Execs and Accounts for July 29, 2002

Juxt has kicked off work for the latest addition to its client roster, Boston Beer
Company, with a micro site for the brewing company’s Taste of Success promotion. The site gives aspiring artists the chance to submit work to promote the brand. According to Juxt, future promotional sites will follow as the interactive agency works more strategically on the Sam Adams Web presence.

Additionally, Juxt recently appointed Talechia Plumlee as VP of business development. Plumlee is a former VP of biz dev at MP3.com, where she spent three years creating deals
with entertainment, automotive, and consumer brands.

Interactive and direct shop True North has made a promotion and an appointment in its New York office. Tim Taylor, who since 1996 has been the company’s director of design, is taking over as director of interactive. In his new role he’ll handle online advertising, Web development, e-mail, e-commerce, Web technology, and database development.

Neil Feinstein, who previously was vice president of creativity at Bigfoot Interactive, has joined True North as director of creative strategy. He’ll be guiding the company’s creative strategy, as well as managing new business and PR efforts. Prior to Bigfoot, Feinstein was partner, creative director at Bozell.

MaxWorldwide, the company formerly known as L90, has named a new chief financial officer, William Mitchell, who was previously the CFO of software company Tally Systems Corp.

Mitchell will work closely with MaxWorldwide’s senior management team, as well as its newly appointed auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The hire comes at a time when the firm is trying to turn itself around, having recently changed its name, moved its headquarters to New York, and purchased DoubleClick’s North American media business. Under its former moniker, the company suffered through hard times as both the Securities and Exchange Commission and an internal committee investigated its financial dealings — a situation that resulted in the restatement of earnings, as well as the termination of a planned merger with eUniverse .

The appointments of a new CFO and new auditor, then, represent attempts to restore investor confidence in the company, as it emerges from its difficulties.

“Bill Mitchell has a proven track record of building successful online and offline companies. We will immediately benefit from his abilities to integrate operating and financial planning to improve performance,” said Mitchell Cannold, president and CEO of MaxWorldwide. “Coupled with the engagement of PricewaterhouseCoopers as our outside auditors, we significantly upgrade the financial strength and accountability of MaxWorldwide.”

E-mail provider TMX is boasting of growing revenues by 50 percent in the first half of 2002, as compared to the same period in 2001. It’s also signed 33 new clients, and appears to be focusing more on the direct marketing side of its business, rather than the rich media technology for which it has been known.

“In today’s economy, business developers and marketers are looking at the most effective ways to lower the cost of sales while continuing to build brand and market awareness,” said Blair Lyon, CEO and president of TMX. “Our clients are telling us that for the first time, they have a powerful lead generation and branding platform that delivers bottom-line results. Sales and marketing are now integrated through a powerful medium that acquires and retains customers.”

Meanwhile, online advertising giant DoubleClick is making waves in the e-mail market itself. The company says it’s signed over 80 marketers and publishers to use its DARTmail platform, over the last three months.

New customers and significant renewals in the U.S. include Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Omaha Steaks, and Ross Simons. Internationally, new clients include Saab, IKEA, and Sainsbury.

Atlas DMT, the technology side of Avenue A‘s business, has opened up a new office in Los Angeles. The new West Coast sales office will support the Seattle-based company’s sales and customer service efforts in the region.

Martin Wesley, who most recently worked as managing director of OneMedia Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong, will be heading up the office’s operations as senior director of sales for the Western region. Prior to working in Hong Kong, Wesley spent three years at DoubleClick’s DART for Advertisers division, holding several sales positions.

“We are excited to have someone with Martin’s hands-on digital marketing experience heading up our Western region sales efforts,” said Tom Sperry, president of Atlas DMT. “As the Atlas Suite continues to gain market share, the Los Angeles office serves as the next step in our expansion plans.”

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