Marketing Week
22 January 2009

  • A Day in the Life of James Walker

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Never do nothing; always look for opportunities, push boundaries and dont give up!

  • Ad industry shows its true nature as a political animal

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Though advertising has come a long way since Aldous Huxley aired his fears over it in 1958, the industry and politics are still intertwined

  • Adam & Eve to promote EMI artists

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    EMI Music has appointed Adam & Eve to promote its portfolio of artists, which includes Coldplay and Lily Allen, and increase revenue through non-traditional channels.

  • Adam & Eve wins 7m Phones4U ad account

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Phones4U has appointed Adam & Eve to handle its 7m advertising account following a three-way pitch against Mother and incumbent WCRS. The Jack character, used in its advertising for the past five years, will be scrapped as a result of the appointment.

  • Advertising Association disputes negative impact on children claims

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    The Advertising Association has rejected claims that the commercial world has a negative impact on children in a new report published today (January 26). Instead, it claims its research has found it actually enhances children's lives.

  • Asda announces 7,000 jobs as supermarket targets growth

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Asda has announced plans for 7,000 new roles as the supermarket chain beefs up its Asda.com internet service and opens new stores. It is also pledging to recruit 3,000 long-term unemployed and people with disabilities to fill existing vacancies.

  • Auction fever fails to spread

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Google's decision to liberalise its policy on competitive brand bidding may have had a dramatic effect on the travel and financial sectors, but has had little impact in many other disciplines

  • Axa to relaunch Sun Life as standalone brand

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Axa is relaunching life insurance arm Sun Life as a standalone brand after more than a decade.

  • BARB figures show TV ad viewings at a record high

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    A record 2.4 billion ads were watched on television every day in 2008 in the UK, according to new research by the Broadcaster’s Audience Research Board.

  • Barclays highlights good health

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Marcus Agius, the chairman of Barclays, and its chief executive John Varley have written an open letter to reassure investors, staff and customers of the bank’s continuing good health. The letter says 2008 profit will be “well ahead” of market expectations.

  • BBC appoints former C4 director

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    BBC has appointed Bob Shennan, the former director of Channel 4's scrapped digital radio division, as controller of BBC Radio 2 and digital only channel BBC6 Music. He replaces Lesley Douglas, who was forced to resign last year in wake of the Andrew Sachs phone prank scandal.

  • BBC News meets the needs of mobile users

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    The BBC News website's mobile version is the most frequently visited site on UK mobile phones. The BBC has had a mobile presence since 1999 and its experience shines through in the current news site, which easily meets mobile users' needs - whether it's reading up on the economic crisis or getting ...

  • BBC retains Premier League rights

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    The BBC has retained the rights to broadcast Premier League highlights for another four seasons. The renewed contract sees Match of the Day and its sister show, Match of the Day 2, aired on the BBC until the end of the 2013 campaign.

  • Bingo.com to launch blitz on the UK

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Bingo.com has secured a gaming licence, which will allow it to advertise in the UK. The company is planning a major blitz in the UK, after the licence was granted by the European Union.

  • Bob Dylan takes the Co-op forward

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    When American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan was coming to prominence in the early Sixties, the co-operative sector was already on the wane from its heyday of the Fifties when it accounted for about 30% of the grocery market.

  • Brands muster for fightback in war against own label.

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Reports from the frontline of grocery marketing are far from encouraging. The combined onslaught of supermarket own labels and discounters’ value brands is cutting down FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) rivals.

  • Britvic appoints mirada to drive mobile marketing campaigns

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Britvic has appointed mobile specialists mirada, to handle all of its mobile marketing and promotional activity. mirada will work alongside Britvic's appointed creative agencies creating new consumer interaction possibilities for Britvic's brands, which include Tango, Robinsons and Pepsi.

  • Cadbury launches dancing eyebrow ad

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Cadbury is launching the follow-up to the Gorilla and Dairy Milk Airport Truck TV ads with a new spot featuring children with dancing eyebrows. The ad will screen for the first time after Celebrity Big Brother at 9:45pm tomorrow night (January 23).

  • Cancer Research seeks additional agency

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Cancer Research UK is searching for an additional creative agency to deliver a high impact brand advertising campaign in 2009. The charity says Rapp, its direct marketing agency, is unaffected by the review.

  • Carat wins 70m Vodafone media account

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Carat has scooped the 70m Vodafone media planning and buying business after a final two-way pitched against incumbent OMD. The agency had worked with the mobile operator for 12 years.

  • Change4Life ads 'promote inaccurate information'

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    The Department of Health has been accused of "scaremongering" and promoting inaccurate information in its £75m anti-obesity advertising drive, Change4Life.

