Marketing Week
24 August 2006

  • A1 GP revs up in race for sponsors

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Competition for sponsors and viewers in the motor racing industry is set to heat up following A1 Grand Prix's (A1 GP) appointment of JWT and MindShare to handle its &£8m advertising and branding business (MW last week). As it cements plans to raise its profile, it also hopes to ignite interest among potential sponsors.

  • Addirect begins global push in US

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Ambient media company Addirect is opening a New York office as part of a major international expansion. The first US office will open in two weeks.

  • ASA slams anti-paedophile website ad over 'porn link'

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint against a radio ad by the Home Office and Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) which inadvertently led listeners to a website with links to pornography.

  • Asda's lifesaver may sink the spirits

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    God knows, we all need a lift at work from time to time. When the humdrum daily grind starts to sap one's will to live - or at least to get out of bed in the morning - and you begin to lose sight of the reasons you chose your career. When the road to the top of the corporate ladder, the one you once believed would be paved with ...

  • BMW to sell Rover brand

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    BMW has agreed to sell the Rover brand to Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. The deal, which still has to be finalised, will see SAIC pay just over &£11m for the Rover name.

  • BT's strategic planning business to be handled in house

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    BT's strategic planning business will be handled in house for the first time following the split with PHD (MW August 10). It was thought the &£30m account would go to Starcom, which handles BT's TV, press and radio buying, but it will instead sit within BT's media team headed by Steve Huddleston.

  • Codemasters hopes to snare female gamers

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Codemasters, the games publisher, aims to broaden its appeal to women and casual gamers with the launch of Hospital Tycoon.

  • Dixons sends out wrong signal with 'no analogue radios' story

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The headlines seemed unequivocal. "Dixons switches off analogue radio". "An era ends as Dixons switches off the wireless". "Radio switch-off".

  • Dr Z leads Detroit's fightback against Toyota as sales drop

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Of course, there are many economic and political factors that make them tick the "more likely" box when asked about their expectations of a downturn. With upheaval in the Middle East and the renewed spectre of terrorist attacks on America it i

  • DWP hunts for agency to handle Child Support Agency relaunch

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) is seeking an advertising agency to create a major campaign to relaunch the Child Support Agency (CSA).

  • Ecover shows off improved range of eco-cleaners

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Ecover, the eco-friendly cleaning products manufacturer, is launching a reformulated range of laundry products next month across the UK. The new lines aim to be more efficient at cleaning without becoming more damaging to the environment.

  • England and Wales Cricket Board faces wrath of its sponsors

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The England and Wales Cricket Board is facing the wrath of its sponsors.

  • Epiphany Solutions appointed by Yorkshire Building Society

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Epiphany Solutions, the Leeds-based search marketing specialist, has been appointed by Yorkshire Building Society to carry out a 12-month online push.

  • Every picture tells a story, no matter how dumb the subject

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    When the manufacturers of mobile phones had saturated the market,they were left with a conundrum: what to do next. Their achievements were considerable. They had added another, previously undreamt of, stratum to the multi-layered miseries of r

  • Football sponsorship results revealed

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Being French and having lived through the World Cup final and Zidane's famous "coupe de boule", Marketing Week readers will forgive me for taking my time to write. My previous letter (MW June 1) examined which global brands consumers associate with major sports events.

  • Future's board reduces profit forecasts

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Future's board has reduced profit forecasts following continued weakness in advertising and newsstand sales. EBITAE profit for the financial year to September 30, 2006 is likely to be &£3.5m below current expectations.

  • Games channel ITV Play hikes call charges after announcing target-busting profits

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    ITV Play is ramping up the cost of calls to its premium line quiz shows by a quarter in a bid to increase profits at the TV channel, which does not take any advertising.

  • Getting through to the student population

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    In your story on Tabletalkmedia (MW last week) the information about the SUBtv network was out of date. We are now installed in 90 UK universities, giving us a weekly reach of 1.6 million students. This equates to 80% of the student population and 30% of 18- to 24-year-olds in the UK. However, we did like the picture of our screens that you used in the story. Peter Miles, Chief executive SUBtv London SW1

  • Glass makes three senior appointments

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Glass, an interactive marketing agency, has made three senior appointments.

