Marketing Week
23 March 2006

  • 19 Entertainment appoints Chris Shaw

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    19 Entertainment, Simon Fuller's company, has appointed former Universal McCann executive vice-president Chris Shaw to head the promotion of the Honda F1 Racing Team (MW March 2).

  • Advertiser-funded programmes: all talk, little action

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Advertiser-funded programming has been making headlines in recent weeks, with a wave of big name advertisers unveiling initiatives to be screened on television. Unilever is one of those, investing heavily in the launch of a Sure-branded football documentary that airs in the UK on ITV1 this week (MW ...

  • Advertising Association

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Advertising Association has released figures compiled by the World Advertising Research Center which show that online ad spend for 2005 grew by 73% to &£1.1bn. The Internet Advertising Bureau and Pricewaterhouse Coopers will publish their latest figures next week.

  • Alex Lewis joining Sky Networks

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Number 118 118 marketing director Alex Lewis is joining Sky Networks to run its non-sports marketing operations. The directory enquiries company is currently seeking a replacement.

  • ASA to probe PSP ads after dozens of complaints

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Sony's 3m campaign for the PSP portable video games console has generated 44 complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

  • Aviva awards digital account to Diffiniti

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Aviva, the financial services giant, has awarded its £26m digital account to Aegis-owned digital agency Diffiniti after a final pitch against Harvest Digital.

  • Ayling lands consumer launch task for rice firm

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Rice manufacturer Veetee has appointed John Ayling Associates to handle its media planning and buying ahead of plans to reposition as a consumer brand later this year.

  • Back on the boil?

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    PG Tips may be at the centre of a pitch rumour, but its first concern is to regain market share lost to more modern infusions, says Ian McCawley

  • Barclays Bank hands Walker Media its UK planning and buying account

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Barclays Bank has confirmed it has handed Walker Media its £70m UK planning and buying account, following a final two-way pitch against PHD.

  • BCMA aims to establish industry standards for branded content

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Branded Content Marketing Association (BCMA), the organisation which represents the interests of those involved in advertiser-funded advertising, is setting up a working group to look at measurement systems, as experts warn a lack of accountability could stifle growth in the area.

  • Body Shop, L'Oréal plot food range

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Body Shop and L'Oréal are planning to make a foray into the food sector as the two beauty companies seek to exploit the combined might of their product development departments.

  • Boyle heads merged Sanyo sales and marketing teams

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Sanyo has consolidated the management teams for its consumer electronics and commercial divisions. The new team will be headed by sales and marketing director John Boyle.

  • Branding success calls for more than quick-fix pricing philosophy

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Supermarket price promotions are used in various ways to build brands, but, as Sainsbury's has found to its cost, return on investment can take a long time

  • Brunel rises to the birthday occasion

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Isambard Kingdom Brunel not only had a magnificent moniker but he was also, as every schoolboy knows, a great Victorian.

  • BSkyB moots raft of new media services

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    BSkyB is contemplating a raft of new media services including internet-protocol telephony, video-phone, podcasts and music downloads.

  • BT could be free to set its own prices

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    BT could be free to set its own prices for domestic UK phone lines and calls this summer under plans put forward by regulator Ofcom.

  • Car sales at the crossroads

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    March sales figures for the UK car industry will be released within days - and after two years of falling demand and a bad start to 2006, marketers are anxiously waiting to see whether the new registration has re-ignited the market or if the sector is running on empty. By Robert Lester

  • Carat handed Danone's £6m media planning account

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Carat has been handed Danone's £6m media planning account for its bottled water brands, which include Evian, from Starcom without a pitch.

  • Charities call for fuel relief

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    A group of seven charities has teamed up with consumer group Energywatch to lobby Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown as he announces his Budget today (Wednesday).

  • Coke adds to 'confusing' Z range

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Coca-Cola is to launch Fanta Apple Z in April to add to its range of "confusing" no-sugar Fanta drinks.

  • Counting down to kick-off

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Digital technology has come a long way since the last World Cup, and this time round customers are keen to follow the action interactively using their phones - if the content providers are ready

  • Digest

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Diffiniti, the Aegis-owned digital agency has won the £26m merged Aviva digital account after a final battle with Harvest Digital, the Norwich Union incumbent.

  • Don't scare people with flimsy evidence

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The research by Dr Vivian Howard sponsored by Organix (MW March 9) claims that combinations of food additives such as monosodium glutamate and aspartame form toxic cocktails is "junk science".

  • Drambuie backs extreme sports event to target young

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Drambuie, the whisky liqueur brand, is sponsoring a new extreme sports event in an attempt to reinvigorate its image and target younger consumers.

