Execs & Accounts for April 24, 2006

IAC/InterActiveCorp promoted Jim Lanzone to CEO of Ask.com in the wake of Steve Berkowitz’s departure to MSN. He was SVP and general manager of Ask U.S.

Classified Ventures promoted Tim Fagan to president of Classified Ventures Real Estate. He replaces Sam Sebastian, who departed the company earlier this month to take a position in Google’s nascent local ad sales operation. Fagan was most recently SVP and general manager of Apartments.com and will now oversee the HomeGain.com and Homescape real estate properties.

Radio station operator Emmis Communications has begun using Vibes Media’s mobile messaging platform to enable promotions and outreach to listeners. The company runs 23 FM stations and two AM stations in eight U.S. markets.

Captivate Network named Jim Farrell to VP of sales for its Eastern region. He was earlier director of sales for Tribune Media Net, the ad sales unit of Tribune Co.

LifeScript tapped Kanoodle to provide sponsored links on its email newsletters and Web sites. Kanoodle ads will appear on the LifeScript Healthy Advantage newsletter and on LifeScript.com.

The Yellow Pages Association named Katherine Harless, president of Verizon Information Services, to chair its 2006 board of directors. Additionally, BellSouth Publishing Group President Isaiah Harris was elected vice chairman, and R.H. Donnelly CEO and Chairman David Swanson was made secretary-treasurer.

Digitas promoted seven execs. Neal Prescott, head of technology, and Marketing Director Seth Solomons become executive VPs. Moving up to senior VP slots are Terry Cohen, Matt D’Ercole, Linda Piggot, George Scribner and Marc Williams. Cohen leads Digitas’ digital media analytics; D’Ercole and Williams have creative oversight in New York; Piggot oversees brand development and strategy on the agency’s American Express account; and Scribner leads account planning.

The New York Times Company promoted Vivian Schiller to SVP and general manager of NYTimes.com, effective May 8. She joined the company in 2002 as SVP and general manager for the Discovery Times Channel.

Online market research firm InsightExpress hired Darcy Briggs as project manager within its AdInsights Group. She was previously associate media planner at Freestyle Interactive in San Francisco.

AOL’s Weblogs Inc. blog media subsidiary promoted Editorial Director Judith Meskill to chief operating officer. She’ll be replaced by Brad Hill, previously associate producer.

Online classifieds enabler AdMission named Greg Sterling, formerly of The Kelsey Group, to its board of directors.