Execs & Accounts for February 11, 2004

Digital Impact will boost its business and the range of its offerings to existing clients through an alliance with database marketer Merkle. Merkle brings to the alliance integrated analytics, data content, database management and media execution. Digital Impact offers its online marketing expertise.

“Digital Impact and Merkle have complementary offerings, and by combining these resources, we can deliver highly successful multi-channel marketing campaigns,” said William Park, Digital Impact’s chairman and CEO.

Global ad agency GSD&M designated DoubleClick as its exclusive provider for online ad management, rich media serving and media planning on behalf of its clients. Under the deal, GSD&M will recommend the DART ad management system, MediaVisor for media planning, and the DART Motif rich media solution to its clients.

DoubleClick also recently hired Ben Regensburger as VP of sales and account management, a newly created post. Regensburger joins from Lycos Germany, where he was managing director and a member of Lycos’ European management board.

Two former executives from Web development agency Jel Productions have formed a new firm: the Blue River Interactive Group. Ryan Thompson and Malcolm O’Keeffe had been with Jel for four years, leading campaigns for clients including Saturn Cars, HP and Duraflame.

“The formation came out of a desire to focus more on the strategy and planning of a Web initiative. These are the two ingredients that are most crucial and most often overlooked in any project,” said Thompson.

Byte Interactive is expanding to a larger office, citing several client wins and increased demand from existing customers. The company will more than double the size of its S. Norwalk, Connecticut headquarters. No word on whether new hires were a motive for the expansion.