Execs & Accounts UK and EU: Myvideorights, Blue Barracuda, Agillic

Digital video syndication and rights management company Myvideorights has hired Ian Samuel as U.K. advertising sales director. Samuel joins from a senior sales role at video search engine Blinkx.com, and will be tasked with building out online sales for the firm, particularly around in-stream ads and sponsorships. MVR also announced a deal with Google earlier this month allowing it to sell ad inventory in and around its content on YouTube.

Full service digital agency Blue Barracuda has appointed Andrew Mason as media director. Mason will direct the firm’s media team in buying across display, paid search, SEO, affiliate, e-mail and social media channels, for clients including Pizza Hut, BAA, and the U.K. Film Council.

Integrated e-mail, SMS and direct mail platform provider Agillic has opened an office in the U.K.The move is aimed at enabling the firm to better serve its global clients and attract more local business. Turlough Martin, formerly at behavioral targeting specialist Wunderloop, has been appointed managing director of the new operation, and will be tasked with appointing and leading a team to develop U.K. business. The business is headquartered in Denmark with offices in the Ukraine, and customers including agency networks OgilvyOne and Wunderman and Toyota, Danish Railways and Telenor.

Ogilvy U.K. chairman and CEO Dan Leih is stepping down from his role. OgilvyOne chairman Paul O’Donnell will take over the role, and will work with Leih during the transition. Leih departs at the end of September.