Chief Marketer Staff

• ValueClick to Acquire E-Commerce Sites

  ValueClick Inc. the online marketing services agency plans to acquire Web Marketing Holdings Inc. for $141 million and E-Babylon Inc. for $11.7 million in transactions that are expected to close in July.

• MEC Interaction Targets Online and Offline

  Mediadge:cia has merged online and offline lead generation media planning and buying divisions into a single new entity called MEC Interaction.

• Ketchum Sets Sights on Online and Wireless

  The marketing agency Ketchum has launched a new service for integrating online and wireless media promotions called Ketchum Personalized Media to provide marketing services for online blogs, “podcasting” of audio files, search engine optimization and mobile marketing targeting cell phones.

• DMA Chooses JetBlue’s CEO Neeleman as Marketer of the Year

  The Direct Marketing Association has chosen David Neeleman, chairman and CEO of JetBlue Airways as DM Days New York Marketer of the Year. Neeleman will receive the award on June 29 during the DM Days Conference and Expo in New York.

• Harte-Hanks Picks Sloane Levy as VP and General Counsel

  Sloane Levy has joined Harte-Hanks Inc. as vice president, general counsel and secretary. Levy is filling a vacancy created by the departure of Steve Hacker who had held those positions.

• Intellidyn Hires Andrew Russo as a Director

  Andrew W. Russo has been appointed director of account services at Intellidyn Corp., a database and direct marketing analytic services firm based in Hingham, MA.

• Short Cuts

  Durand Media Group Inc., an infomercial marketing services firm, has hired Advanced Interactive Sciences LLC to provide voice response telemarketing services to handle inbound orders generated by direct response TV promotions.

• List and Database News

  Attendees of radio-sponsored events such as cook-offs, county fairs and auto races have been assembled to build the Deep Fried Country Folk file. These nearly 25 million records have been enhanced with lifestyle data.

• Agencies

  Frank’s RedHot Ties Wing-Eating Contests to AVP Sponsorship

  Frank’s RedHot Cayenne Pepper Sauce has signed on as the category-exclusive sponsor of the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour for the 2005 season, and will leverage it with hot-wing eating contests at four of the tour’s events. The brand will hold Battle to …

• Big Lots Taps Fishman

  Big Lots last week named Steven Fishman president-CEO of the retail chain. Fishman is credited with turning around discount chain Pamida, Frank’s Nursery & Crafts, and Rhodes Furniture, where he is now president-CEO. He replaces Michael Potter, who …