Execs and Accounts for September 18, 2002

Streaming video company EyeWonder has appointed Michael McMullen to its board of advisors. Formerly president of international development for The Home Shopping Network (HSN), McMullen will advise on matters relating to television, advertising, e-commerce and international development. During his term at HSN, he was responsible for establishing live TV shopping networks in several world markets. Prior to that, McMullen spent a decade as senior international advisor to CNN , helping set up the network’s international sales and marketing organization. He also worked for The Coca-Cola Company as Coca-Cola’s brand manager in Japan.

“A critical part of our mission is to demonstrate that the Internet can be as an effective a global mass medium as television,” said John Vincent, CEO of EyeWonder. “Michael McMullen brings the global television, advertising and e-commerce perspective that will help us make that case.”

Interep Interactive’s Winstar Interactive Media has been tapped by Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment (SPDE) to rep several of its Web destinations. Winstar will represent SoapCity, SPDE’s soap opera destination; digital art center Screenblast; and Sony Pictures, the official site for Sony Pictures Entertainment’s film, television and home entertainment properties.

“Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment is committed to working hand-in-hand with Winstar Interactive Media to provide creative marketing opportunities that allow advertisers to align their marketing messages with our entertainment brands,” said Audrey Marco, VP of partnership marketing for SPDE.

Anheuser-Busch is using 3D rich media provider Pulse 3D’s technology for a new viral campaign on the Bud Light Web site. Called “Making Faces,” the interactive e-mail application allows users to create 3D versions of their own heads, called “Veepers,” which can then be made to speak to friends from within the body of an e-mail.

A message on the Anheuser-Busch promotion’s front page exhorts visitors to “stop sending regular email, send a living, breathing, talking character that you can create in just minutes.” By following a series of instructions on the Bud Light site, users are able to upload a picture, type the words and accent they wish it to speak, and send the animated “Veeper” to a recipient.

“The ‘Making Faces’ campaign has great viral potential,” said Pulse spokesperson Garth Chouteau. “We expect the work we’re doing with Anheuser-Busch to result in more use of virtual characters online.”

Euro RSCG Middleberg has hired Clifford Berman as executive vice president of the firm’s consumer practice. Berman comes to Middleberg after heading the worldwide consumer practice at Edelman Public Relations. Before that, he was co-founder and co-manager of Horton Berman Communications, a marketing agency in New York and Los Angeles.

At Middleberg, Berman will focus on expanding the firm’s consumer business while managing some significant consumer public relations accounts.

E-mail change-of-address services company Return Path has recently picked up several clients. Illuminations, Waldenbooks, Helzberg Diamonds, and Restoration Hardware are among the retailers that have chosen Return Path to help update their customer e-mail address lists.

“Our e-mail marketing efforts to customers are wasted without a current e-mail address,” said Clay Lingo, director of direct channel sales and operations for Illuminations. “Return Path provides us with a simple, cost-effective way to update our list, helping us retain contact with customers who haven’t had an opportunity to update us directly.”

Hats Off Communications, a marketing and communications consulting firm founded by Lisa Sullivan and Melissa London, both formerly of Red Hat, has added two more former members of the early Red Hat marketing team to its roster. Stacy Doster, former trade show and events manager, has accepted a partnership role in the company, and Hilary Stokes, former product manager for flagship product Red Hat Linux, will begin consultation work with Hats Off.


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

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