Marketing Week
21 June 2007

  • A Titanic struggle ahead?

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    The exodus of senior management from Titan Outdoor, which continued last week with the news that joint-managing director Alison Reay is leaving after just 14 months, has been blamed by many on the problems inherited from Maiden, the loss-making rival Titan bought in a £50m deal last year. Rea

  • AA and Saga announce merger

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Saga, the travel and financial services company for the over 50s, is to merge with motoring giant the AA in a deal valuing the combined company at £6.15bn. The two brands will remain, although Saga chief executive Andrew Goodsell, who will head the combined company, says that products will be cross-sold.

  • Aegis buys Bluestreak.com

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Independent media group Aegis has bought ad-serving business Bluestreak.com for $12.5 (£6.25m). Aegis chief executive Robert Lerwill (pictured) describes the acquisition as a "landmark deal".

  • Alton Towers seeks marketing head

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Alton Towers is seeking a head of marketing as part of a move to ramp up its strategy in a bid to position the theme park and its hotel as “the UK’s leading short-stay destination”.

  • Amstel plans outdoor push to promote 'relaxed' drinking

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Amstel is the latest brand to use "real people" in its new campaign. The reportage-style ads will show people drinking and having fun in a more "relaxed" style than the typical drinkers.

  • ASA to ban 'best selling' Uncle Ben's rice press ads

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Masterfoods has been banned from using a press ad for its Uncle Ben's brand for making "ambiguous" sales claims. It follows a spat with rival rice brand Tilda over which brand is the leader in the dry rice category.

  • Asda's Rick Bendel takes on 'consumer champion' role

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Rick Bendel, Asda's controversial marketing director, has added consumer public relations to his remit as part of a shift in the supermarket group's marketing strategy.

  • Axa shortlists four for media business

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Insurance and investment giant Axa has shortlisted four agencies to compete for its £12m UK media planning and buying business. OMD will pitch against Carat, Media Planning Group and Mindshare in a review handled by Creative Brief.

  • Back to the future

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    In his second article on the future of marketing and agencies, Chris Ingram examines the potential effect of social media and the evolving digital landscape

  • Barnardos launches BBH campaign

    Tue, 26 Jun 2007

    Children's charity Barnardos is launching a campaign that aims to encourage people to reconsider their opinion of difficult children. The campaign, created by Bartle Bogle Hegarty, will run across print, radio and online, with the radio ads voiced by James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

  • BBFC bans Manhunt 2 for violent content

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    The video games industry has been dealt a severe blow after the decision to ban Manhunt 2 for being too violent. It is the first game to be banned by the BBFC certification board since 1997.

  • BMA Scotland throws weight behind alcohol sponsorship ban

    Tue, 26 Jun 2007

  • Brand Durden takes to the masses

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Doing the unexpected is just what you would expect from Jonathan Durden, the millionaire co-founder of PHD.

  • CBS Outdoor seeks an advertiser to target festival-goers

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    CBS Outdoor is offering one advertiser the opportunity to target revellers heading to four major UK festivals this summer by offering the exclusive rights to advertise at local train stations.

  • Chrysalis offloads radio division

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Chrysalis is selling its radio division to a new investment company chaired by former ITV chief executive Charles Allen (pictured). Global Radio will buy Heart, Galaxy and LBC for £170m.

  • Comag launches pre-school title

    Tue, 26 Jun 2007

    A new magazine for pre-school children based on television show Jim Jam & Sunny is being launched next month. The magazine will be produced by publishers Comag every four weeks with a cover price of 1.85.

  • Comet campaign to mark computer support launch

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Comet, the electrical retailer, will next week launch a home and in-store computer support service aimed at homes and small businesses.

  • Destination unknown

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Many have praised the strength of the VisitBritain brand, but others accuse the organisation of lacking focus because its remit overlaps other UK tourism bodies. Matthew Gorman reports

  • Direct mail industry braced for postal chaos

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    The direct mail industry is expected to be hit by months of postal chaos following the Communications Workers Union's decision to stage the first national strike in more than a decade.

  • Disney unveils games for little Princesses

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Walt Disney Company is targeting young girls with the launch of two video games under the Disney Princess brand. The titles are due to be launched in the autumn and will be supported by an advertising campaign.

