Marketing Week
21 February 2008

  • 118 118 Hit by departure of commercial director

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Number 118 118s top marketer Martin Hall has left the directory enquiries company after less than a year. It is not known whether he has a job to go to.

  • Ambient Media brings 75m Zeppelin to London

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Ambient Media is bringing the world's largest Zeppelin to London this summer. The 75m airship will be available for advertisers to use from July 1 for a month.

  • AMV.BBDO wins 4m cervical cancer vaccine pitch

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    The Department of Health has appointed Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO to handle a 4m advertising brief to promote a new cervical cancer vaccination. The appointment follows a three-way pitch against CHI & Partners and WCRS, which was handled by the COI.

  • ASA backs Ryanair ire over rival's 'lowest fares' claim

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled in favour of Ryanair after it complained about rival airline Jet2.com's "misleading" advertising.

  • Audi launches A4 marketing campaign

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Audi UK is launching marketing activity to support the launch of the new A4 model. It aims to highlight the car's innovative technology.

  • Battery specialist pushes green rechargeable range

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Uniross, the France-based green battery specialist, is seeking a European marketing and communications director to drive the launch of a range of rechargeable batteries.

  • Bavarian battle royal

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    BMW is enjoying a period of rude health, but incoming UK managing director Klaus Kibsgaard faces stiff challenges helping maintain the German marque's position as the biggest premium car manufacturer in the world, not least the threat of Bavarian rival Audi. By Robert Lester

  • Bejing 2008 sponsors face pressure over Chinas human rights reputation

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Olympic sponsors, including Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Samsung and Adidas, are coming under increasing pressure over their involvement with the Beijing 2008 Games, amid criticisms of Chinas human rights and foreign policy record.

  • BMA brands the Government's sensible drinking campaign as expensive and ineffective

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    The British Medical Association (BMA) has hit out at the Government's sensible drinking campaign for being "expensive" and "ineffective". The comments come in a report on alcohol misuse launched today (February 21).

  • BMW moves brand boss to chief marketing post

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    BMW has promoted Jan-Christiaan Koenders to its top global marketing role as part of a major restructure.

  • Brand chief exits Vodafone UK

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Vodafone UK brand chief Dominic Chambers is leaving the company as part of a major restructure of the business. The mobile operator has also scrapped the chief marketing officer role held by Tim Yates, although Yates is likely to be handed a new position at group level.

  • British Gas responds to profiteering accusations by promoting its services

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    British Gas is reeling from accusations of profiteering levelled last week when it unveiled a five-fold rise in profits for 2007 shortly after announcing that residential gas prices would soar by 15%.

  • Bruce Haines to join Korean agency Cheil

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Former Leo Burnett chief executive Bruce Haines is joining Korean advertising agency Cheil Communications in the newly created role of global chief operating officer.

  • Charities criticise npowers ability to effect green tariff

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Utilities giant npower has been slammed by environmental charities for admitting that it cannot switch all of its customers to green tariffs because it does not have the capacity. Npower says that it has the facility to supply just 2% of customers with renewable energy.

  • Coke video game hero spreads happiness and optimism

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    Coca-Cola is launching a video game-inspired TV ad that sees the hero of a car racing game spreading "happiness and optimism" after drinking a bottle of Coke. The ad, which is part of a £2m integrated campaign, has been created by Wieden & Kennedy in the US and breaks on March 3.

  • Creative industries receive Government backing

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    The advertising industry has welcomed a Government report that aims to support the creative industries. The report reveals that advertising is now the third largest creative industry in the UK.

  • Daewoo Electronics reviews marketing strategy in the UK

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Daewoo Electronics is overhauling its UK marketing strategy as part of a restructure that aims to streamline the company.

  • Demand for healthy eating drives frozen ready meals revival

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The battle between the chilled and frozen food categories has heated up recently as frozen has started to make a comeback. But while consumers may be coming round to the idea that freezing vegetables and fish preserves their natural goodness, they appear to be less convinced about the benefits ...

  • Digital sector reports 56% surge in profits

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    The 40 largest digital agencies increased their operating profits by 56% between 2006 and 2007, according to the New Media Agencies Financial Intelligence report. The surge in digital advertising and agency consolidation are the key factors in the growth.

