology TapBuy into its iPhone app to streamline the mobile buying process. Introduced last month by the startup of the same name, TapBuy lets users enter their credit card once and use it across multiple retailers by touching the TapBuy button and confirming their PIN code. The m-commerce technology powers the company’s TapBuy Deals app, which shows a stream sale items and daily deals from more than 100 brands. TheFind is the first outside company to incorporate TapBuy into their app. “The primary point of friction in mobile commerce is that entering …

Move over other big TV networks: USA Networks wants a place at the upfront week table. USA Network said it was having its annual New York City event for TV advertisers and media agency executives on Thursday, May 17. This comes after a week of broadcast network presentations, as well as ESPN, Turner Broadcasting, Univision. In recent years, cable networks such as ESPN and Turner moved their presentations in …

Dale Adams, president of Omnicom's Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division, has been appointed to the additional position of CEO of DAS. He succeeds Thomas Harrison, who continues as chairman.

Social video platform Jun Group has received $2.5 million in financing from Western Technology Investment (WTI).  The company focuses on serving video advertising on Facebook, YouTube and other social networks as well as on mobile devices. It offers video ads on an opt-in basis, allowing users to press play to watch a branded message. Earlier this year, Jun Group partnered with social gaming company CrowdStar to let people watch video ads in exchange for earning virtual goods. The company plans to use the funding to continue building its sales, business development, and client services team, which tripled in size …

Package goods giant Unilever has put its $6 billion-plus global media agency assignment into review, the client has confirmed. WPP's Mindshare is the incumbent in North America and other markets. The client last held a global review three years ago, when Mindshare retained its assignments. But since the last review the company has had a change within its senior marketing management ranks. In a statement Luis Di Como, senior vice president of global media at Unilever said, "Our new marketing strategy, Crafting for Brands for Life, and our determination to continue leading in the digital marketing space also drive us …

The CBS Television Stations division of CBS Corp. has agreed to purchase independent New York television station WLNY-TV (Channel 55) from WLNY Holdings Inc.

Bob Stohrer has been named Chief Marketing Officer of Clear Channel Digital. He joins from Sprint Nextel, where he was vice president of corporate marketing.

Personal Democracy Forum, the conference series focused on the intersection of politics and technology, has relaunched as Personal Democracy Media, with a revamped Web site featuring expanded content and features. Among the new offerings will be Personal Democracy+, a premium news section geared to political professionals navigating the technology landscape. A focus will be on digital tools being used in government, politics and advocacy. To kick off the relaunch, PDM is holding a “flash conference” at NYU tonight at 6pm ET called “From the Tea Party to Occupy Wall Street and Beyond: The Future of Networked Democracy.” The event …