  • Charity will use PPL deal to develop brand identity

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Charity Missing People is embarking on a major regional awareness drive after clinching a sponsorship deal with not-for-profit money draw, The People's Postcode Lottery (PPL).

  • Cocktail gains student discount card brief

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    National Union of Students Services has appointed Cocktail Marketing to handle its partnership marketing account. Cocktail will work on the 2009/10 NUS Extra card.

  • Coke GB promotes two heads of brand

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Coca-Cola Great Britain has promoted two key brand directors, Paul Woodward and Bobby Brittain. The pair will move to senior roles at international divisions of the company.

  • Comet to charge suppliers for shelf space

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Comet, the Kesa-owned high street electrical chain, is understood to be planning to charge for shelf space. The retailer has confirmed that it is currently in talks with suppliers.

  • Co-op scoops Dylan classic for 10m ethical campaign

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    The Co-operative Group is planning to emphasise ethical credentials with a 10m brand campaign featuring the iconic Bob Dylan protest song, Blowin in the Wind.

  • Diageo appoints regional managing directors

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Diageo has appointed Simon Litherland as managing director for Great Britain, following the promotion of Benet Slay (pictured) to the same role for Northern Europe.

  • Electrolux picks UK brand director

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Electrolux Major Appliances UK and Ireland has appointed James Methven as product and brand director. He joins from luxury goods supplier Mercator London, where he was sales and marketing director.

  • Five US to relaunch as Five USA

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Digital channel Five US is being relaunched as Five USA from next month. Five says the channel will have a new on- and off-air look as part of the rebrand.

  • Ford appoints new global marketing chief

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Ford has appointed Elena Ford as its new director of global marketing, sales and service operations. She is the great great granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford.

  • Fox Interactive Media axes 5% of staff

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Fox Interactive Media, the digital arm of News Corporation, is axing 5% of its workforce in an effort to cut costs. It is understood that about 100 roles will be affected on a number of websites including MySpace, Photobucket, Scout Media and Rotten Tomatoes.

  • Foxy Bingo to launch 10m TV campaign

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Foxy Bingo, the Cashcade Group-owned gaming brand, is launching a 10m TV advertising campaign this month to promote its 1m a month giveaway, its biggest promotion to date. It will also run a red-button interactive game show, The Foxy Bingo Show, on satellite.

  • Future reports 9% ad revenue fall

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Future, the UK consumer magazine publisher, has revealed that its US division is struggling as it announces a 9% fall in advertising revenue for the three months to December 31.

  • Global head of marketing Jeremy Dale exits Motorola

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Motorola corporate vice-president of global marketing Jeremy Dale is leaving the handset firm, after four years at the company.

  • Global unveils Heart rebrand second wave

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Global Radio, the biggest commercial radio operator, has unveiled plans for the second phase of its roll-out of the Heart brand. It comes just days after it completed the rebrand of nine local stations under the brand.

  • GMG Radio appoints new commercial director

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Guardian Media Group Radio has appointed Jonathan Gillespie to the role of commercial director. He joins from Google UK where he has been head of YouTube and display for the past year.

  • Google announces first profits fall

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Google has posted its first fall in profits, but still beat market expectations in the gloomy economic climate. The search engine giant reports its profits for the fourth quarter of the year were down 68% on the same period in 2007, from $1.21bn (£885m) to $382m (£275m).

  • Government considers subsidy for carmakers

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    The Government is considering giving car manufacturers a subsidy to help cover the wages of workers whose hours have been cut over the past few months. It follows a meeting between business secretary Lord Mandelson and industry representatives today (January 28) urging the Government to help ailing car makers bring ...

  • Government data confirms UK is in recession

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Government figures have confirmed that the UK is officially in recession for the first time since the early 1990s. The economy shrank at the fastest pace in nearly 30 years in the fourth quarter of last year.

  • Government makes PSB committment

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    The Government has committed to sustaining public service broadcasting provision "including and beyond the BBC”. Media secretary Andy Burnham (pictured) made the pledge in a speech to the Oxford Media Convention earlier today (January 22).

  • India tops teetotal league

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    India leads the world in the number of people who never drink alcohol, according to a new report by independent research company Datamonitor. The survey of consumers in 15 countries found Brazil has the fewest number of people who abstain.

  • Indie owner moots sale to raise cash

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    The future of The Independent is looking increasingly uncertain following the news that Independent News & Media is seeking to raise at least £94m through the sales of assets. It is thought the cash will go towards paying off its €1.4bn (£1.3bn) debt.

  • INM confirms sell-off plans to relieve debt

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Independent News & Media is seeking to sell loss-making businesses over the next 12 months. In a market update yesterday (January 26), it says cash from disposals will go to paying off its 1.3bn debt.

