Marketing Week
14 June 2007

  • A finance director online? The public will be heard

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Does the stereotypically stuffy world of finance have a place in the flashy world of new media? No, that's not a hypothetical question, but one actually posed by Clark McKay & Walpole.

  • AA defends the positive social role of advertising

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    The Advertising Association is planning to launch a high-profile publicity campaign to promote the positive role of advertising, as it reassesses its role in the wake of an increasing threat of restrictions on advertising.

  • Abbey boosts marketing spend as it retains Carat to handle media

    Tue, 19 Jun 2007

    Abbey, the Grupo Santander-owned bank, is boosting its marketing budget by more than 10% to £31m to support the launch of new products and services in 2007 and 2008. It has also retained Carat to handle its media planning and buying without a pitch.

  • Aegis buys Marvellous Mobile

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Aegis Group, the media and marketing services group, has acquired mobile marketing agency Marvellous Mobile for an undisclosed sum. The company says that the acquisition aims to make it a leader in mobile marketing.

  • AG Barr plans ad push for Strathmore water

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    AG Barr is launching a 1m advertising push for its Strathmore spring water with the aim of boosting its appeal. It is the company's first major marketing investment since it acquired the brand in June last year.

  • Alcohol brands banned from promoting "slammers"

    Tue, 19 Jun 2007

    Alcohol manufacturers will be prevented from promoting pre-packaged drinks as "shooters" or "slammers" under the drinks industry's self regulatory code on marketing announced this week. The new restriction, announced by the social responsibility body for drinks producers Portman Group, will come into effect from January 2008.

  • Are jaguar's nine lives up?

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Ford looks almost certain to sell Jaguar and Land Rover. However, all other car manufacturers seem to want nothing to do with the possible sale. This means the brands could follow Aston Martin into the private equity arena. But will this move finally kill them off? By Robert Lester

  • ASA demands Orange pull 'misleading' broadband ad

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Orange has been banned from using a press ad for its home broadband service after it made misleading claims about offering unlimited calls.

  • Asda to launch "green" CDs

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Adsa claims to be the first supermarket chain to offer environmentally friendly CDs. It is launching 84,000 best selling albums into fully compostable packaging from this week.

  • Attempting to see the wood for the trees

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    "I think that I shall never see a billboard lovely as a tree." Profound, if a bit obvious, words from American poet Ogden Nash.

  • BBC Magazines puts launch on ice

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    BBC Magazines has delayed plans for the launch of a weekly news magazine following a negative response from media buyers about its potential for advertising.

  • Beware the oracles who'll leave you cursing your luck

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Loyalty gurus specialise in predicting what must be done to attract customers - but the actual job of doing it is a darker art altogether

  • Blacks on hunt for ad agency

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Blacks Outside Leisure is seeking a new advertising agency to handle its Millets and Blacks brands. It is understood to have parted company with incumbent agency Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy earlier this year.

  • Borders appoints B'lowfish as first retained agency

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Borders UK, the book retailer, has appointed B'lowfish Advertising as its first retained advertising agency. It was appointed after a five-way pitch against four undisclosed agencies.

  • BRC takes swipe at Which?

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has hit out at consumer lobby group Which? for failing to acknowledge that British retailers have responded to the demand for healthier food and better nutritional information.

  • Buy.At appoints former OMG MD

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Buy.At, the affiliate marketing network, has appointed rival OMG's former managing director Louise Green to fill the newly-created role of client services director. She will lead a team of 20 people.

  • Cadbury culls brands in fewer, faster restructure

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Cadbury Schweppes is axing support for family favourites brands, including Maynards, Bassetts and Trebor, as it consolidates its £250m global adverting budget across 13 brands. The move is part of a major restructure of the company, including 7500 job cuts and factory closures.

  • Carat wins Birds Eye media planning account

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Birds Eye, the frozen food brand, has appointed Carat to handle its £15m media planning and buying account after a three-way pitch against Starcom and incumbent Mindshare.

  • Coca-Cola bottler attacks Cokes innovation drive

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Coca-Cola has been slammed by its biggest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) over its lack of innovation.

  • Coca-Cola limited editions under fire

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Retailers have criticised Coca-Cola for investing 2.5m promoting its limited edition variants because the products are a "waste of time" and have little impact on sales.

  • Code unveiled to boost UK tourism

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    VisitBritain is launching a national Code of Practice that aims to improve the quality of the country's visitor attractions. The code will be introduced on April 1 next year.

