Marketing Week
22 September 2005

  • A digital way to feed your pet's desires

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    When does a revolution stop being a revolution and just become a way of life? The Diary reckons it's when the revolution means you can feed your pets while you're on holiday.

  • Abbey changes strategy in favour of 'basic' approach

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Abbey, the Spanish-owned high street bank, is adopting a "back-to-basics" strategy as it moves itself further away from its "Turning banking on its head" positioning.

  • Aegis acquires Brindley Media Group

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Aegis, the media communications and market research group, has acquired Brindley Media Group for an initial payment of E4m (&£2.7m). The Irish company will become part of Aegis Media, its global media planning and buying division.

  • Allen isn't giving us the full CRR picture

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Television is rather ill, (but) it is not dead, pronounced one of Britain's biggest advertisers at the recent Royal Television Society conference. Alan Rutherford was thinking of how his own company, Unilever, had trimmed global television spend by 20 per cent as it struggles to come to terms with multi-channel platforms and the internet.

  • AMV.BBDO unleashes Sainsbury's "Try Something New Today" push

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Abbott Mead Vickers. BBDO has devised a television campaign for Sainsbury's, backing the retailer's 'Try Something New Today' strategy. The initiative includes five executions fronted by chef Jamie Oliver. The ads are part of chief executive Justin King's Making Sainsbury's Great Again plan to increase sales by &£2.5bn by March.

  • Apprentice star launches health and beauty range

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Reality television star Tim Campbell has launched a new health and beauty range in his role as project director at Amstrad.

  • ASA rejects claim against Cheerios ad

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has decided not to uphold a complaint filed by the Food Commission against a Cereal Partners UK print campaign for Nestlé Cheerios.

  • BA winner and gamble on ads

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Is there anything Paddy Power won't offer odds on? The bookmaker is taking bets on which agency will win the lucrative BA account, with incumbent M&C Saatchi favourite at 5/4, and DDB a close second at 11/8. BBH and JWT are outsiders at 7/1 and 10/1 respectively.

  • BAA appoints retail marketing director

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    BAA, the airport operator, has promoted Sarah Jezard to retail marketing director. She will now oversee UK airport retail marketing as well as world duty free. Jezard, who has been with BAA since 2003, was made interim retail marketing director in September.

  • Barclays launches Tube brand positioning campaign

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Barclays is blanket-covering Canary Wharf Tube station and shopping centre in its first advertising campaign promoting its new brand positioning, "Inventive Spirit".

  • BBC investigates product endorsement claims

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The BBC has launched an investigation into claims that companies have paid to have their products featured on BBC programmes.

  • Beefburgers, cheerleaders, zulus, Jools Holland. It's just not cricket

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The marketing world's efforts to improve cricket's image have been laughable. As this summer has shown, all the sport needed was a winning England team

  • Bentley appoints Volkswagen man as global marketer

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Bentley Motors has appointed the head of Volkswagen's North American operations, Len Hunt, as global sales and marketing director.

  • Berlin Cameron/Red Cell supports WSJ compact launch

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Berlin Cameron/Red Cell has created a global advertising campaign to support next month's launch of the compact version of the Wall Street Journal international editions.

  • Billington Cartmell boss raises the bar for sports

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Diary isn't easily impressed. Once you've read one press release telling you how a water filter can save your business millions of pounds, you've read them all.

  • Boots appoints Burger King chief

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Boots has appointed former Burger King marketing chief Andrew Brent as marketing director. Brent, who left the fast-food chain in March (MW March 31), takes over from Ian Hunter, who has been overseeing the role for two years. Hunter is moving to a role at the company's international operation.

  • Brands are talking rubbish

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Companies are beginning to realise the potential in adopting environmentally responsible strategies, but sometimes talk isn't being matched by action, particularly when it comes to their use of plastics

  • Brewery boss rails against management consultants

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Scottish Courage chairman and managing director John Dunsmore has taken a swipe at management consultants. In an unexpected outburst, he said chief executives who ask companies to hire external advisers should be "shot".

  • Broadband take-up in UK doubles

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Broadband take-up in the UK has doubled in 12 months, from 4.2 million households in 2004 to more than 8 million homes today, according to the latest research. Another 1.3 million homes are likely to sign up for broadband within the next six to 12 months.

  • BSkyB tipped to buy Flextech

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    BSkyB is thought to be the frontrunner in the auction to buy Flextech, the content arm of Telewest. It is understood that other bidders include Five-owner RTL and Discovery Communications. ITV, Sparrowhawk Media, Channel 4 and venture capitalist Cinven are no longer in the running.

  • C&W signs Ryanair plane branding deal

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Cable & Wireless (C&W) has become the first company to emblazon its branding on the outside of a Ryanair jet as part of a new venture for the airline.

