Execs & Accounts for May 19, 2006

ZenithOptimedia named Andy Sims senior vice president, director of interactive, replacing the departing Brenda Goodman. Sims was most recently the director of interactive marketing services at SF Interactive and a partner at Butler, Shine Stern & Partners. He’s worked with such clients as Mini Cooper, Converse.com, VeriSign, HealthNet, Sun Microsystems, and Sprite.

AKQA lands Johnnie Walker global branding interactive duties . The agency’s London office will oversee all online, emerging, and mobile media for the Scotch whisky brand, as well as design a johnniewalker.com Web site, which will launch late this year. AKQA will also oversee online promotions for sporting events sponsored by the brand, intended to target 25-34 year-old men. ”It’s not enough these days to simply advertise to the consumer, we need to create a brand experience with the consumer,” said Ben Anderson, Johnnie Walker global brand director. “Online will definitely play a stronger role. Additionally, we look forward to taking bigger steps into areas such as mobile marketing.”

Expedia is placing its $170 million account in review. The company, which saw net income slump in Q1, had worked with Deutsch/LA.