Agency.com has launched a Web destination promoting The Make A Wish Foundation of North Texas’ annual gala, the 2003 Wish Night. The engagement marks the third year the Dallas office of Agency.com returns as a Wish Night co-sponsor, donating its interactive services to build the new site, which provides information about the gala and lets guests reserve their tickets online.
“The Web site is an integral part of the promotion of the event, and each year we are more successful,” said Barry Smink, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.
Additionally, Agency.com has re-launched its own corporate site. Among the features are a new case study section, a client list organized by industry, and a set of streamlined descriptions of the company’s interactive services. Additionally, the site will soon include a direct link to the company’s client extranet and localized versions for its London and Amsterdam offices, to offer a more global appeal.
“As one of the original players in the interactive services industry, Agency.com has grown and evolved over the years, and we needed a Web site to reflect our heritage as well as our company as it is today,” said Chan Suh, the agency’s co-founder and CEO.
24/7 Real Media has picked up DirecTV, a digital satellite TV service provider, and publisher Gannett Co. as clients to its Open AdStream technology.
DirecTV’s planned use of the technology is unique. While Open AdStream Central is typically employed in the delivery of third-party advertising, DirectTV will use it primarily to manage the delivery of targeted content on its Web site to potential and existing customers. Gannett will apply the technology for its intended purpose, using it to meet the ad serving needs of its 120 Web properties.
Tacoda Systems, a software company that helps online publishers grow ad revenues by targeting audience segments, has hired Yoram Ezra as deployment manager. Ezra joins Tacoda from Oven Digital, where he was managing director. Earlier, he worked as a project manager for March First, handling its Audi North America account, and led the multimedia development team at Times Mirror Magazines.
“Yoram has both built and project-managed many publisher and marketer sites over the years. He has advanced design, technical implementation and project management experience,” CEO Dave Morgan said.
Tacoda’s client signings have recently accelerated, resulting in new management hires. According to Morgan, the company has picked up six customers so far in 2003.
Hanley-Wood Interactive, a b-to-b provider of online media, has promoted Paul Tourbaf to VP of sales. Tourbaf has been with Hanley-Wood for more than a decade, most recently as national sales manager for ebuild, the company’s guide to building products.
“Paul has steadily become one of our most important sales assets, and for the last year his territory has been defined as our ‘biggest and most important customers,'” said Mitch Rouda, president of Hanley-Wood Interactive.
In his new role, Tourbaf will continue to handle top accounts while managing the sales team.
Wine marketer Benson Marketing Group has redesigned an e-commerce site for Pride Mountain Vineyards, a producer of luxury wines that is located on the border of Napa and Sonoma counties.
“The Internet marketing portion of our business continues to grow rapidly as our clients succeed online,” said Jeremy Benson, president of Benson. “We’re helping them market directly to retailers and restaurateurs, in addition to consumers.”
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