Execs & Accounts for September 10, 2003

MSNBC.com has hired radio veteran Todd Herman as streaming evangelist in its sales and business development department.

Herman’s task essentially is to support an advertising-based model of free streaming video news. MSNBC.com works with partners such as NBC News and MSNBC cable to provide video news updates free online. Demand for video news reached record highs during the Iraq war, during which users downloaded about 89 million video streams.

“Todd Herman is an exciting, provocative speaker who can knowledgably deliver the message of free streaming media to advertisers,” said Scott Moore, president of MSNBC.com.

In 1998, Herman founded and served as CEO of theDial, an Internet radio pioneer. Prior to that he worked in broadcast radio for a long period, even enjoying several years as a syndicated talk show host.

The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has launched the latest creative execution in its 2003 integrated branding campaign, “Superheroes,” which demonstrates how marketers can best integrate digital media into their overall plans.

Created by Euro RSCG MVBMS Partners, the campaign uses case studies from brands such as Frito-Lay, Visa and Volvo. The most recent ad was presented at the IAB Advertisers Forum in New York and features a recent marketing program Visa executed online.

Media companies and publishers donating ad space include AOL , The New York Times Digital, Yahoo and MSN. Atlas DMT is providing all ad serving, tracking and analytics.

Search engine marketing firm iCrossing has hired three to its Northeast division.

John Tierney will serve as regional director in New York. Tierney spent five years at America Online, where he developed and implemented online marketing programs for Fortune 500 clients. He has also held positions with IBM and the U.S. Congress. He is an adjunct professor at Pace University in New York.

Sara Holoubek has joined as chief strategy officer. Previously with Blue Dingo and Organic, Holoubek has worked with top brands such as Levi Strauss & Co., Bloomingdale’s and Compaq Computers.

Krista Brady, as media manager, will analyze and optimize iCrossing client campaigns. She comes from Monster, where she developed and managed online keyword plans and buys, and provided campaign analysis.

24/7 Real Media has signed two clients, Health Forum Network and YellowPages.com, for its Open AdStream ad serving product.

The Health Forum Network is an American Hospital Association company that links 10 sites that provide information to managing staff at hospitals, suppliers and payers. YellowPages.com is an online business directory.

“We believe that Open Insight can help us make our Web site even more useful by providing information to our sales force which will result in better advertising CPM revenue,” said Jeff Yeomans, ad traffic manager for YellowPages.com.

For more breaking news on account action and executive moves, visit ChannelSeven.com