  • Dye Holloway Murray takes Smooth Radio account from Clear

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    GMG Radio has appointed Dye Holloway Murray to handle the 1.5m advertising account for Smooth Radio. It follows a four-way pitch against Mustoes, Hooper Galton and incumbent Clear Marketing.

  • E.on pays 1m to sponsor homes TV shows on Five

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    E.on, the German-owned utilities company, is paying 1m to replace Norwich Union as the sponsor of the homes programming strand on Five.

  • Electricals and clothing drive online spending spree

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    Consumers spent more online last month than in any previous January, according to new figures from industry body Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG). Strong sales of electrical goods and clothing saw internet sales jump to £4.5bn - a 75% increase on January last year.

  • Elizabeth Arden loses top marketer

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Elizabeth Arden UK and Ireland marketing director Scott Harvey-Nicholls has left the company suddenly, after less than six months in the job. It is unclear if he has another job to go to.

  • Energywatch and uSwitch criticise British Gas over profit rise

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Consumer watchdog Energywatch and uSwitch, the price comparison site, have slammed British Gas over five-fold profit increase last year. The Centrica-owned utilities giant today (February 21) reported its profits were up from £95m in 2006 to £571m in 2007.

  • EU hits Microsoft with record fine

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Microsoft has been slapped with a record 691.4m by the European Commission (EC) for anti-competitive behaviour. It is the first time in 50 years that the EU has fined a company for failure to comply with an antitrust decision.

  • Facebook experiences drop in audience

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The social network Facebook has suffered its first dip in audience figures since July 2006, according to data from Nielsen Online. The 5% drop, from 8.9m UK unique visitors in December to 8.5%m in January, follows 17 successive monthly increases in Facebook's UK audience.

  • Financial Times launches executive-level social network

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    The Financial Times has launched an executive-level social network. It has created the exclusive membership forum to target the media and technology industries, and is planning to launch forums for other sectors later in the year.

  • FirstAssist appoints Cognito to first ad work

    Tue, 26 Feb 2008

    Cognito, the integrated marketing agency, has won the brief to launch the first advertising for FirstAssist Legal Protection, one of the UK's largest legal expenses insurance providers. It follows the appointment of former More Than marketer Graham Hollebon as its marketing director.

  • Founder Walmsley denies that i-Level is up for sale

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Independent digital agency i-Level is understood to be in talks with AKQA and Aegis over a potential sale of the company.

  • Google named as UK's most powerful brand

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Google has been named as the most powerful business brand in the UK, ahead of Microsoft and BP. Google and fellow internet giant eBay are the only brands in the top 50 Business Superbrands 2008 list to have been launched after 1990.

  • Government to officially scrap super-casino plans

    Tue, 26 Feb 2008

    The Government is expected to officially announce that it will scrap plans for a super-casino in Manchester but will confirm plans for 16 regional casinos this week. The plans have been under review since Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister last summer.

  • Green & Blacks launches first billboard campaign

    Tue, 26 Feb 2008

    Green & Black's, the premium chocolate brand owned by Cadbury, is launching its first billboard poster campaign in a bid to raise awareness of the brand outside of its South East heartland. The campaign breaks today (February 26).

  • Hazard warnings for fast-lane BMW marque

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    There are plenty in the motor industry who think Jim ODonnell, BMW UK chief these past eight years, is moving on at just the right time. When a brand is at the top of its game, there is only one way to go.

  • Hong Kong Tourist Board to review 46m ad business

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Hong Kong Tourist Board (HKTB) has called a review of its 46m global advertising account. The incumbent agency, DraftFCB, is not repitching.

  • How Alan Scurfield Got Ahead

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    I am a glass half full person, I dont do worst. Maybe I have just been lucky but I enjoyed them all at the time (otherwise I moved on) and learned something of lasting value from each.

  • How to win in the car market

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The car market is saturated with information, choice and quality. To get consumers' attention, you must nurture your relationship with them, says Mike Moran

  • Increased competition slows Tesco growth

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    Tesco has increased its market share by the smallest margin since 2002 as rival chains from across the sector stepped up their efforts to win customers. New research from retail analysts Verdict Research shows the supermarket giant is still the market leader, but it grew its share by just 0.8% last year.