  • Campaigners up in arms at Nestlé Fairtrade move

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Nestlé, a company frequently boycotted by ethical consumers, is thought to have applied for its first Fairtrade mark. The application, which covers a new coffee brand, has been met with a storm of criticism from lobby groups.

  • Change isn't all plain sailing

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Keeping abreast of social and technological trends through successful product innovation isn't easy for iconic brands, which tend to have embedded cultural systems that defy change, as Coke is finding to its cost. But without such progress, they risk being cast adrift, says David Benady

  • Channel 4 promotes E4 man to head of marketing

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Channel 4 has promoted E4 marketer Rufus Radcliffe to head of marketing for Channel 4. Radcliffe replaces Bill Griffin, who left to join Kiss, the EMAP-owned radio station, earlier this year. The channel is now seeking a head of marketing for digital channels, which will include E4.

  • CMW Interactive wins TFL brief

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    CMW Interactive, the digital arm of Clark McKay & Walpole, has won a brief to expand Transport for London's online Journey Planner to include private road users.

  • COI Communications asks roster agencies to display their services at market stalls

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    COI Communications has asked its new roster of creative agencies to showcase their services and talents by literally setting up a stall at Borough Market. The event is understood to be taking place over the next two months.

  • Confusion grows over Standard's leadership plans

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Media buyers say there is bemusement and uncertainty among agencies and at the Evening Standard over the future of the managing director's role at the paper.

  • Del Monte appoints UK marketing head

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Del Monte has appointed David Wilkinson as head of marketing in the UK following a restructure of the European marketing division.

  • Exel agrees to takeover

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Exel, the distribution group, has agreed to a £3.7bn takeover by German post office Deutsche Post.

  • Gala Bingo to offer first 1m prize-draw

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Gala Bingo is launching a 5m advertising campaign to support its new Millionaire promotion. The UK's leading bingo operator will become the first company to offer an individual prize of 1m at a bingo club from this weekend.

  • GCap Media chief executive steps down

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    GCap Media chief executive David Mansfield is to step down after less than five months in the position. Executive chairman Ralph Bernard will take over the role.

  • Gov't asks Portman Group to bail out drink strategy

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Government is planning to allocate part of its £4m anti-binge-drinking advertising budget to drinks industry body the Portman Group, after what is being seen as failure to reach a strategic consensus.

  • Grey London wins Manchester City brief

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Grey London has been appointed by Manchester City to create the club's first advertising campaign. The agency will develop a campaign to emphasise the bond between the club and the city of Manchester.

  • H&M axes Moss

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    H&M has axed model Kate Moss from an advertising campaign due to run in November following newspaper revelations about her alleged cocaine use.

  • HDM, WDPA and MCS join forces to form Souk Communications

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Advertising agency HDM has merged with direct marketing shop WDPA and digital specialist Mitchell Conner Searson (MCS) to form an integrated agency called Souk Communications.

  • Hero plans £11m push for fruit juice launch

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Swiss preserves and cereal manufacturer Hero Foods is launching a juice drink in the UK supported by an &£11m marketing spend over two years.

  • Hit Entertainment relaunches 15 websites

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Hit Entertainment, which owns characters such as Bob the Builder, Barney and Thomas the Tank Engine, has relaunched its 15 websites with a new content management system from RedDot. RedDot's system allows Hit's brand managers to update sites whenever necessary. Previously, content updates were quarterly. The websites link to Hit's online stores, offering toys, DVDs, books and other exclusive merchandise.

  • HJ Heinz to sell seafood and frozen food business

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    HJ Heinz wants to sell off its seafood and frozen-food business, which employs 2,300 people in the UK and Ireland. The company is aiming to slash its total number of brands by half to focus on core lines such as ketchup and meals. Earlier this week, Unilever announced it would divest its Birds Eye frozen-foods division.

  • Hush Puppies to launch anti-bacterial insole ranges

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Hush Puppies is planning to launch three footcare ranges in March next year.

  • Interpublic Group agencies team up to launch direct media division

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Initiative Media and BrandConnection, the Interpublic Group-owned media agencies, are launching a direct media division called ID.

  • ISBA fears EU changes to TV rules will stifle the Net

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) has warned that proposed changes to European television regulation, being discussed this week in Liverpool, could stifle internet content.

  • Just how hard is it to get a plug on TV programmes?

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    In ITV1's Emmerdale on Friday, viewers were treated to a succession of product plugs, for Gillette razors, Aquafresh toothpaste, the Renault Mégane and the latest Nokia phone. Not in the ad breaks, but in the programme itself.

  • Let's not see recycling fall by the wayside

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The article entitled "Brands sign up to London recycle push" (MW September 15)â led me to wonder whether the Coca-Cola company was one of the signatories to the scheme. For a long time I have thought that the likes of Coca-Cola and McDonald's should pay some sort of environmental taxâ given that their cans, bottles and cartons litter every roadside of our country.