  • DoH's 10m plan to curb drink problem

    Thu, 21 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.

  • Drinkaware appoints first chief executive

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    The Drinkaware Trust, the charity that promotes responsible drinking in the UK, has appointed Jean Collingwood as its first chief executive. She takes over the role in mid-July.

  • Electronic Arts shakes up business in efficiency drive

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Video games giant Electronic Arts has restructured its business around four key divisions in a bid to simplify decision-making, improve global focus and speed up its new product development strategy.

  • EMAP in multi-million pound bid to move flagship title upmarket

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    EMAP is undertaking a multi-million pound relaunch of its beleaguered men's title FHM as the publishing company attempts to complete a restructure.

  • E-Tabs

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Address Unit 2 Technology Park Colindeep Lane London, NW9 6BX United Kingdom Telephone UK +44 20-8205-4665 US 888-823-8227 Fax UK +44 20-8205-7375 US 888 680 9009 E-mail info@e-tabs.com Website www.e-tabs.com [http:/...

  • Ex-MTV marketer joins SpinVox

    Tue, 26 Jun 2007

    Digital telecoms company SpinVox has appointed former MTV marketer James Scroggs as vice-president of consumer business. The move comes just two weeks after Scroggs announced his departure from MTV Networks, where he was UK & Ireland vice-president of marketing.

  • Fisher-Price sponsors Milkshake! on Five

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Toy brand Fisher-Price will sponsor broadcaster Five's pre-school strand Milkshake! The six-month deal also includes the Milkshake! strand on digital channel Five Life.

  • Flightcentre aims to refocus brand

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Cheap holiday operator Flightcentre is being revamped in the UK as part of a global relaunch of the brand to focus more on consumer service and experience as well as its low prices.

  • Focus can use 1 sale to rebuild fortunes

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Home improvement chain Focus (DIY) could not have said it better itself. The beleaguered retailer, whose strapline is "Famous for low prices", has been sold this week for just £1.

  • Former Camelot director resurfaces at MBL

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Supermarket group Musgrave, Budgens and Londis (MBL) has appointed former Camelot Group commercial and operations director Phil Smith as chief executive.

  • Fourth Estate leaves furious PM licking psychological wounds

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Tony Blair's abhorrence of the sharp-clawed beast that is the British media is proof that journalists still subject those in power to unrelenting scrutiny

  • Freedom fighters' first salvo

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    The Advertising Association is fighting against a climate of mistrust against the industry with a campaign to promote the benefits marketing brings to society. But some argue the AA must do more to win the support of its members before tackling public opinion. Sonoo Singh reports

  • GMG names first Smooth marketer

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Guardian Media Group Radio has appointed Susan Brown as the first dedicated marketer for its flagship London station, Smooth Radio. She will take over the role next week.

  • Gore goes green at Cannes event

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Al Gore, the former US vice-president, will address this year's Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival on climate change issues in the build-up to the Live Earth concert on July 7,Gore's trip to Cannes has been arranged by advertising agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R), and comes ...

  • Government asks agencies to pitch for diploma brief

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

  • Heineken global marketer quits over dispute with ceo

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

  • Henkel sponsors Paris volleyball

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    For the second year running Henkel, the German company behind brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf, Pritt and Loctite, is headline sponsor of the Beach Volleyball Grand Slam in Paris.

  • Hewlett Packard raids PepsiCo

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Computer and technology giant Hewlett Packard has poached Ron Coughlin from PepsiCo to lead the worldwide marketing of its imaging and printing group (IPG). Coughlin will be responsible for driving IPG's global marketing strategy, planning and execution across all customer segments. He was most recently senior ...

  • Homebase launches gardening club

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Home improvement retailer Homebase is tapping into the burgeoning interest in gardening with the nationwide launch of its Garden Living Club. It follows a low-key trial of the scheme earlier this year.

  • HTW nets 20m Orange DM account

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Harrison Troughton Wunderman (HTW) has been appointed to handle Oranges 20m consolidated direct marketing account following a four-way pitch. The business was previously split between Craik Jones Watson Mitchell Voelkel and WWAV Rapp Collins.