  • Initiative beats off two to secure Gossard task

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Initiative has won the media planning and buying account for lingerie brand Gossard following a three-way pitch against undisclosed agencies.

  • Intercontinental Hotels introduces two new brands to UK

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Intercontinental Hotels has announced plans to introduce two new brands to the UK market this year. It will launch the Staybridge Suite and Hotel Indigo chains outside of the US later this year.

  • Is the imminent 80% capital gains tax hike spurring on the sale of agencies?

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    A wave of agency sell-offs is sweeping UK marketing services as advertising bosses race to beat the 80% capital gains tax (CGT) hike which kicks in this April.

  • John Smith's set to launch Winner's Tipple at Aintree

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) is launching a premium ale called Winner's Tipple, which aims to build on its sponsorship of the Grand National.

  • Microsoft launches Engagement Mapping for online ads

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Microsoft is launching a method of measuring the effectiveness of online advertising campaigns. It claims that Engagment Mapping will go further than current industry standards by mapping the site a consumer visited before making a purchase.

  • New campaign - British Gas

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    British Gas promotes savings

  • New campaign - BT

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    BT billboards move with the times

  • New campaign - Creme Egg rolls out Brits ad

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Cadbury Creme Egg has created a one-off TV ad to coincide with the Mastercard Brit Awards 2008 that will run tonight (February 20).

  • Ofcom slams MTV for excessive ad output

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    MTV Networks Europe has fallen foul of media regulator Ofcom for showing too much advertising on its portfolio of channels. The broadcaster has been warned that it will face regulatory action of the problems continue.

  • Old favourites face challenge

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Traditional corporate hospitality venues such as Royal Ascot must move with the times in the face of competition from cultural and arts spaces offering viable alternatives. By Sarah Forsey

  • On course to get rich from scaring the pants off an entire population

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    One man's Biblical-style health scare is another's opportunity to make lots of money. And what better way than becoming a professional scaremonger?

  • Outdoor Advertising Association launches environmental strategy

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Outdoor Advertising Association (OAA), the outdoor industry regulatorybody, is devising an environmental strategy for outdoor companies.

  • Ownership rules are "unncessary" says RadioCentre

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Radio ownership rules are creating unnecessary barriers to consolidation, an industry panel told the House of Lords (February 27). The comments were made as to the Lords Select Communities on Communications as part of the ongoing inquiry into Media Ownership and the News.

  • Porsche launches second attack on congestion charge rise

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    Porsche has slammed plans to increase the congestion charge for high polluting vehicles for the second time in a week. The German car marque claims the amount of emissions saved in a year as a result of the charge will be equal to the emissions produced at Heathrow Airport in less than four hours.

  • Price increases drive higher-than-expected Nestlé profits

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Nestlé the Swiss-based food giant, has reported higher than expected profits due to price increases. The company saw a 15.8% increase in net profit for the year to the end of December.

  • Publishing director Swift leaves Centaur

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Annie Swift, publishing director of Marketing Week, Precision Marketing and New Media Age, is leaving following a top-level restructure at publishing house Centaur Media.

  • Radio station owners back national Sing Up initiative

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    GCap Media, Bauer Radio and First Radio are launching a joint campaign to promote a Government-funded project that encourages school children to sing.

  • Real Facebook shop in virtual world breathes life into Mars

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Mars is taking the groundbreaking step of selling real products on Facebook (MW last week). But, after the recent backlash against the site's advertising platform Beacon, brands must tread carefully when trying to engage with consumers through social ...

  • Red Letter Days takes fresh look at its media strategy

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Red Letter Days, the experience company, is reviewing its media strategy.

  • Retailers hit back at obesity charge

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has hit back at a report from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) that accuses supermarkets of helping to fuel an obesity epidemic by "aggressively" promoting processed foods.

  • Royal Caribbean rejigs sales team

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is restructuring its UK sales division into separate brand-focused teams for its eponymous brand and its Celebrity Cruises and Azamara brands.

  • Self interest in banks ads is undermining consumer trust

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Some things never change. Other things change slowly, and then accelerate until they vanish quite suddenly.

