Execs & Accounts for September 9, 2003

Marketing blog Up2Speed.com has changed its name to MarketingWonk.com due to a trademark conflict.

The name change comes only a few months after the site dropped its former identity as MarketingFix.com, and its publishers took the opportunity to poke fun at the rapid identity change. They announced the news in a David Letterman-style “Top 10” list of reasons for the name change, with entries like, “It’s the next big trend in marketing: temporary branding.”

The site has also hired a new editor-in-chief, Tig Tillinghast, who has run interactive divisions at J. Walter Thompson and Anderson & Lembke, and has introduced several contributors in recent weeks. These include Kevin Lee, president of Did-it.com; Bill McCloskey, president of Emerging Interest; Tom Hespos, president of Underscore Marketing; and Eric Picard, co-founder and director of product management at Bluestreak.

Universal McCann San Francisco has been handed media buying and planning duties for Bay Area discount travel site Hotwire.com.

The account was won after a review that began in mid-June. Universal McCann San Francisco manages media for a roster of clients that includes Microsoft and Advanced Micro Devices.

“After an exhaustive search, we chose Universal McCann for their strategic approach to planning and their overall focus on driving superior results,” said Ty Shay, Hotwire’s VP of marketing.

Online directory Verizon SuperPages.com has introduced a new home page design and faster search options.

The cosmetic changes were predominantly made to accelerate load-time and more closely align Superpages.com with Verizon’s other sites. Additional aspects of the redesign are based on feedback from some of the site’s nine million monthly unique users.

“Over the next year Verizon SuperPages.com will continue to add new functionality… and provide innovative ways for businesses to reach qualified buyers,” said Shirley Heath, director of e-commerce marketing for Verizon Information Services.

E-mail marketing software developer GotMarketing recently hired Eric Melka as CEO. In his most recent post, Melka was president and managing partner of Forbes Alexander Technology Ventures, a business development consulting firm specializing in start-ups.

“His strength lies in keeping focused on aggressive go-to-market strategies that result in accelerated success,” said Michael Potter, chairman of GotMarketing parent GotCompany. “Since his appointment as CEO, he and his team have made some key decisions that have had significant impact”

GotMarketing recently closed a $6.25 million round of funding led by Celtic House Venture Partners and Mosaic Venture Partners.

E-mail marketing firm emailROI has acquired the assets of Web marketer Anvil Media and Web developer GCM Development.

Kent Lewis, founder of Anvil Media, and Ryan Buchanan, founder of GCM Development, each managed their own businesses separately prior to launching emailROI last year. The merger, which will be finalized by the end of the year, will expand emailROI’s offerings and help it compete effectively in new markets, the company said.

“We will be better equipped to go up against full-service agencies on a national scale with a single integrated brand, yet maintain our low overhead and value-based pricing,” said Ryan Buchanan, emailROI ‘s COO.

The combined entity will include six full time employees and six contractors.

For more breaking news on account action and executive moves, visit ChannelSeven.com