  • Guardian Media Group appoints Tim Brooks

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Guardian Media Group has appointed Tim Brooks as managing director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, GMG's national media division. Currently managing director of IPC Ignite! - IPC Media's men's lifestyle and music division - Brooks succeeds Carolyn McCall who became chief executive of GMG on August 1.

  • Has Tiscali got what it takes to survive?

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Having spent several hundred million pounds developing its technology, Homechoice was bought by Italian internet service provider Tiscali last week in a deal valuing it at up to &£100m.

  • I can't believe it's...fruit juice

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Presumably marketers spend plenty of time and money choosing names for new products. "It's margarine," they say. "But it tastes oh-so-creamy, just like butter in fact." So, after convening several focus groups, they come up with gems such as "

  • Incoming PepsiCo supremo urges job rival not to leave

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    PepsiCo's new chief executive, Indra Nooyi, has made a dramatic plea to international boss Michael White urging him to stay at the company amid mounting speculation that he will leave after being passed over for the top post.

  • Integrated marketing campaign to relaunch Whole Earth

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Inferno has developed an integrated marketing campaign to relaunch organic foods company Whole Earth. The work will promote the brand's new packaging with press and online activity.

  • Karmarama lands 7m Goodyear Fulda work

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

  • Kerrygold Butter in agency talks over £2m ad business

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter is in the early stages of talks with agencies about a review of the &£2m advertising business for its Pure Irish Butter brand.

  • Kia signs Rafael Nadal

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Kia has signed tennis player Rafael Nadal to be a global brand ambassador for the next two years. Nadal, who won back-to-back French Open titles in 2005 and 2006, will appear in global TV and print advertising for the marque.

  • Kronenbourg unveils new 'take the time to savour' ad

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) is repositioning Kronenbourg 1664 as a premium lager to "savour" and will encourage consumers to take their time drinking it in a new campaign that breaks next week.

  • 'Lost' TV bosses to give branded chocolate to fans

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Touchstone Television, the maker of cult-TV show Lost, is launching a branded chocolate bar, and will distribute it free to fans as part of a campaign to support the show.

  • Masius scoops spread-betting business

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Masius has been appointed to handle the £3m integrated advertising account for spread-betting company City Index.

  • McCann Erickson creates first TV work for Yoplait Wildlife

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    McCann Erickson London has created the first TV work for Yoplait Wildlife.

  • MoreThan builds loyalty in a promiscuous market

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    MoreThan, the Royal & Sun Alliance-owned direct insurance brand, is piloting a loyalty scheme for policyholders in the hope of retaining customers in a price-led marketplace (MW last week).

  • NatMags to refund advertisers as Real People fails to sparkle

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    National Magazine Company's "real-life" women's weekly Real People is refunding advertisers after failing to meet its guaranteed circulation target of 350,000. The magazine was launched in January.

  • Neo@Ogilvy appoints Richard Wheaton

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Neo@Ogilvy, the digital and direct marketing arm of OgilvyOne Worldwide, has appointed Richard Wheaton as its first UK chief executive. Wheaton has previously worked at Getty Images and Carat Interactive's digital business.

  • New Campaign - American Express Red

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    American Express is launching a campaign that aims to position its charity credit card Red as a lifestyle accessory as well as a statement.

  • News International to launch its free London evening newspaper

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    News International will launch its free London evening newspaper thelondonpaper on September 4, two weeks earlier than announced. The publisher kept the real launch date secret in an attempt to scupper the launch of Associated Newspapers' afternoon freesheet London Lite.

  • Norwich Union to replace cheques

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Norwich Union, the UK brand of insurance giant Aviva, is to replace cheques paid out to claimants with prepay cards operated through Visa. It is believed to be the first European insurer to operate a prepay card system.

  • Ogilvy wins BP CO2 reduction drive

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Ogilvy Group has won the launch campaign for BP's new "targetneutral" initiative following a three-way pitch.

