Execs & Accounts for April 26, 2006

Jeff Webber, publisher of USAToday.com, was named to the additional post of SVP of advertising for USA Today. Webber joined in March 2000.

Double Fusion signed a multi-year advertising and product placement deal with indie video game developer Trilogy Studios. Trilogy, which is now developing its first title, was founded by former executives from Vivendi Universal Games and Electronic Arts.

Epsilon Interactive named Ron Shevlin to its strategic consulting group. Shevlin was a Forrester Research analyst.

Carat Fusion promoted Steve Ustaris to group media director in its Boston office. Ustaris has held various media roles within the Carat network, most recently as associate media director at Carat Fusion.

Federated Media added Metroblogging to its branded blog network. Metroblogging publishes regional Web logs in 45 cities.

Digital-focused agency Heavybag Media was named marketing agency of record by the New England Brewing Company, makers of Atlantic Amber and other beers. The assignment includes Web-based and traditional elements.

Centro hired Dan Mauch as VP of sales for the Western region. Mauch was VP of sales for Napster.

Tourism Calgary handed its digital marketing business to Rare Method.

ValueClick’s media division signed deals to represent ad inventory on Parade.com and ScienceDaily. The publishers will be added to ValueClick’s news/reference and science/nature channels.

Miva added several distribution partners in Europe. It will support email marketing for U.K. newspaper The Sun, distribute its PPC ads to sites run by French sports publisher Newsports, and create a branded toolbar for German bookseller Jokers, among other deals.

Virgin Radio tapped Accipiter for ad management. U.K.-based Virgin will use Accipiter’s geo-targeting capabilities to deliver ads to its Web site visitors.