  • Creston to embark on raft of UK acquisitions

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Marketing services group Creston is contemplating a raft of UK acquisitions, such as media planning, experiential and sales promotions services, although it admits its focus is switching to Continental Europe and the US.

  • Daily Star plans weekly supplement

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Northern & Shell is attempting to bolster the faltering circulation of the Daily Star by offering celebrity and entertainment-focused supplement Hot Stars with its Saturday edition.

  • DDB Sydney celebrates the shoe-gazers with trainer magazine ads

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Believe it or not, trainers are big business. The agencies certainly do. Back in April advertising agency Wieden & Kennedy celebrated its 25th anniversary, and relationship with Nike, by creating a limited run of 1,000 specially-produced trainers.

  • DoHs 10m plan to curb drink problem

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    The Government is gearing up for its biggest single advertising push with a 10m campaign aimed at tackling problem drinking. It is the first time that spending on an anti-alcohol campaign has matched that for anti-smoking or drugs.

  • DRDB chief exec steps down

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Ian Dickens, the chief executive of the Digital Radio Development Bureau (DRDB), is stepping down in the autumn after five years in the role. The DRDB is seeking a replacement to oversee its expansion.

  • DSG International's incoming chief will have his work cut out

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    DSG International has come a long way under the stewardship of chief executive John Clare, who is stepping down in September after 13 years (MW last week). But his successor John Browett inherits a business facing fierce competition from supermarkets and online retailers and one which has "yet ...

  • Elias departs Nissan to rival Renault

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Nissan has promoted Vincent Wijnen to the role of GB marketing director following the departure of Justin Elias to rival car marque Renault. Wijnen, currently Nissan Motor (GB) sales director, will be replaced by Kevin Butler, vehicle remarketing and fleet ...

  • Emap creates group commercial director role

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    David Hipkiss, trading director at Emap Advertising, has been appointed to the new role of commercial director for the Emap group. He will initially handle the role on a six month secondment to assess the size and scale of commerical opportunity" within the group.

  • European aspirations

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    British white goods brand Hotpoint is at the centre of Italian-based owner Indesit's harmonised European brand strategy. Rupi Gohlar assesses its chances of success on the Continent

  • Former BT man to head up 3's integrated communications

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Mobile phone operator 3 has appointed former BT and Volkswagen marketer Alan Doyle as integrated communications director. He will head the team responsible for branding and through-the-line communications.

  • FT hikes cover price by 30p

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    The Financial Times is raising its cover price by 30p in a sign of confidence that the business publication can resist the threat of free content from rival newspapers and the internet.

  • Google starts search for UK B2B head of marketing

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Search engine giant Google is hunting its first dedicated head of business-to-business marketing in the UK. The move marks a step change for the online brand, which had not previously invested in traditional marketing.

  • Government body names teen magazines as 'only source' of responsible sex advice

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    A Government advisory group has praised teen magazines as being the 'only source' of good advice on sexual issues for teenagers. The Sexual Health and HIV advisory group has highlighted the responsible role of teen titles in sex education...

  • Government campaigns against mobile phone theft

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    The Government is launching a national campaign which will tap into the social networking phenomenon in an effort to eliminate mobile phone crime.

  • Greene King launches 'smoke-free pubs' campaign

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Greene king, the pub and beer company, is marking the introduction of smoke-free pubs from July 1 with a major national campaign offering consumers the chance to taste its own brand of hospitality.

  • Guardian News & Media promotes Freeman

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    Guardian News & Media (GNM) has promoted Adam Freeman to commercial director of its news and media division Freeman replaces Stuart Taylor who is transferring to sister company GMG Radio in the same role.

  • Hegarty knighted in Queen's Birthday Honours

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    John Hegarty, chairman and co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty has been knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours, in recognition for his services to the advertising industry. Leslie Butterfield, managing partner of the Ingram Partnership, has also received a CBE.

  • Home Retail Group to remain cautious despite like-for-like sales

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos and Homebase, says it remains cautious about consumer spending despite reporting improved first-quarter like-for-like sales.

  • Icstis seeks agency before rebrand

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Icstis, the premium rate services regulator, is seeking an advertising agency ahead of plans to rebrand.

  • Innocent courting corporate backers

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Innocent Drinks is moving further away from its ethical roots as it looks to take on corporate partners to sponsor its new flagship summer event.

  • iPhone will only create niche market says mobile expert

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Apple's long-awaited iPhone will only have a "modest impact" in Europe despite being one of the most eagerly anticipated products of the year, according to a leading telecoms analyst.

  • Is DSG International another M&S in the remaking?

