Chief Marketer Staff

• Mischa Barton to Represent Keds Footwear

  TV star Mischa Barton has been hired by the Keds Corp. to be a spokesperson for its footwear brand. The deal calls for 18-year-old Barton to appear in national print and outdoor ads as well as direct mail, in-store materials and online. She will also …

• Kmart and E! Debut Apparel Line

  Kmart Corp. and E! Entertainment Television have partnered to launch a new line of apparel available only at the retailer. Kmart said the line is sophisticated modern separates for the contemporary woman—for work or a night out. In a statement, Kmart’s …

• GM Appoints New Marketing Managers

  Mark LaNeve has been named VP-marketing for General Motors Corp. North America effective Sept. 1. The company also named Susan Doherty divisional marketing general manager for GM’s Hummer brand, according to news reports. LaNeve has been general manager …

• Checkers Becomes Official Burger of the Colts

  Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal to make its Rally’s QSRs the Official Burger of the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts. As part of the deal, Rally’s will be featured on a variety of radio and …

• Mexican Snacks Pack Game CDs

  Mexican baker Bimbo is courting U.S. kids with videogame CDs in packages of Marinela brand snack cakes and cookies. CD-ROMs in packs of Marinela Gansito snack cakes and Barritas Marinela feature the brand’s spokescharacter Gansito (“little goose”) …

• Text-2-Screen Platform Promotes Brand Awareness

  Vibes Media has helped turn downtime before acts at Chicago’s Tweeter Center amphitheater into valuable time for advertisers and brand marketers this summer. Individuals can use their cell phones to send messages that get displayed in real time onto a …

• News Briefs

  BORDERS GROUP: Ann Arbor, MI, named Michael Tam as senior VP-marketing for its 1,200 Borders and Waldenbooks stores worldwide. Tam had been executive VP-chief marketing officer for American Eagle Outfitters.TAFFY ENTERTAINMENT: has launched a licensing …

• List and Database News

  Trend Scape Women Executives at Home This list offers 119,957 women business executives and owners who have responded to credit card and direct mail offers.

• Agencies

  P&G Dresses Up $50 Million Tide Launch

  Procter & Gamble tucks in with a $50 million campaign—including a New York City pajama party and national sampling—to launch Tide with a touch of Downy. P&G will feature pajama designer Karen Neuburger as spokesperson in promos breaking next month. P&G …

• Agencies

  A New Recipe for Watch-and-Win Sweeps

  Wells’ Dairy is hosting an online “talent search” sweepstakes touting its Blue Bunny ice cream. Consumers go to www.bluebunny.com to register for its “iScream Team” and watch a 2.5-minute Webisode of six “contestants” in the fictitious talent search. …