-DDB alum Jonathan Sackett joined Ogilvy as managing director of content strategy for North America.

-Larry David‘s worst enemy Aamco celebrates 50 years (above).

- Queens, NY-based (represent) commercial production house SFI (Simpson Films), hired David Nelson as executive producer.

-Cannes Young Lions “Team USA.” Wooo? link

-Hmm, so what start-ups should Facebook now buy? link

-The AAF’s Advertising Hall of Achievement has announced its 2012 call for nominations. link (pdf)

More digital hires? More digital hires. DDB Chicago sent the word that Azher Ahmed has joined the agency ranks as SVP, director of digital operations. What does that mean, exactly? Well, according to the agency, Ahmed will obviously be responsible for building out DDB Chi’s digital unit but he’s also tasked with “refining all aspects of the agency process and infrastructure to best serve its clients’ needs in a digital world.” Sounds ambitious.

Ahmed arrives from the Martin Agency, where he spent the past two years as SVP, director of technology. By joining DDB Chicago, he’ll reunite with his new boss, chief digital officer/managing director and fellow Martin alum Jonathan Sackett, who glowingly states, “I’m honored that he will be joining me at DDB to make the most of the digital powerhouse we are quickly becoming.” Prior to his work at Martin, which included the FWA 2009 Site of the Year-winning “JFK: We Choose the Moon,” Ahmed had two-year stints at both as director of digital technology at Draftfcb and Arnold Worldwide.

Sources familiar with the matter confirm that DDB Chicago is “working on Sierra Mist.” Nearly two months ago, PepsiCo launched a review for its lemon-lime beverage, which Goodby has served as lead creative agency for since 2009. In January, AdAge reported that DDB was among the contenders as was TBWA\Chiat\Day New York, though PepsiCo said at the time that Goodby “continues” to work on Sierra Mist. This latest news follows DDB Chi’s hiring of its first chief digital officer/MD Jonathan Sackett from Martin Agency. After a somewhat rough 2010, we suppose this is a fairly positive start to ’11.

Anyhow, we’re awaiting further background as to whether GS&P’s still involved at all with Sierra Mist or if Pepsi is just playing Omnicom hot potato. Stay tuned.. Update: Goodby is no longer working with Sierra Mist.

DDB Chicago announced that it’s hired Jonathan Sackett to assume the agency’s new post of chief digital officer, managing director. Sackett, Superman t-shirt and all, joins from The Martin Agency, where he retained the same title.

Sackett, who co-founded the International Association of Internet Professionals back in 2002, is now tasked with developing DDB Chi’s digital skills, business solutions and lead planning in the digital arena. While at Martin, the newly minted DDB exec helped spearhead the former agency’s digital makeover and worked on clients and worked on clients including Wal-Mart, GEICO, UPS, Pizza Hut, ESPN, Discover Card, Kraft, Microsoft, Expedia, Hanes….you know their past and present client roster by now.

Sackett, who also served as chief digital officer at Arnold Worldwide and was SVP/director of digital operations at Draftfcb for a handful of years, gets high praise (of course) from DDB Chi’s CCO Ewan Paterson, who says in a statement, “We share the same vision for DDB and the type of ideas we want to be famous for. I’m certain that DDB will benefit immensely from Jon’s love of ideas, digital thinking, new business and cowboy boots.”