Execs & Accounts for August 3, 2007

Current TV selected AKQA for online media buying and planning services. The cable and satellite television network produced and programmed for and by its audience tasked the agency with increasing awareness of Current TV’s premium content. A big campaign is planned for later this year.

TV host Morgan Webb tapped Federated Media to help develop and monetize a new Web show at WebbAlert. The host of the TV program X-Play uses the show to comment on developments in the tech and Web development world.

Semphonic hired Phil Kemelor as vice president of strategic consulting services. Kemelor joined the Web analytics consultancy following a career as an author and speaker on web analytics, and has previously headed the Web analytic program at Bell Atlantic.

McDonald’s and Style.com have deployed avatars from Oddcast. The developer and distributor of talking avatar products created new online materials in support of McDonald’s Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap campaign, and a feature called CandyCast for Style.com’s online updates from fashion director Candy Pratts Price.

Buzznet hired two execs. The social networking site hired John Glascott as executive vice president of sales and Elizabeth Osder as senior vice president of audience. Glascott was formerly a senior sales executive at Hearst, iVillage, Yahoo and RealAge, while Osder was previously an executive with New York Times Digital and Yahoo.

LiveWorld appointed Jay Bryant as sales vice president. The online customer community marketing services company hired Bryant from a position as director of online products for TVGuide.com.

Optiem hired Linda Nawrocki as an account strategist. The interactive marketing agency hired Nawrocki from Swagelok where she was lead global Web manager.

MediaWhiz Holdings acquired the remaining interest in AuctionAds. The online performance marketing company launched AuctionAds in partnership with Shoemoney Media in March to drive increased traffic and revenue to eBay.

CarSoup.com joined Jumpstart Automotive Media’s ad network. The automotive sales and research Web site named Jumpstart as its exclusive national advertising sales partner.

Reprise Media relocated its San Francisco office. The SEM firm will triple the size of its office and relocate to a larger facility.

Neiman Group named Steve Willis as an art director in its creative shop. Willis most recently worked at Strawberry Frog.

Fox Interactive Media selected Rapt for advertising sales strategy. The division of News Corp. will use Rapt’s media monetization platform across FIM’s network of online properties.