There is still good news to be found in media land if you look hard enough! Hearst Magazines has announced the promotion of three "key executives" at the company and the addition of a director of marketing services for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. Per the release: Chuck Cordray, general manager and vice president of Hearst Magazines Digital Media, has been promoted to senior vice president. Chris Wilkes, formerly executive director of marketing and audience development, has been promoted to vice president. Debra Robinson, who started at Hearst in March 2006 as vice president, technology and production for the Digital Media unit, has been promoted to senior vice president and CIO, Hearst Magazines. And, Cameron Connors, former creative services director at Conde Nast Media Group Interactive, has been hired as director of marketing services for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. Heart's full release after the jump.

Meanwhile, The Reader's Digest Association has announced that Lora Gier has been promoted to the new position of Vice President, Publisher at Taste of Home. Grier comes to this this role from her previous position as Vice President, Integrated Partnerships, Taste of Home, a position she has held since June, 2007

Hearst Magazines Promotes Three Executives and Hires Director of
Digital Marketing Services

New York — November 17, 2008 — Hearst Magazines, a unit of HearstCorporation, today announced the promotion of three key executives at the company and the addition of a director of marketing services for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. The promotions are in recognition of superior performance by these executives and the dramatic growth of Hearst’s digital consumer business.

Chuck Cordray, general manager and vice president of Hearst Magazines
Digital Media since March 2006, has been promoted to senior vice
president. Chris Wilkes, formerly executive director of marketing and
audience development for Hearst Magazines Digital Media, has been
promoted to vice president. Wilkes has been with Hearst Magazines
since March 2005.

Cameron Connors, former creative services director at Condé Nast Media
Group Interactive, has been hired as director of marketing services
for Hearst Magazines Digital Media. He will begin immediately and
will report to Kristine Welker, vice president of sales and marketing
for Hearst Magazines Digital Media.

In addition, Debra Robinson, who started at Hearst in March 2006 as
vice president, technology and production for the Digital Media unit,
has been promoted to senior vice president and CIO, Hearst Magazines.
In her current role, Robinson is responsible for leading and
coordinating IT initiatives and operations across all Hearst Magazines
business units, which include 16 U.S. consumer magazine titles; Hearst
Magazines
Digital Media; CDS Global, the Hearst-owned international data
management company that provides customized fulfillment services to
publishers and direct marketers; Periodical Publishers' Service Bureau
(PPSB), the Hearst-owned circulation and subscription services
company; and the National Magazine Company Limited, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Hearst Magazines in the U.K.

“We are extremely proud of what our digital group has accomplished
over the last eighteen months. As part of the launch team, Chuck,
Chris and Debra were instrumental to that growth,” said John Loughlin,
executive vice president and general manager, Hearst Magazines. “I’m
pleased that Debra has moved up to the position of SVP and CIO for
Hearst Magazines, as Chuck, Chris and their respective teams continue
to drive new site launches, acquisitions and leverage our superior
print brands into the digital space.”

Since Hearst established its Digital Media division in mid-2006, the
group’s success has been outstanding. Eighteen months ago, the Hearst
Magazines Digital Media women’s network was logging an average of 2.8
million unique visitors per month. That number has since increased
considerably to over 19 million, according to ComScore (October 2008),
including Hearst’s newest site, Delish.com, launched in partnership
with MSN. In 2008, digital advertising revenue will increase by 75
percent and the digital group is now responsible for capturing one in
four print subscriptions online. The overall goal for Hearst
Magazines Digital Media is to continue to drive this success through
innovative online strategies and the use of cutting edge technology.

Added Kristine Welker, Hearst Magazines Digital Media’s vice
president, sales and marketing, “Cameron is as an outstanding creative
marketer and an extraordinary team builder. We are excited that he is
joining Hearst and know that his experience and creativity will
greatly enhance what we can offer to our advertising partners.”