Execs & Accounts for March 8, 2004

After a review, Chrysler Group tapped incumbent Web agency Organic to continue as the interactive agency of record for its brand Web sites: Jeep.com, Dodge.com, and Chrysler.com. Organic has been the Chrysler Group’s agency of record since 1999.

In an extension of the relationship, the North American arm of DaimlerChrysler also handed Organic the creative portion of all Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler dealer sites.

As part of the latter assignment, Organic will undertake a new initiative to directly connect the Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler Web presences to their respective dealer sites. The idea is to create a smooth online transition from the research phase through to the purchase of a vehicle.

“We are truly committed to the success of this new initiative and will utilize the full force of the Organic network to make it a reality,” said Mark Kingdon, CEO of Organic.

The Yellow Pages Integrated Media Association (Yellow Pages IMA) elected Dex Media CEO George Burnett as chairman of its board of directors. Burnett succeeds outgoing chair Elmer Smith, president of BellSouth’s advertising and publishing group.

Before joining Dex Media in 2001, Burnett was chief marketing officer at Qwest and president and CEO of American Electric Power’s mass market retail group. He also held multiple executive posts during his six years at AT&T.

The Yellow Pages I.M.A. also elected Dennis Payne, president and CEO of SBC SMART Yellow Pages, to vice chair and Kathy Harless, president, Verizon Information Services, to secretary-treasurer.

Good Technology tapped San Francisco-based digital agency AKQA for a banner campaign promoting its GoodLink wireless messaging partnership with palmOne. The ads are now appearing on national business and technology sites.

“We’re especially pleased to have the opportunity to leverage our knowledge of the wireless category, based on our long-term relationship with palmOne,” said AKQA CEO Tom Bedecarre.

Integrated agency Carton Donofrio Partners is developing a new Web site for cooking equipment manufacturer Vulcan-Hart. The site will include a product selector, chef’s tips, product literature and a dealer locator.

Delta Airlines, Travelocity, Staples, American Express and Polaroid have tapped Captivate to run campaigns on its flat panel television screens in the elevators of office towers nationwide.