Execs & Accounts for July 25, 2005

Cyrus Krohn has departed MSN to join the Yahoo Media Group. Krohn worked for Microsoft for nine years, most of it as Slate’s publisher. Earlier this year he joined MSN Video to help advance the portal’s streaming media business. At Yahoo, he’ll become part of the portal’s steadily growing brain trust of broadcast and Hollywood content veterans.

Darden Restaurants made Real Branding its interactive agency of record. The San Francisco-based agency will provide digital marketing services for Darden’s chains, which include Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones. The appointment followed a formal review.

R/GA hired Steve Olderman to its creative team. Olderman spent 12 years with Digitas, where he led creative on AT&T, L.L. Bean and Fidelity Investments.

Tacoda hired Chris Marrow as VP of Western ad sales, a new position. Marrow was most recently with eBay as business development manager. He also held senior sales posts with Alta Vista, Flycast and Softbank Interactive Marketing.

Return Path hired Martin Donner as president and general manager of its list and data solutions unit. He replaces Michael Mayor, who departed Return Path-owned NetCreations in April.

NEXVU Technologies tapped WebSourced’s KeywordRanking.com to implement a broad search campaign. The company offers performance analysis of IT business applications.