  • M&S shakes up its marketing structure

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Marks & Spencer has overhauled its marketing structure to create two senior posts for Lucy Calver and Susan Aubrey-Cound.

  • Making your brand talk

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    When Virgin launched its mobile service in 2000, it was expected that many other big brands would follow suit. Virtual network operators are still thin on the ground in the UK, but recent activity suggests the labelled telecoms market is about to take off, says Jonathan Harwood

  • McDonald's viral ad upsets food lobbyists

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    McDonald's is courting controversy with an online video ad promoting its new range of McDonald's Toasted Deli Sandwiches.

  • Media Planning Group wins Dot Mobile buying account

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Media Planning Group has been awarded the planning and buying account for Dot Mobile, the low-cost mobile phone company launched exclusively for students (MW last week).

  • National Lottery regulator seeks 'advice' on bids

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The National Lottery Commission (NLC), the body that oversees the UK's National Lottery, is advertising for help in assessing the marketing plans of the various groups bidding for the next National Lottery licence.

  • Nestlé stirs up trouble for Fairtrade Foundation

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Fairtrade Foundation is at a turning point in its 11-year history. Nestlé, which has attracted a number of boycotts from ethical consumers, is understood to have applied for the Fairtrade mark for its new coffee brand, Partners Blend.

  • New Campaigns - ASA

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is launching its first television and radio advertising, reflecting its new responsibility for regulating broadcast advertising content.

  • New Campaigns - O2

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    O2 is stepping up its focus on retention with the launch of a £6m campaign to support its new customer loyalty scheme, O2 Treats.

  • Not big, but they are clever

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    In-store advertising seems to dominate most department stores and supermarket aisles, but smaller retailers also offer a range of opportunities for innovative PoP strategies, says Matthew Broadhead

  • OMD retains Peugeot Citroën PSA media account

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    OMD has retained the £68m Peugeot Citroën PSA media planning and buying business for the UK after a pitch against Media Planning Group and WPP's Group M.

  • Online gambling must be a thrill in itself

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Two articles in last week's issue (MW last week) caught my eye. First, "The party's over for online gambling" quoted the downbeat forecasts and plunging share price of PartyPoker's owner as evidence that the boom may be coming to an end. Second, the results of a Quickwise survey "A

  • P&O aims for a swell of holidaymakers

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The decks of cruise ships may no longer be dominated by retired people relaxing in the sun, spending their hard-earned savings on the holiday of a lifetime, for P&O Cruises is unveiling a new marketing strategy that will attempt to lure younger holidaymakers aboard its ships.

  • P&O Cruises shifts its focus to provide targeted 'experiences'

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    P&O Cruises is hoping to broaden the appeal of cruising holidays with a new approach to its marketing.

  • Pfizer hands Stronghold ad campaign to DLKW

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has appointed Delaney Lund Knox Warren & Partners (DLKW) to handle a campaign for its Stronghold brand.

  • PHD, Vizeum win £25m BMW brief

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    BMW has awarded PHD its £25m strategic planning account, and Vizeum has retained the marque's media buying business following a three-month review.

  • Reuters launches mobile video news service

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Reuters has launched a direct-to-consumer mobile video news service on Vodafone live! with 3G in the UK. The streaming video service includes regular updates from key financial markets around the world and news clips.

  • Saatchi boss to steer Virgin Radio strategy

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Virgin Radio, the Scottish Media Group-owned station, is understood to have appointed Saatchi & Saatchi marketing director Kathleen Saxton as its director of strategy. She is expected to join the station in early November in a newly created role,

  • Should Benetton water down its advertising impact?

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Shock tactics may be a thing of the past for fashion brand Benetton, which appears to be putting its politically and culturally controversial ads back into storage.

  • Sky commercial director axed

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Sky commercial director Mark Wood is to leave the company following a restructure of the Sky Media sales division. He does not have another job to go to.

  • Soul founder Brown joins BBH as media supremo

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Soul co-founder Kevin Brown is to join Bartle Bogle Hegarty in an effort to beef up the agency's media capabilities. Brown, a former Starcom Motive media director, will work alongside BBH chairman Jim Carroll and is thought to be introducing a combined media model originated at Soul.

  • Specsavers blacks MSN page for a day

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Specsavers, the UK optician chain, is to black out the entire MSN homepage as part of a one-day exclusive advertising takeover deal for an undisclosed sum.

  • SsangYong UK names commercial director

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    SsangYong UK has appointed Dave Coop as commercial director.

  • Sunny D seeks parental input on brand strategy

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Sunny D is recruiting 12 parents from around the UK to advise on the future brand development of the Sunny D range.

  • Taste of the unexpected

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    A once well-known brand can tempt lapsed consumers and attract new customers by inviting them to sample the product at stores or bars, or by repositioning its image. By Steve Hemsley

  • Team Saatchi creates Sport England drive

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Team Saatchi has created a campaign for Sport England to encourage people to do more physical activity ahead of the London Olympics in 2012.