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Whatever happened to Dixons? The electrical retail group, once a leading brand which held the City in thrall (and in pocket) with its audacious acquisitions strategy, is now but a dreary shadow of the former self of 20 years ago. Is there any way back?

  • ITV calls on suppliers to "give something back"

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    ITV chairman Michael Grade called for ITV's suppliers to "give something back" to the ailing broadcaster as it attempts to get back on track. He made the comments in a speech at a conference for independent programmers.

  • Kellogg to extend ad code for children to the under 12s

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Kellogg, the US-based cereal manufacturer, is extending its code on advertising to children from under six-year-olds to include all kids under 12. It made the announcement as it began a global roll-out of front-of-pack nutrition labelling.

  • Kwik Save announces further closures

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Kwik Save, the struggling supermarket chain, is closing 22 stores just days after announcing it was reopening 20 stores already earmarked for closure. The retailer initially closed 79 branches on May 30.

  • Location, location, location

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    The right venue can really help set the mood of your event and London has a wealth of varied and unusual locations. Tim Weissberg explores the capital's churches, museums and breweries

  • Majestic raids John Lewis for marketing director

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    Majestic Wine Warehouses has appointed John Lewis marketer David Sinfield as its new marketing director. He will join in August and report to chief operating officer Steve Lewis.

  • Millennium launches global mature marketing initiative

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Millennium is spearheading the launch of an international agency network that will target older consumers. The agency specialises in marketing to the over 50s.

  • Monkhouse returns in cancer awareness ad

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    The Prostate Cancer Re-search Foundation is bringing late comedian Bob Monkhouse back to life in a new advertising campaign four years after he died from the disease.

  • Nectar owner appoints Dunnhumby executive

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    LMG, the company that owns the Nectar loyalty scheme, has appointed Dunnhumby executive Peter Gleason as managing director of its new insight and communications division. Gleason was previously managing director of retail media at Dunnhumby.

  • New campaign - We Are What We Do

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    We Are What We Do, the social change movement behind the Anya Hindmarch I'm Not A Plastic Bag project, is launching a new campaign to encourage retailers to ditch plastic carrier bags.

  • New campaign shows music on the Coke Side of Life

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    Coca-Cola is launching a new pan-European TV ad that aims to show what music is like on the “Coke Side of Life”. The ad, which breaks later this week, aims to drive sales of its flagship brand.

  • News Corp seeks MySpace deal with Yahoo!

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

  • NMA slams 'wordy' financial services ads

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

  • Ofcom to look at Channel 4 funding model

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Ofcom says there is "cause for concern" about Channel 4's future funding and believes it "reasonably likely" the broadcaster will be loss making beyond 2010. The media regulator has committed to evaluate new forms of public support for the Channel 4 for the medium to ...

  • Oink! On Air! moves from Capital Disney to Fun Radio

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Oink!, the national financial newspaper aimed at children, is launching a weekly radio show, Oink! On Air! on Fun Radio. The move follows the closure of its previous home Capital Disney, where it had a show.

  • PHD co-founder Durden enters Big Brother house

    Fri, 15 Jun 2007

    PHD co-founder Jonathan Durden is to enter the Big Brother house tonight. Durden, who left the Omnicom-owned media agency in May this year, will appear on the controversial Channel 4 reality show as a contestant.

  • Pundit site says internet savings war is in the air

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    MoneyExpert.com, the price comparison site, says a "savings war" among internet banking brands could break out "with a vengeance" within weeks.

  • Pushing the importance of pop

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Many clients take the view that point of purchase marketing is just an add-on to more important executions. Agencies need to keep ensure their clients realise its importance, says Jo-Anne Flack

  • Putting brand before booty

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    The opening of The O2 leisure complex this week highlights the mobile operator's emphasis on brand loyalty over technical innovations. Allowing its rivals to be first to market has some advantages and is less risky, but at some point O2 will need to catch up, says David Benady

  • Quiet Storm lands UK account for OxiClean

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Quiet Storm has been appointed to handle the 1m UK advertising account for household brand OxiClean. The agency won the business after a pitch against undisclosed agencies. There was no incumbent on the account.

  • RKCR/Y&R breakaway rumours set tongues wagging

    Wed, 20 Jun 2007

    Reports that Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R's three top executives are quitting to launch a start-up shop have triggered speculation about the future of the UK's sixth largest agency.

  • RMG faces review of 2m Vodafone business

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Vodafone is reviewing its 2m retail direct marketing account, which is held by RMG Connect. The mobile operator has already moved its 47m UK advertising business out of RMG's sister agency JWT and into Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) at the end of last year.

