Chief Marketer Staff

• Skechers Brings Idol to Campaign

  Skechers USA is adding a little music power to the brand, signing American Idol winner Carrie Underwood to a new global endorsement agreement. Carrie Underwood sings Skecher’s praises in new deal As part of the agreement, Skechers will feature the …

• Agencies

  Blimpie Launches Racing Themed Sweeps

  Blimpie International is out with a new sweepstakes targeting racing enthusiasts, offering a grand-prize trip to the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The QSR launched the sweepstakes to generate buzz around its new Champion Combo meal, a choice of a six- or …

• Agencies

  Ameriquest Leveraging Stones Tour to Generate Leads

  Ameriquest Mortgage Co. is launching an online sweepstakes today that will send five consumers to meet The Rolling Stones and see them perform live, while helping the mortgage company generate new leads. As presenting sponsor of the U.S. leg of The …

• WNBA’s Local and League Sponsorships Rise

  Brands are warming up to the chance of becoming sponsors of the Women’s National Basketball Association. During a press conference Saturday at the WNBA’s All-Star Game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, league Commissioner Donna Orender said that …

• Sears Promotes Chow to CMO

  Sears Roebuck & Co. has named Joan Chow senior VP-chief marketing officer for Sears Retail. Chow had been Sears Retail’s VP-marketing services; her promotion took effect July 11. Chow has also held posts customer relationship marketing and business …

• Draft Taps Kelleman for Nokia

  Draft has hired Rich Kelleman as VP-director of strategic planning on its Nokia global retail account. Kelleman took the new post at Chicago-based Draft in mid-June; he had been VP-creative planning at Upshot, Chicago. Earlier work includes stints at …

• Dodge Vehicles Get Placement in TNT Series

  As war to build market share wages on among the Big Three automakers, Dodge’s 2006 Chargers and Dakotas are set to be featured in TNT’s new crime thriller Wanted via product integration, broadband features and widespread marketing. Ryan Hurst (l.) and …

• Acxiom to Slash 4% of Workforce

  Acxiom Corp. is planning to lay off 250 employees — 4% of its workforce — in an effort to save at least $14 million by the fourth quarter

• Live From NCDM: Hoover’s Ties It Together

  Anyone who takes joy in seeing a direct marketer tear his hair out should ask said DMer to evaluate the effectiveness of traditionally untrackable media channels

• Agencies

  Live from the E-mail Authentication Summit: Sender ID Ready to Fight Phishers

  E-mail authentication is a place to start fighting spam, but don’t stop there. That was the main takeaway from a summit meeting of some 500 e-mail service providers (ESPs), ISPs, e-mail tech vendors and e-marketers held in New York on Tuesday