  • Jaguar-Land Rover chief in plea for help

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Jaguar-Land Rover chief executive David Smith is calling on the Government to "put oil back into the engine" of automotive companies. He says the UK car industry faces a "double whammy" where "consumers aren't spending and consumers aren't lending".

  • KFC switches to paper packaging

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    KFC, the fast food chain, is launching a major environmental initiative to reduce packaging this year. It hopes that switching from cardboard to paper wrapping will reduce packaging by 1,400 tonnes.

  • Kinetic retains 15m Vodafone account

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Kinetic, the WPP Group-owned outdoor agency, will retain Vodafone's 15m outdoor media planning and buying account following the appointment of Carat. Its decision to shift its 70m media planning and buying from OMD to Carat was announced this morning (January 22).

  • Live the Man United dream

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Manchester United FC are launching a campaign to attract fans and tourists to its Old Trafford ground on non-match days by highlighting their museum and stadium tour attractions.

  • Mandelson outlines automotive rescue plan

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Business secretary Lord Mandelson has outlined a 2.3bn package of government support for the UK car industry to the House of Lords. The Labour peer is due to outline the rescue package to industry representatives today (January 28).

  • Mandelson to hold second meeting with UK carmarkers

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Business Secretary Peter Mandelson will meet UK carmakers on Wednesday (January 28) to discuss possible measures to help the ailing industry survive the economic downturn. It is the second time Mandelson has met with industry representatives.

  • Microsoft to cut 5,000 jobs

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Software giant Microsoft is cutting 5,000 jobs over 18 months, with 1,400 employees to be axed immediately. Marketing roles will be affected by the plans, although it is not yet clear where.

  • Money may no longer grow on trees, but st valentine's day gifts sure do

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Forget the roses and chocolates, the credit crunch demands a fresh approach to romance, so how about wooden knickers or a gift-wrapped tube of lube

  • Morrisons reports record Christmas sales

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Morrisons has reported "record" Christmas sales as consumers traded down to save cash over the festive period, according to its chief executive Marc Bolland (pictured). The supermarket chain has reported a 8.2% increase in like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, for the six weeks of January 4.

  • Mustoes and Geronimo merge into Kindred

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Agencies Mustoes and Geronimo Communications have rebranded as Kindred following the merger of the two agencies last September. Former Geronimo managing director Laura Oliphant has also been appointed managing director of the new agency.

  • News Group loses marketing director to rival

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    News Group Newspapers marketing director Roland Agambar is leaving the company to become chief marketing officer at rival Associated Newspapers. His move comes as parent company News International appoints Jeremy Schwartz.

  • News International appoints Carat MD

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    News International has appointed Carat managing director Neil Jones as director of commercial strategy. Jones joins the newspaper group after 18 years at the Aegis-owned media planning and buying agency.

  • News International appoints chief marketer

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    News International has appointed former Sainsbury's and L'Or? marketing director Jeremy Schwartz as its first chief marketing officer. Schwartz will head the combined News International marketing and sales operations covering brands including The Times and The Sun.

  • Nokia launches campaign for touchscreen phone

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Nokia is launching a major campaign this week to support its first touchscreen phone. The ad, which breaks on Friday (January 30), will feature images of different musical instruments to Technotronic's "Pump up The Volume".

  • Nokia offers no charger option on N79 handset

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Nokia is strengthening its green credentials with the launch of a handset that can be bought without a charger. The Nokia N79 Eco is part of a trial aimed at saving energy and reducing waste.

  • Nokia sales slide 19%

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Nokia has reported a 19% year-on-year fall in sales in the fourth quarter of 2008, with net sales of €12.7bn (£12bn). The mobile manufacturer predicts that market volumes will shrink 10% this year as the economic slowdown hits consumer spending.

  • Ofcom raps PCSO programme over Gov sponsorship

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Ofcom has found Beat: Life on the Street, the Government funded programme (AFP), in breach of its code of conduct for not making its sponsorship arrangement clear.

  • Ogilvy chairman joins Think London board

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Gary Leih, the chairman of Ogilvy Group UK, has been appointed to the board of Think London, the capital's foreign direct investment agency. He will now work alongside Michael Charlton, chief executive of the not-for-profit public-private partnership.

  • Organic holidays for egg farmers wont confuse shoppers, says Soil Association

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Organic certification body The Soil Association has denied it risks confusing consumers if proposals to allow egg producers to take an “organic holiday” in the face of falling sales go ahead.

  • Original Source signs up as 25-hour bike event sponsor

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Original Source, the PZ Cussons-owned brand, has agreed a three-year deal to sponsor a 24-hour mountain bike endurance event, Mountain Mayhem.

  • P&G picks Publicis to lead 135m oral care account

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Procter & Gamble has appointed Publicis Worldwide to handle the 135m Crest account, as part of its global realignment under its Brand Agency Leader model.