  • Rutherford's Digital Global challenge is a steep one

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Unilever's media supremo Alan Rutherford is described as "driven" and "ambitious", so few are surprised by his decision to leave the packaged goods giant for the brave new world of digital advertising as chief executive of Digitas Global.

  • S&N puts 2m behind Foster's digital campaign

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Scottish & Newcastle is launching a major digital push for lager brand Foster's as part of its 45m marketing investment behind the brand.

  • Scottish & Southern gears up for head-on contest with British Gas

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Utility provider Scottish & Southern Energy is gearing up to take on rival British Gas with a 1.5m campaign to back up the UK-wide extension of its home maintenance service, Shield. A campaign is expected to launch this summer.

  • Seabrooks plans ad assault to break out of northern heartland

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Seabrooks Crisps is launching a range of snacks under the Hot & Spicy brand. The range aims too boost brand awareness and sales of the crisps, which are currently most popular in the north of the country.

  • Sharecasting the wealth

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Web-based media may be driving consumers' buying decisions but advertisers need to integrate their brands into the network sites, says Pete Edwards

  • Shaw promotion to trigger O2 marketing restructure

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    O2's most senior marketer Russ Shaw is leaving his role at the mobile operator to take a group position at parent company Telefonica. The move has triggered a restructure of the marketing department that is expected to see Shaw's 96-strong innovation team disbanded.

  • Teen network site links up with Apple's iTunes store

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Bebo, the teen social networking site, has struck a deal with Apple Computers to allow its 8.8 million users to connect directly to the iTunes online store.

  • Tesco faces a bidding war for garden centre chain

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Tesco is facing a bidding war for Dobbies Garden Centres after private equity company West Coast Capital increased its stake in the business to 20.6%. The supermarket giant bought 22.6% in Dobbies last week and has commitments from shareholders to buy a further 2.7%.

  • The do-gooders blind drunk on their own misguided sentiment

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Bit by bit our freedoms are being sliced away by campaigners convinced their good intentions must automatically equate to creating a better future

  • The middlemen rise again, but in disguise

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    What at first sight looks like some good, old-fashioned knocking copy may turn out to be a much more serious and emblematic battle. Last week, Direct Line - the direct response home and car insurance company - launched a ferocious attack on increasingly popular online price comparison ...

  • The self-assured industry

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    The WebTrends Marketing in the Dark survey reveals a confidence within the marketing sector, including those in online. But is this confidence justified and will it grow in the coming years?

  • Titan extends deal with Network Rail

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    Titan Outdoor has retained its contract to handle the outdoor advertising at Network Rail's major national train stations. The deal will give the outdoor company exclusive control of advertising at stations including London Victoria until 2017.

  • TNS overhauls website to engage decision-makers

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    TNS, the market research company, is overhauling its global website as part of a move to attract and engage major marketing decision-makers online.

  • Too early for a game plan with convergence at first base?

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Speculation that Sony is gearing up to launch a mobile phone with gaming capabilities (MW last week) has got the telecoms industry once again talking about its favourite subject: convergence.

  • TV conference: a medium back from the brink

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    The bruised, battered and beleaguered TV industry shrugged off its troubles to project an air of confidence at this year's Marketing Week TV conference.

  • Viacom chief bullish over TV advertising revenues for 2007

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS) managing director Nick Bampton is predicting television advertising spend will rise in 2007, despite a sluggish start to the year and forecasts to the contrary.

  • Who said alcohol and sport can't mix? Not Meteorite

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    OK, so even the most creative of people need a break every now and then. This much was evident at direct agency Meteorite's annual "Gin and Rounders" game last week. Yes, you guessed it, the staff spent the day quaffing mother's ruin (and the odd bottle of Magners) and playing the game that used ...

  • Will taking your brand green boost sales?

    Thu, 14 Jun 2007

    Consumers are getting serious. The latest Fabric research from MPG shows that some 70% of families support boycotting companies that fail to take real steps to reduce their environmental impact.

  • X-Factor signs Carphone Warehouse as new sponsor

    Mon, 18 Jun 2007

    Carphone Warehouse is replacing Nokia as the sponsor of ITV talent contest The X Factor. The retailer was previously sponsor of Channel 4 reality show Big Brother but pulled out earlier this year after the furore over alleged racism during the celebrity special.

  • Yahoo! chief executive quits

    Tue, 19 Jun 2007

    Yahoo! chief executive Terry Semel has quit the internet giant after facing criticism of the company's failure to match Google's performance online. Semel says he will take a "step back" into the role of non-executive chairman.

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