Execs & Accounts for November 1, 2004

Agency.com hired Tom Ajello as VP and group creative director for its itraffic interactive marketing group.

Ajello has been a creative head with Modem Media since 2000, prior to which he co-founded Spunky Productions, a producer of children’s content for the Web. At itraffic, Ajello will head marketing strategy for Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids, TLC, Travel Channel and British Airways, among other brands. Ajello’s former employer, Modem Media, was recently acquired by Digitas.

Desktop search player blinkx hired former Yahoo exec Mark Opzoomer as chief executive officer. Opzoomer was European managing director and regional VP of Yahoo Earlier, he held posts with Hodder Headline and Virgin Group.

Digitas promoted Torrence Boone and Anne Drapeau to executive VP slots. Boone has been managing director of the Digitas Chicago office since 2003. Earlier, he was VP and general manager for Avenue A. Drapeau is Digitas’ chief people officer, serving both Digitas and Modem Media. Prior to joining the company, she held strategy and management posts at FTD, PepsiCo and Send.com.

Avenue A/Razorfish launched a new site for Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. The goal was to build a Web presence that reflects Taj’s high standards and “provides guests with an online experience that is comparable to its industry-leading hotel and resort hospitality.”

Tribune Interactive and Classified renewed its annual agreement to use Tacoda’s behavioral targeting platform. “Behavioral and demographic targeting are important online offerings within the Tribune Interactive network,” said the company’s director of advertising.

Fathom Online promoted Rob Middleton to executive VP and chief strategy officer, and hired Tom O’Grady as director of client services. Both are newly created posts.

Middleton was executive VP of new business with Fathom since its 2002 launch. Earlier, he worked for BBDO, Grey Direct and SFInteractive. O’Grady joins from OMD Digital in Chicago, where he was associate director of strategy.

Quris promoted Katie Cole to VP of analytics and research. Cole was director of data analysis and learning for the email services provider.

Mazda North American Operations promoted Don Romano to VP of marketing. During his four years with Mazda, Romano has served as group manager of demand and Western regional general manager. Eric Johnston, former director of marketing, replaces him as Western RGM.

Mazda has been aggressive in using the Internet as a marketing and promotions vehicle. The company recently featured its “Zoom Zoom” slogan in an integrated campaign with an online photo contest at its center.

Australian search company Ansearch hired Louisa Williams as marketing manager. Williams was most recently the director of global marketing at RedSheriff.