  • Pernod Ricard plugs Chivas gap

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Pernod Ricard has appointed Eric Benoist, currently marketing director of Martell Mumm Perrier-JouŒt, as marketing director for Chivas Brothers. He replaces Martin Riley (pictured), who has been promoted to its top global marketing role.

  • PruHealth rebrand incorporates Prudence

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    Prudential is rebranding its healthcare joint venture PruHealth to include its iconic brand character Prudence (pictured) for the first time. It says that it wants to focus on the Pru's dual heritage of trust and innovation in financial services.

  • Quick Energy hopes to prove that size isn't everything

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    The latest player in the energy drinks market will be hoping that less is more in a category which has seen a trend towards upsizing.

  • Relaxed CRR rules will not solve ITV's cash problems

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    City analysts are predicting that a proposed relaxation in the rules governing ITV1's ability to sell advertising will not be enough to solve the broadcaster's long-term financial issues.

  • Ruth Mortimer: Send Coke back to the future

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    We all know that the average lifespan of a marketing director is 18 months. In that time, they have to convince the board that theyre as financially savvy as Warren Buffett, as creative as Trevor Beattie and as strategically minded as Barack Obama. No easy job for most mere mortals.

  • Sainsburys King eyes crown

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Sainsburys will try something new next month when chief executive Justin King unveils a fresh ten-year strategy to take on supermarket leader Tesco. King last week announced plans for a wide-ranging shake-up at the chain to align it for future growth, in a restructure that will trigger a round of marketing musical chairs across UK retail. The chain is assembling a marketing dream team to drive Sainsburys through a challenging period and bring to life Kings vision of making the chain great again.

  • Sky recruits 1,000 to push HD services

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    BSkyB has announced plans to create 1,000 jobs to meet demand for its high definition services. The announcement comes as the satellite operator unveils it has added 171,000 subscribers in the last three months of the year.

  • Sony predicts first annual loss in 14 years

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Sony forecasts that it will report its first operating loss in 14 years when it announces its full-year results. It has predicted that it will see a loss of about Y260bn (£2bn) by the end of the financial year (March 31).

  • St Luke's gains online dating task

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    St Luke's has been appointed to handle the UK launch of US online dating site, eHarmony. The service hopes to challenge the dominance of Match.com.

  • Sun website tops festive chart

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    The Sun was the only online newspaper brand to see website visitors rise in December, according to the latest ABCe figures. It saw a 15.42% rise in visitors to 18,961,552 in December over November.

  • Targetbase appoints first UK chief exec

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Direct marketing agency Targetbase Claydon Heeley has appointed Steve Grout as its first UK chief executive. He joins from Rapp Collins Europe, where he was managing director for UK and Europe.

  • Thomson Local boosts website with new services

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Thomson Local is looking to bolster its online business with the launch of new services including consumer-to-consumer advertising and a new function to allow users to rate advertisers' services.

  • Toyota considers UK job cuts

    Fri, 23 Jan 2009

    Toyota is the latest car manufacturer looking at cutting its workforce. The Japanese car marque says it is considering axing some permanent employees in the UK and USA amid rapidly declining sales.

  • Travelodge appoints former Ryanair marketer

    Tue, 27 Jan 2009

    Bridget Dowling, the former Ryanair sales and marketing manager, has been appointed as marketing chief for Travelodge Ireland. She will take over the role imminently.

  • Trinity Communications scoops 2.7m Jet Republic media account

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    Fledgling private jet company Jet Republic has hired Trinity Communications to handle its £2.7m European media planning and buying account.

  • UK gambling operators at risk from unfair tax rate

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    UK online gambling operators risk being overtaken by European rivals because the Government fails to understand the importance of competitive gambling tax, according to a leading industry figure.

  • Use power of change as a positive force

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    As the new editor of Marketing Week, I thought an appropriate theme for my first leader column was change. My predecessor Stuart Smith, who directed this magazine for 20 years, knows the value of change. When I left his service as deputy news editor of Marketing Week just over two years ...

  • When progress meets tradition

    Thu, 22 Jan 2009

    With increasing marketing opportunities being created by new media, brands are finding out that, while change can be a good thing, integrating the old with the new also works. By Camille Alarcon

  • WHSmith reports 7% dip in high street sales

    Mon, 26 Jan 2009

    WHSmith has revealed a 7% dip in its high street like-for-like sales for the 20 weeks to January 17, although sales are down just 3% when its CD and DVD arm is excluded.

  • Yahoo! posts loss but beats forecasts

    Wed, 28 Jan 2009

    Yahoo! profits have plunged into the red during its fourth quarter due to a downturn in advertising, as well as costs associated with write-offs and reducing staff numbers. It is the first set of results to be released under new chief executive Carol Bartz.

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