24/7 Media Inc.in New York named former American Express senior manager Ken Leidner as vice president, strategic planning.
Reporting directly to CEO David J. Moore, Leidner will be responsible for evaluating new business opportunities, participating in acquisition strategy and working with the company’s various business units to refine their development strategies.
At American Express, Leidner was a senior manager in the Interactive Enterprise Development Group. He helped develop an interactive investment strategy and facilitated business units’ growth through investments in partner companies. Prior to American Express, Leidner was a manager of the Corporate Finance Group–Financial Advisory Services at Ernst & Young .
In addition to the hiring of Leidner, 24/7 Media announced increased responsibilities for several key managers. Scott Paternoster, senior vice president and former manager of the CLIQNOW! sales force, has assumed sales management responsibility for the company’s national 24/7 Network sales force.
Reporting to Paternoster are three directors of sales, whose new positions have been developed to provide content-specific expertise to both the company’s Web site clients and its advertising customers. Vic Golio, Ned Newhouse, and Greg O’Brien have all been promoted from regional sales managers to directors of sales, with each overseeing five to seven content channels. Gary Cecchini, senior vice president and former manager of the 24/7 Network sales force, will transition to lead a new, soon to be announced initiative, the company said.
Mark Burchill, co-founder and senior vice president of business development, has assumed the additional responsibilities of spearheading the company’s international efforts. And Leslie Howard will assume additional responsibilities as vice president, corporate communications.