  • Semaphore wins 1.5m Hilton ad work

    Tue, 26 Feb 2008

    Hilton UK and Ireland has appointed Semaphore to its 1.5m advertising business. The creative, which is breaking throughout the year, is a national press campaign.

  • Sky challenges Competition Commission's ITV merger findings

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    BSkyB is challenging the Competition Commission's findings that its investment in rival broadcaster ITV constitutes a "merger" and must therefore dispose of the majority of its 17.9% shareholders.

  • Sport Media Group targets mainstream advertisers

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Sport Media Group is relaunching the Daily Sport and Sunday Sport next month in a bid to attract more mainstream advertisers. The changes, which will be introduced on March 3, will see adult advertising pushed away from the front of the newspapers.

  • Starcom, P&G and Eric P Lefkofsky

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    Hows your Polish? Try Lefkofsky. Thats Eric P Lefkofsky. Still no wiser? If youre in the agency business you soon will be. Because 37-year-old Polish American Lefkofsky, software entrepreneur and former carpet offcuts salesman, is at the heart of a fascinating experiment affecting some of the biggest global advertisers among them Procter & Gamble, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Kraft, Kellogg and Miller Brewing .

  • Start-up agency gains Carphone Warehouse direct marketing brief

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Carphone Warehouse has appointed start-up agency Trinity Communications to handle a direct marketing media planning brief.

  • Suso lures experiential marketer from Red Bull

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Suso Drinks has appointed former Red Bull brand manager Fiona Bosman as the first member of its marketing team. It is also seeking a marketing director.

  • Tate & Lyle switches sugar products to fair trade

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

    Tate & Lyle is shifting its retail sugar portfolio to fair trade in what it claims is the largest commitment to ethical labelling by any UK food and drink company. It plans to complete the switch by 2009.

  • TBG London gains PropertyIndex digital account

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    TBG London has won the digital advertising account for PropertyIndex.com. TBG will create a brand campaign for the site and will also manage its search marketing and launch an affiliate network.

  • TDA secures British Gas Business brief

    Fri, 22 Feb 2008

    British Gas Business has handed a brief to below-the-line agency TDA to develop an integrated direct marketing strategy for its insurance aggregator, insurance-for-business.co.uk. The agency won the project without a pitch. TDA, which is already on ...

  • The fourth and final shot?

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Business is to undergo its fourth major transformation since it launched a mere 12 years ago, this time under the auspices of its flourishing sister title, The Spectator. Camille Alarcon reports

  • The price of healthy returns

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The medicines and beauty market is thriving, but price-cutting and tougher competition from own-labels is forcing manufacturers to increase the number of premium launches in order to stave off margin erosion

  • The right incentive for the brand

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    As the desire for hi-tech gadgets increases, so too does their availability and cost effectiveness as incentives. But companies must keep giveaways consistent with brand values. By Martin Croft

  • The Times and Daily Mail make online gains

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    The Times Online and DailyMail.co.uk, including the daily paper and The Mail on Sunday, posted the biggest monthly increases in online readers, according to the latest Audit Bureau of Circulations Multi-Platform Report.

  • Typhoo rebrands as Ty.whoo for Dr Seuss film launch

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

  • Universal Pictures pulls torture film promotional game from Seesmic site

    Wed, 27 Feb 2008

    Universal Pictures has been forced to pull part of its campaign for serial killer film, Untraceable, after a member of a video blogging community threatened to call the police.

  • Viacom launches Black Entertainment TV

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Viacom, the parent company of MTV and Paramount Comedy, is launching US channel Black Entertainment TV (BET) in the UK later this month.

  • Village Green picks up Sacla sponsorship task

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Sacla, the Italian food company, is understood to have appointed media services agency Village Green tohandle a broadcast sponsorship brief.

  • Virgin launches rival appeal after Competition Commission Sky/ITV ruling

    Mon, 25 Feb 2008

  • Why it's time to move on from all these narcissistic metrics

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Unlike science, life teaches us the same cause generates different effects, which is why metrics cannot measure 'accountability'

  • Will Jygsaw provide S&N heritage brands with the attention they need?

    Thu, 21 Feb 2008

    Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) has already started rationalising its brand portfolio, as it waits to be carved up between its rivals Carlsberg and Heineken, whose joint takeover offer was accepted by the British brewer last month.

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