  • EMAP to close two women's health magazines

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    EMAP is to close two women's health magazines - Slimming and Health Plus - claiming the titles are out of step with contemporary attitudes towards diet and fitness.

  • 'End to free sport e-casts'

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    This year's FIFA World Cup will be the last major sporting event for which there will be no formal negotiations over online broadcasting rights, according to industry observers.

  • English Premier League broadcasting rights

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The European Commission is on the verge of coming to an agreement with the English Premier League over its broadcasting rights. The league has agreed to sell six "balanced" packages.

  • Fiat poised to hand £3.5m brief to Krow after Leo Burnett split

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Fiat is tipped to appoint Krow, the start-up launched last year by the former D'Arcy team of Barry Cook, Nick Hastings, John Quarrey and Malcolm White, to its &£3.5m UK advertising business after the car manufacturer parted company with incumbent Leo Burnett London.

  • First Direct appoints Chris Pilling

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    First Direct, the HSBC-owned phone and internet bank, has appointed former Asda marketing director Chris Pilling as chief operating officer. He replaces Richard Dixon, who left last August to join mortgage company Paymentshield.

  • Ford of Britain appoints Mark Ovenden

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Ford of Britain has appointed Mark Ovenden as director of marketing, replacing Steve Hood, who moves to Ford Retail as director of marketing and strategy. Ovenden was previously small car brand manager for Ford of Europe.

  • Framfab/LB Icon merger creates 'Europe's largest agency'

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    LB Icon - which owns UK digital agency Wheel - and Framfab have ended months of speculation by announcing a merger. The deal should create Europe's largest specialist digital agency, with annual turnover of around â¬161m (&£111.7m) and 1,200 employees in 10 countries.

  • G&B sweeps MCCA prizes

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Mark Palmer was announced as client of the year at this year's MCCA Best Awards - backed by Marketing Week - in recognition of his success in positioning the Green & Black's in the luxury premium chocolate market. The brand's marketing campaign, created by Brave, also picked up two awards.

  • General Motors losses

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    General Motors has admitted that its loss for last year was $2bn (£1.15bn) higher than previously reported. The company was forced to restate its loss to $10.6bn (£6bn) as a result of higher healthcare, pension and redundancy costs and a write

  • Google teams up with Nike for 'Joga' football fan site

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Google and Nike have linked up to create an online community or social networking site for football fans - www.joga.com - to take advantage of the football frenzy that will be whipped up by the World Cup in Germany. The site builds on Nike's latest advertising campaign, fronted by French football legend Eric ...

  • Home Office binge drinking campaign

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Home Office has restarted plans to launch a campaign to tackle binge drinking, which was scrapped three months ago. The COI, which is overseeing the campaign, has asked Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, United London and Mother to pitch for the business.

  • How Britvic plans to beat the obesity crisis

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The soft drinks industry is flexible enough to thrive over the next decade, according to Britvic chief executive Paul Moody, despite consumer health concerns, and the looming threat of government legislation.

  • How switched on is Grundig's UK launch?

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Grundig may evoke visions of 1970s-style, wood-framed televisions, but parent company Alba is investing in a major relaunch of the brand that aims to position it as a premium make at the heart of the UK content revolution.

  • IGA to launch mobile in-games ad service

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Global in-game advertising network IGA Worldwide has teamed up with Exit Games to launch the world's first in-game advertising service for mobile phones.

  • Immedia extends its Impulse Live network

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Immedia, the in-store radio station provider, is extending its Impulse Live network to 1,000 stores in Ireland. It has signed a five-year deal with Alphrya, Europe's largest cash acceptance network, which starts on April 3.

  • Inbev set to pick Kelly for global brand director role

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Inbev is poised to appoint global brand director for Brahma Devin Kelly as the replacement for Phil Rumbol, the outgoing UK marketing director.

  • Integrated campaigns are the way forward

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    I was confused by Jo-Anne Flack's Special Report (MW March 9), which stated "brands like... AOL... have spent little money on above the line". On the contrary, AOL has a creditable record in above-the-line spend and, in the past three months, we have committed &£15m to our /discuss platform across TV, outdoor, print, cinema, online - and PR.

  • IPA recommends drastic action over new EU law

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) is recommending that advertising agencies abolish dedicated account teams altogether to avoid problems over new European employment laws, which come into effect in two weeks' time.

  • It's all power to the brand, but what of the marketers?

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Despite the widely acknowledged power of the brand, marketing departments are often seen as separate from the profit-generating process, says Chris Ingram

  • Kingfisher profits halved

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Kingfisher, the owner of DIY chain B&Q, has revealed that profits have halved amid a sharp downturn in UK spending.

