Execs & Accounts for November 17, 2003

Euro RSCG Circle-Boston is deepening its digital media expertise with the hire of Chia Chen as VP and director of account services.

Chen’s background includes a mix of digital brand and account management for brands including General Motors, Unilever, Levi’s, Coors Brewing Company, AT&T, Delta Airlines and American Express. He has held positions with Modem Media, Answerthink and Viant. At Circle, Chen will direct account management efforts for Mini USA and contribute to other clients’ programs.

The agency also tapped Corby Caldwell, formerly of Wieden + Kennedy, to be associate media director.

Web analytics player Coremetrics has signed three new specialty retailers. Footsmart, Golfsmith and Sure Fit will use the company’s Web metrics platform to capture customer and visitor clickstream activity.

“With Coremetrics, we will be able to use ROI metrics to target marketing programs that have stronger returns,” said Karen Howard, senior online merchandising manager at FootSmart. “We also plan to improve online merchandising by analyzing our product placements, as well as understanding the cause and effect of abandonment rates.”

Optiem has designed a site for new client International Steel Group. The Web presence provides information on the company and its products and facilities, as well as secure areas for customers, suppliers and employees.

“We’re proud to have been selected by ISG to develop the site,” said Optiem President Thom Ruhe. “They have embraced the productivity and customer service benefits of the Internet — to the benefit of shareholders.”

Juxta Digital has built a job-search and publishing information site for the Association of American Publishers. Bookjobs.com promotes careers in publishing to college students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Job listings, events, and information pages are handled by Synopsa, Juxta’s content management system. The Bookjobs site is in the final testing stages and will be promoted as a resource to colleges in early 2004.

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