  • Technology firm in mobile bluetooth 'permission' row

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Mobile technology company Filter UK has become involved in a dispute over the legality of its Bluecasting system, which sends marketing messages to mobile phones.

  • The advertising community unites to defend CRR

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    When ITV boss Charles Allen declared that he wanted an end to the complex Contract Rights Renewal (CRR) rules last week, few in the industry were surprised - although some have accused the chief executive of hypocrisy.

  • The brass-necked cheek of Charles Allen's ITV demand

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The apparent health of the TV market hides some ugly deals, which can work against the interests of advertisers. At least the contract rights renewal remedy offers some protection, says Phil Georgiadis

  • The Diary knows...

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    The Diary knows that certain marketers like to get high to help deal with the stresses of work, but some have to go too far. The hardy soul pictured (right) is an employee of data management services company Acxiom, many of whom abseiled down Guy's hospital, which just happens to be the tallest hospital building in Europe, to raise money for the Evelina Children's Hospital Appeal. The stunt was part of the Acxiom Challenge, which raises funds for a local charity chosen by individual ...

  • Totesport shortlists six agencies for sponsorship idents

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    TBWA/London, Saatchi & Saatchi, Quiet Storm, WCRS, DDB London and 4Creative are understood to have been shortlisted by Totesport to create the idents for its sponsorship of Channel 4 racing.

  • Tourism Ireland picks Net team

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Tourism Ireland has awarded a three-year E2.6m (£1.75m) Web development contract to a team comprising technology company LB Icon and its sister company, full-service digital agency Wheel.

  • UIP promotes Wallace and Gromit film with ATM push

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    United International Pictures is promoting the first full-length Wallace and Gromit film, The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, on cash- machines at 150 Asda supermarkets throughout the UK.

  • USwitch.com predicts British Gas customers to swith supplier

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    USwitch.com, an independent energy price comparison service, says almost 3 million British Gas customers plan to switch to a cheaper supplier following the company's fourth price hike in three years. A further 2 million have pledged to switch if another price rise is announced.

  • Utility, not commodity?

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    In a sector where consumers pick their providers on price, brands are hard to build. But npower is doing better than most, says Nathalie Kilby

  • VCCP unveils European brand campaign for Dyson

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest has created a European brand campaign for Dyson aimed at strengthening the brand across Europe. The campaign, which breaks next month, will star founder and inventor James Dyson explaining the idea behind his cyclone technology.

  • Viral marketing wish for ASA safeguards

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Martin Croft's news piece on the Committee of Advertising Practice's (CAP) censure of Vivendi Universal Games' latest viral campaign (MW August 18) was significant because the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has steered clear of viral advertising. CAP meets at the end of September to discuss the vexed issue of viral marketing and it is important that the regulatory structure it lays down safeguards what is a dynamic and highly effective advertising medium.

  • Vodafone rapped for 'best in britain bar none' posters

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Vodafone has been rebuked by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for its 'best in Britain bar none' posters. The ASA says the campaign was misleading. The mobile phone company has also unveiled 15 new 3G handsets in an attempt to boost sluggish sales in the run-up to Christmas.

  • Wait a minute... it's the Minute Maid fiasco

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Having been sucked into what I reluctantly accept is an interesting television ad, I was brought back to earth the next day when my taste-buds were the unfortunate victims of a head-on collision with this concoction masquerading as a credible juice.

  • We don't talk anymore

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    I thought my luck was in when I rang my home insurance provider the other morning, and found myself listening to a live human voice after the fourth ring.

  • WebObjective names marketing director

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Chris Dobson has been appointed marketing director for website positioning company WebObjective. Dobson previously worked at the Automobile Association where he headed the AA's Car Buyers' Guide online project and was latterly head of insurance retention.

  • We've cottoned on to your tactics, Isobel, so throw in the towel

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    In the past year or so there has been plenty of hoo-ha about marketers pushing unsuitable products to children, so the Diary was gratified to see that some noble souls are doing the exact opposite - taking suitable products away from children.

  • When it comes to media, power is still in the eye of the beholder

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    As the price of consumers' attention rises and the quality of content declines, media owners' ability to sell audiences to advertisers becomes questionable

  • Wonka's success stops Nestlé short

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Nestlé Rowntree has been forced to delay the introduction of its Wonka bars as a permanent line because it cannot meet retailer demand. It is understood that the company has stopped delivery of the bars until the end of October.

  • Zurich names UK marketing director

    Thu, 22 Sep 2005

    Zurich, the financial services company, has appointed Mark Searles to the new role of UK marketing director. He joins from Lloyds TSB where he was director of Create card services, which had responsibility for the Goldfish card.

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