  • Like oil and water?

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    On the face of it The Body Shop and L'Oréal joining ranks may defy logic, but look a little deeper and the match is not so bizarre. It will enable the French cosmetics firm to adapt to social trends and appear less selfish, while giving Roddick the outlet she needs for expansion. By David Benady

  • Livingstone and Thames Water to run wastage ads

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Hot on the heels of a joint awareness campaign between various water companies and the Environment Agency (MW last week), the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone is launching a joint campaign with Thames Water that aims to encourage Londoners to save water.

  • Lycos loses UK managing director

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Lycos UK joint managing director for portal and communications John van Vroenhoven is to leave the pan- European online group.

  • M&C picks up 3m task for 'computer in a desk' firm

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    M&C Saatchi has won a 3m brand-building campaign for Powerdesk - desks with built-in computers.

  • Maiden Outdoor appoints Alison Reay

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Maiden Outdoor has appointed former Yahoo!

  • Manners maketh the man - but they also give women the edge

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Surveyors know that chivalry isn't dead and thanks to a mixture of male pride and vanity, a female cold caller will nearly always elicit a response from a man

  • Marcus Farthing thought to be leaving Arla Foods

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Arla Foods head of brand Marcus Farthing is thought to be leaving the company at the end of March to go travelling. His departure comes during a &£25m advertising pitch between Clemmow Hornby Inge, DDB London and Wieden & Kennedy.

  • McDonald's in hunt for Euro chief marketer

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Fast-food giant McDonald's is seeking a chief marketing officer for a newly created role covering the UK and Northern Europe. The role will be at senior vice-president level.

  • Mentholatum backs relaunch of Oxy range with £1.5m campaign

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Mentholatum Company is ploughing £1.5m into relaunching its recently acquired Oxy brand of medicated skin care products.

  • Metropolitan Police call a review

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The Metropolitan Police has called a review of £6m media planning and buying account.

  • Mother frontrunner in £10m European pitch for Armani

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Mother is believed to be the frontrunner to scoop the £10m pan-European advertising business for Armani Jeans, following a protracted pitch process.

  • Nando's picks EGS media start-up for £1m ad push

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    High street restaurant chain Nando's has appointed start-up communications planning agency Edwards Groom Saunders (EGS) to handle its media planning, thought to be worth about &£1m.

  • Nestlé is a warning to marketing managers

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    In the Nestlé chairman's declaration that its UK operations had stacked up enormous costs through product hyperventilation there is a warning to marketing managers across all sectors to take better consideration of all the factors impacting the success of a new product or brand (MW March 9).

  • New Campaign - Sprite 3G

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Coca-Cola is launching a £5m marketing campaign to support Sprite 3G, the energy drink the company launched last October (MW August 4, 2005).

  • New Campaign - Strongbow

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Strongbow is launching a television and poster campaign later this month, as part of a &£27m marketing and advertising investment in the cider brand this year.

  • New Campaigns - Smooth FM

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    102.2 Smooth FM, the Guardian Media Group Radio-owned station, is launching a campaign to attract more female listeners to the music station.

  • Newspapers starting to look like old news for advertisers

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    There was plenty of editorial cheer at this week's British Press Awards but as circulation figures continue to fall, brands are getting better results from their websites than traditional press ads

  • Ofcom's telemarketing changes could do more

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    The new changes to outbound telemarketing regulations recently announced by Ofcom are encouraging, but I would like to make two points.

  • P&O introduces new cruise logo

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    P&O Cruises has ditched the "P&O house flag" from its logo after more than 30 years and unveiled a new logo that management feels better fits the "contemporary cruise experience".

  • Pepsi sues Coca-Cola over Powerade Option ad claim

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Pepsi is taking Coca-Cola to the US federal court over a television ad for energy drink Powerade that Pepsi claims is false and deceptive.

  • Perfume manufacturers fined

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    L'Oréal, Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent are among the perfume manufacturers that have been collectively fined more than £33m for their parts in a price-fixing scandal in France. The French Competition Council also fined three French chain stores.

  • Prego* bosses in the Pink after showing female side

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    To paraphrase Kool and his Gang - oh yes it's ladies night and the feeling's right on the Diary page this week.

  • Premier Foods appoints Andrew Elder

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Premier Foods has appointed Andrew Elder, marketing controller on Loyd Grossman sauces, as marketing controller for Quorn.

  • Press buyers question the market for new nationals

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Press buyers are slamming the lack of radical launches in the struggling newspaper market and say media owners must find the next "Metro idea".

