Clear Channel Communications tapped John Partilla from Time Warner Inc. (TWX) to fill its top sales position, as Time Warner concurrently announced his replacement.

The company said Partilla, in a new possition at Clear Channel, will lead development across the company's radio and billboard businesses. Clear Channel Chief Executive Mark Mays said the company was accelerating and expanding its attention on chief marketing officers and brand managers to boost the branding of its radio and outdoor platforms.

Advertising woes that were first seen in newspapers and magazines have been spreading to television and now billboards, which had been holding up well.

Partilla had led Time Warner's global media group since 2004, and was previously president at Young & Ruicam and founder and chief executive of Brand Buzz, which launched in 2000. Partilla helped grow Time Warner's international businesses by expanding U.S. programs globally.

At the same time, Time Warner promoted Mark D'Arcy to president and chief creative officer of Partilla's group. D'Arcy joined the group in 2004 and worked on the development of Warner Bros.' film "Terminator Salvation" and the Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) OneTouch Diabetes Handprint initiative, among other projects.

D'Arcy had served as senior vice president and chief creative officer to the group and prior to joining Time Warner, spent 15 years as creative director in both New York and Auckland, New Zealand.

-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5285; john.kell@dowjones.com