R&J GROUP, Parsippany, has named BOB GAGAUF president and CEO. One of the founding partners of the agency, he had been executive vice president and will now formulate strategic direction, marketing strategy and oversee general operations for the firm. In related moves, THOR JORGENSEN, vice president of marketing and strategic planning, and ANDREW CAMARATA, vice president/ creative director, are appointed board members, while STEVEN PARKINS is named director of business development. The agency also formed a new a new unit — R&J HEALTH — to focus exclusively on the health services industry.

MUKBIL ATKAN and LORI HILLER recently joined CMD & PARTNERS, Fairfield. Atkan serves as art director and Hiller is an account executive. The agency has moved its headquarters to the Atrium at Fairfield Building, 30 Two Bridges Road.

TURCHETTE ADVERTISING, Fairfield, has added clients Vibra Screw Inc. and North Jersey Community Bank. Vibra is a leading manufacturer of solids processing and handling equipment based in Totowa. North Jersey Community is a newly chartered independent full-service financial institution in Englewood serving Englewood Cliffs, Englewood and Fort Lee. BARBARA DOREY joined the agency staff as senior account executive. She had been marketing communications manager at Becton, Dickinson and Company.

GIANETTINO & MEREDITH, Short Hills, has hired CONNIE RIZZO as media planner/buyer. She joins G&M from DVC Worldwide.

CPR STRATEGIC MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, Elmwood Park, was picked by Onroo Entertainment, LLC, to grow its user base and generate interest among entertainment and sports information web portals and online venues. Onroo is a leading developer and operator of fantasy sports and reality-TV fantasy games and tournaments.

Michael Catalano	Craig Korthase

CRAIG KORTHASE and MICHAEL CATALANO have joined the staff at S3, Boonton. Korthase is print/traffic manager while Catalano is a production artist.

CHRISTIAN STILLWAGON has joined HAMMERHEAD ADVERTISING, Hoboken, as production studio manager. He had been director of creative operations at Clinical Insights, a New York City-based continual medical education pharmaceutical agency.

CHRISTIAN STILLWAGON has joined HAMMERHEAD ADVERTISING, Hoboken, as production studio manager. He had been director of creative operations at Clinical Insights, a New York City-based continual medical education pharmaceutical agency.

Larry Freeman

Christian Stillwagon

GRÁFICAGROUP has hired LARRY FREEMAN as media director to manage the agency’s media outlets, including broadcast, print, outdoor, interactive and direct-mail selection. He joins Gráfica from the Lunar Group, where he served as vice president of media and account planning.

THE STAR GROUP, Cherry Hill, has acquired Shipley Associates of Wilmington, Del., to become the only marketing communications firm in the region with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Star is maintaining Shipley’s Wilmington office, renamed Star/Shipley, and located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue.The agency also announced eight new staff additions. OSCAR BETANCUR is art director, MATT LANZDORF is a copywriter, CHRISTINE DUNN is design technician, MAURA DAILY is associate media planner/buyer, ANDREW VAN SLAARS is senior systems analyst, KAY SASSANI is executive assistant to the CEO, AUBREY AYALA is operations assistant, GINA DEGIOVANNI is administrative assistant, and NAEEM CONGO is the agency’s new assistant media planner/buyer.

SHANNON MORRIS has been named a partner at SIGMA GROUP, Oradell. In her new post, she is responsible for the growth and management of new business and agency-wide operations and administration as well as strategic communications, marketing programs, planning and management services. In a related move, MEG TIPTON joins Sigma as senior account director with responsibility for project management and accounts service on the Panasonic Computer Solutions Company’s brand of Toughbook, notebook and handheld PCs. Previously, she was associated with De’Longhi and Sharp Electronics Corporation.

BRUSHFIRE, INC., Whippany, has elevated JOHN THOMSEN to senior vice president/ media director and ANNE ARMELINO to vice president/associate media director. The agency also hired MATT DESIMONE as senior vice president/creative director and JOE STALUPPI as vice president/creative director.