Execs & Accounts for August 17, 2005

AKQA hired Mauro Alencar as creative director on the Microsoft Xbox account. Xbox has been an AKQA client for four years, and recently handed the agency global digital marketing responsibilities for the Xbox 360 brand. Alencar has worked for DM9DDB, J. Walter Thompson and AgenciaClick in Brazil.

AKQA also said it was tapped by Nike to develop a digital campaign with CRM capabilities for its annual “Run London” event.

ComScore promoted Charles Pearson to lead its consumer packaged goods division. He joined the company earlier this year as an SVP in the custom research division.

Ripple Effects Interactive named David Gong to lead a new “online relations” practice to help clients build connections with customers and prospects. Part of the unit’s mandate will be to leverage social media, including blogs, forums and social networking services. Gong joined Ripple Effects Interactive from Euro RSCG Magnet.

Undertone Networks hired Eric Bingham as chief operating officer. Bingham was previously COO and CFO at Overpeer and a co-founder of About.com.

Cox Newspapers will use software from AdInterax to manage rich media campaigns for its local and national advertisers. The company publishes 17 daily and 25 non-daily newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Dayton Daily News.

Omniture hired Neil Weston as general manager of its European headquarters. Weston was most recently SVP and general manager of Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Siebel Systems.