  • Quorn shortlist

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Mother, Publicis and Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy are understood to have been shortlisted for the &£9m advertising account for Premier Foods-owned brand Quorn.

  • RadioCentre

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    RadioCentre, the new industry body formed by the merger of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and the Commercial Radio Companies Association (CRCA) (MW February 23) has confirmed that Douglas McArthur will not be chief executive, but will take a non-executive chairman role. CRCA chief executive Paul Brown will be chairman of the board.

  • Razor wars hot up with Wilkinson and Bic launches

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Wilkinson Sword is launching an addition to its Xtreme range of disposable razors - the Xtreme3 Comfort Plus.

  • Rebuilt Mostar bridge at the heart of a...triangle

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    While on the subject of bridges and engineering, the Diary is convinced Brunel would have been impressed by the rebuilt Mostar Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

  • Robert Ditcham expected to replace David Connolly

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Robert Ditcham, former Initiative commercial director, is expected to replace David Connolly as Ofcom's adjudicator.

  • Royal Bank of Scotland plans to consolidate its direct marketing business

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Royal Bank of Scotland is planning to consolidate its £15m direct marketing business for its RBS and NatWest brands into two agencies.

  • Sainsbury's Bank chief Tim Pile given the chop

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Sainsbury's Bank chief executive Tim Pile has left the company suddenly without a job to go to. He is believed to be carrying the can for "bleak" financial results a week ahead of the end of the bank's financial year.

  • Spending on advertising in the UK

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Spending on advertising in the UK increased by 2.

  • Starcom and MediaCom

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Starcom and MediaCom are understood to have pulled out of the £200m global pitch for the combined media planning and buying accounts for Adidas and Reebok.

  • Swiftcover.com picks Harvest Digital

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Swiftcover.com, the internet-based insurance firm, has picked Harvest Digital to manage its online media planning and buying. The online creative work, by MWO, keeps the above-the-line theme of call centres being staffed by chickens.

  • TBWA Man starts 'integrated' drive

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    TBWA is grouping its Manchester agencies under a collective umbrella to sell an "integrated" message to clients and staff.

  • TfL looking for a digital agency

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Transport for London (TfL) is understood to be looking for a digital agency to design a dedicated website for its Oystercard. TfL plans to turn Oystercard into a cashless payment system that users can use to purchase items.

  • The Body Shop lure is more than skin deep

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    There is a cynicism about some business deals that simply astonishes. ITV's 175m acquisition of Friends Reunited, for example. Minor earnings enhancement, yes; seen to be doing "something" , however incoherent, about the online media revoluti

  • The customer must come first

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Stands should be all about the experience that exhibitors want to give potential customers, so their design must serve the corporate message and complement the venue too. By Ed Drayton

  • There's a lot to be said for true independence

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Naturally, I was saddened to read that DLKW has had to lay off 5% of its staff (MW last week).

  • Three easy steps for girls who just wanna have fun... and some brand fulfilment on the bus home

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    It was Cyndi Lauper who once sang that Girls Just Wanna Have fun.

  • Underfivepounds hunts for media shop to start first national campaign

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Bargain retail chain Underfivepounds.com is looking for a media planning and buying agency ahead of its first national marketing push. The company was set up last April to offer gifts and gadgets.

  • US wrestling promoter picks Carat for £3m task

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the US wrestling promoter, has appointed Carat to handle a &£3m one-month promotional drive.

  • Virgin and O2 at war over music strategy

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    A war of words has erupted between Virgin Mobile and O2 after Virgin accused its rival of "copying" its music strategy.

  • Vodafone pledges to return £6bn to shareholders

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Vodafone has pledged to return £6bn to shareholders after agreeing to sell its Japanese arm to SoftBank for £8.

  • Volvo moves Walder to top marketer

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Car manufacturer Volvo has promoted Paul Walder to head of marketing communications, following the departure of sales and marketing director Simon Munn.

  • Walker Media to boost staff in online arm

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Walker Media is to boost staff in its online arm, Walker-I, after winning the £70m media planning and buying account for Barclays.

  • What is the French conspiracy all about?

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    I read with great interest Robert Lester's piece about the Orange pitch (MW March 9).

  • What the future has in-store

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Marketers constantly strive to make sure that PoP displays reflect the technological advances in the products they promote, but they must still remain relevant and accessible. By David Benady

  • When client conflict becomes specialism

    Thu, 23 Mar 2006

    Churchill's appointment of WCRS to handle its £20m advertising account is further evidence that the financial services sector is something of a "special case" when it comes to client conflict. Churchill is owned by Royal Bank of Scotland, whic

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