  • IMG names Gers as senior VP

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

  • Inbev picks Kitchen for 'take-home market' drive

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    The London Kitchen, part of Omnicom-owned Zulu Network, has been appointed to Inbev's roster following a pitch against roster agencies BD-NTWK and The Marketing Store.

  • Internet boom helps ad spend rise 3%

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Advertising spend in the UK rose 3% to 4.2bn in the first quarter of this year, according to the Advertising Association (AA). The increase is the highest since 2005.

  • IPA lends support to events industry

    Tue, 26 Jun 2007

    The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) has agreed to include event marketing spend in the quarterly Bellwether survey after lobbying by the Events Industry Alliance (EIA).

  • IPC to back Look mag with digital campaign

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    IPC Media's glossy high-street fashion and celebrity weekly Look is launching a major digital campaign as part of its £18m investment programme to support the magazine. The move, which marks the biggest digital ad campaign any IPC brand has ever undertaken, comes just four months after the launch of the title.

  • ISBA unveils new look

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) is unveiling a new look for the first time in ten years. The rebrand, which includes a new logo, was created by Exentric.

  • Keeping in harmony

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    There are conflicting messages from the public about their experience of brand sponsorship of music events, but marketers would do well to keep their communications in tune with the festivals' values

  • Kia signs deal to sponsor Five's US crime dramas

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Kia has signed a 1m deal with Five to sponsor all of its US crime drama series. The move is part of new managing director Paul Philpott's strategy to build the Korean marque's brand awareness in the UK.

  • Lego extends film tie-ups with Indiana Jones deal

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Lego is to produce a range of Indiana Jones-themed construction toys after striking a new deal with Hollywood film studio Lucas Film.

  • Limited edition, limited appeal?

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Coca-Cola's limited edition drinks have been slammed as a "waste of time" by retailers (MW last week), raising questions about the value of limited edition products as a marketing tool.

  • Losealotofmoneyfast.com or try some traditional media value

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Last.fm's £140m pricetag is equal to the asking price for Chrysalis, with nothing tangible to justify it but hopes for the future. Ready for the bang??

  • Mastercard and Fifa settle sponsorship dispute

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Mastercard is being paid 45m by Fifa, football's governing body, after reaching a settlement over its long running dispute about its World Cup sponsorship. The company took legal action against Fifa after the body struck a sponsorship deal with rival card payment company Visa.

  • Mattel launches make-up brand for young girls with Bonne Bell

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Mattel's Barbie Girls is partnering with cosmetics brand Bonne Bell to launch a new beauty and make-up brand aimed at young girls.

  • Natmags axes CosmoGirl!

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    The National Magazine Company is axing teen girl title CosmoGirl! after six years. The closure of the monthly title and the CosmoGirl! website follows a review of the publisher's portfolio. The last issue will be published in August and Natmags says it will look to redeploy the title's 12 editorial ...

  • Nectar launches child trust fund

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Nectar, the UK's largest retail reward scheme, is launching a Child Trust Fund (CTF) that can be topped up with loyalty points. Nectar-owner LMG has teamed up with financial services specialist Family Investments to provide the account.

  • New campaign - Pretty Polly

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Pretty Polly is launching an outdoor campaign to emphasise the power of its range of Silver Fresh sports socks. The ad shows a pair of toned legs kicking through the top of the billboard including on the 20 metre-high Chiswick Tower site.

  • Nickelodean names group marketing chief

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Children's entertainment group Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group has named Pam Kaufman as chief marketing officer. Kaufman was previously executive vice-president of marketing and worldwide promotions.

  • Nicole Kidman fronts Nintendo campaign

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Nintendo has announced that Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman is to front the latest pan-European advertising campaign for brain training DS title More Brain Training from Dr Kawashima: How Old is Your Brain?

  • Npower to offer full solar energy service

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Energy supplier npower is to launch a solar energy service that will enable the RWE-owned utility to offer consumers a one-stop shop for electricity micro-generation.

  • Online communities enable consumers to seize power

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Community has become one of the big buzzwords of Web 2.0 - it is now up to marketers to build closer links with brand advocates

  • Online Marketing 2007

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    The focus of Online Marketing 2007 will be on social media, digital and online public relations. Keynote speakers will include executives from Google, General Motors UK and Ireland and Lego.

