Execs & Accounts for March 19, 2007

Scripps Networks has poached the head of Yahoo Media Group’s Lifestyles business unit to lead its digital efforts. Deanna Brown, who oversaw Yahoo sub-domains like healthy.yahoo.com and food.yahoo.com, will be president of Scripps’s interactive group.

Tech blogging network TechCrunch hired Fox Interactive Media’s M&A whiz, Heather Harde, as CEO. Harde was SVP of mergers and acquisitions at Fox Interactive Media, prior to which she held a variety of operating and corporate development roles with Fox. “Heather’s job will be to leverage the opportunities that we have sometimes let slip by, and to manage our organic and acquisition growth going forward,” TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington wrote in a blog post announcing the hire.

Medio Systems hired Gary Bembridge, former national sales director of MSN Sales, as head of U.S. ad sales. Bembridge will spearhead the sales efforts behind Medio’s MobileNow ad network. He spent nine years at Microsoft, most recently leading the search and direct marketing vertical within MSN’s Online Services Group.

Search agency 360i promoted Jonathan Ragals from SVP and managing director to chief operating officer. He joined the firm in January 2006 from Beyond Interactive, where he was SVP and group account director.

Community Connect tapped VideoEgg to power video content on its four sites focused on U.S. ethnic groups. VideoEgg will support video content and advertising on BlackPlanet.com, MiGente.com, AsianAvenue.com and GLEE.com, which serves a gay and transgender audience.

NBC Universal’s Bravo network hired Mari Katsunuma as vice president digital. Bravo’s sites include BravoTV.com, BrilliantButCancelled.com, OUTzoneTV.com, getTRIO.com and TelevisionWithoutPity.com, which it just acquired. Katsunuma has been executive director of programming at AOL since 2004 and helped launch its lifestyle portal AOL Living.

Saint J. Auto tapped Dealer.com to create a new site with lead generation capabilities. The site will incorporate Dealer.com’s search marketing and e-mail systems.