  • Philpott hands Toyota boss the reins to Kia marketing

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Kia Motors (UK) has appointed Toyota marketer Simon Hetherington as its first marketing director. He is part of a new management team being put together by managing director Paul Philpott, who joined the Korean marque from Toyota earlier this year.

  • Powergen launches green viral campaign

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Eon-owned energy brand Powergen is rolling out a "Go Green" viral campaign that calls on people to name and shame colleagues and friends who they believe are not acting responsibly towards the environment when it comes to energy consumption.

  • Present and correct

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    The most desirable gifts to give key customers are those that money can't buy. But Martin Croft discovers there are certain rules that must be followed when it comes to the incentives game

  • Private equity leading the new gold rush

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Greed is good. Greed is right; greed works. You don't need a Gordon Gekko to spell this out. And greed could not come in a better package than the private equity industry, with the promise of piles of cash. Completely understandable, then, why everyone wants to be a buy-out king and join ...

  • Publicis rings changes as chief strategy officer departs

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Publicis chief strategy officer Paul Edwards is leaving the London agency as acting UK chairman Richard Pinder outlines a wholesale restructure of the ailing agency.

  • Return of the entrepreneurs

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    Steve Jobs and Michael Dell have shown that they still have the magic to turn round the firms they started. But can Jerry Yang do the same for Yahoo!? Unlike the other two as Matthew Gorman finds out he's never been away and there are fears that his vision could be blinkered

  • Saatchi & Saatchi makes 20 redundancies as it seeks new chief

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    Saatchi & Saatchi is thought to have made 20 redundancies at the agency, in the midst of its frantic search for a new chief executive to replace Lee Daley who left earlier this year. The redundancies are not understood to have affected the current agency management.

  • Soil Association makes organic trade group move

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    The Soil Association has helped create the Organic Trade Group to represent organic businesses throughout the UK. The industry-led trade group aims to promote sales across organic food, health and beauty and textile markets while maintaining the integrity of organic values and principles.

  • Sport England seeks commercial director as part of marketing push

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Sport England, the sports development agency, is seeking a commercial director as part of a move to ramp up its marketing activity. It is also planning to raise £50m through corporate sponsorship deals over the next five years.

  • Stagecoach to rebrand Midland Mainline trains

    Fri, 22 Jun 2007

    The Midland Mainline brand is being axed as incoming rail franchise holder Stagecoach looks to overhaul its marketing strategy.

  • TBWA managing director quits

    Wed, 27 Jun 2007

    TBWA/London managing director Victoria Davies has resigned 12 months after being promoted to the role. Davies, who leads the McDonald's business at the Omnicom-owned agency, is understood to have left without a job to go to.

  • The lights never go out in Vegas, but people do sleep

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Back in April Virgin Radio's sales team held a poker night for their clients in the Zoo area of their offices (kind of like their own in-house bar/venue). At stake was a trip to Las Vegas.

  • The media and ad industries keep the pitch debate alive

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    When it comes to pitching, the one point that the advertising and media industries agree on is the importance of debating the issue. There could be a better way of doing things, they say, and there are certainly aspects of the process that could be improved. But when it comes ...

  • Tiger Beer seeks UK brand agency

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    Tiger Beer is looking for its first retained UK agency. It is understood to have already shortlisted three undisclosed agencies for the business.

  • Top MTV man to oversee TBWA/ Stream's experiential marketing

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    TBWA/Stream, the brand entertainment agency, has appointed Macky Drese, MTV international vice-president of events and marketing, to the new role of managing partner.

  • Troubled RKCR/Y&R retains Virgin Money account

    Mon, 25 Jun 2007

    Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R has retained Virgin Money's 20m advertising account despite the imminent departures of chief executive James Murphy, creative director Ben Priest and planning director David Golding. It emerged last week that the three are leaving the agency to launch a start-up.

  • Will Apple's iPhone bring US wireless market up to speed?

    Thu, 21 Jun 2007

    If the iPhone lives up to media hype, Apple could be set to take over the lagging US wireless market, with mobile operator partner AT&T

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