  • Online social network Piczo to open office in UK

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Piczo, the social networking site, is launching a UK office in a bid to win a greater share of the local marketing and advertising spend. It is the first overseas move for the company.

  • PepsiCo's Indian summer

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    PepsiCo's surprise announcement last week that chief financial officer and president Indra Nooyi will take over as chief executive from Steve Reinemund in October led many observers to wonder what had brought about the change.

  • PepsiCo's rosy future needs to be nurtured

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    At first glance, incoming PepsiCo chief executive Indra Nooyi could not have picked a better time to ease herself into the hot seat. Currently president and chief financial officer, she will become the company's first female boss and one of the most powerful corporate women in the world, as the food and drink giant moves into ...

  • Phones4U to sponsor Match Day Media half-time shows

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Phones4U has signed an exclusive sponsorship deal with in-stadium TV company Match Day Media (MDM). The mobile phone retailer will sponsor MDM's half-time show 45 To Go for the 2006-7 football season.

  • Pink versions of PlayStation 2 and PSP consoles

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Sony Computer Entertainment is rolling out pink versions of its PlayStation 2 and PSP consoles. In a deal with pop star Pink, a limited-edition value pack will include an exclusive UMD featuring content from the artist.

  • Publicis Dialog creates below-the-line campaign for Clio Renaultsport 197

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Publicis Dialog has created a below-the-line campaign for the new Clio Renaultsport 197. The campaign, which features direct mail and online activity, uses the strapline "Feel it for yourself".

  • Quiet Storm appointed to HMV's agency roster

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Quiet Storm has been appointed to HMV's agency roster.

  • Redbus offers experiential approach to student market

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Redbus Outdoor is expanding its on-campus media network to include experiential offerings and sampling. The Xperience launch will coincide with the start of the new university year next month.

  • Rough Guide branches out with branded goods range

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Rough Guide is extending into branded products, fashion and travel accessories for the first time. The range will be rolled out from October.

  • Royal Mail claims success in price by size campaign

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Royal Mail has hit back at claims that its new pricing system is confusing consumers, saying its £10m advertising campaign to explain Pricing in Proportion is working.

  • RSPB repositions for albatross campaign

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) will kick off its biggest ad campaign to date next week as it seeks to reposition itself as a global conservation charity.

  • Severn Trent admits unfairly treating a whistleblower

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Severn Trent, the owner of Severn Trent Water, has admitted unfairly treating a whistleblower who alleged that the water giant had misled industry regulator Ofwat over accounts of bad debt.

  • Sony Computer Entertainment forced to clarify remarks

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Sony Computer Entertainment has been forced to clarify remarks made by Kaz Hirai, president of its US arm, that its next-generation PS3 consoles were not in production. SCE moved swiftly to say that launch dates will be met.

  • Soya giant looks for UK ad agency to handle So Good

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Soyaworld, the Canadian manufacturer of soy beverages, is understood to be looking for a UK advertising agency to manage the business for its So Good product range.

  • Standard Life Bank picks chief marketer

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Standard Life Bank has promoted its head of bank customer proposition Allison Crawford to sales and marketing director. She replaces David MacMillan, who has become UK retail director.

  • Steve Blakeman resigns

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    PHD North managing partner Steve Blakeman has resigned to take up a position in the Far East. Jason Spencer, media director at the Omnicom- owned agency, will take over from Blakeman.

  • Targeting consumers in the act of shopping

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    David Wethey's "Summertime blue-sky thinking" proposals (MW August 10) may come as a shock to some marketers, but his commentary on connecting with consumers at the moment of truth is something we feel will be a significant development in mark

  • That's what you claim...

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Marketers are a creative bunch, so it shouldn't really come as much of a surprise that plenty of them fiddle their expense claims.

  • The brand personified

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Customer experience is a popular theme among marketers. The idea is to ensure that every interaction a consumer enjoys with a brand - apart from direct use of the product or service - should contribute towards building satisfaction. In practic

  • The Digital TV Group appoints Richard Lindsay-Davies

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Digital TV Group has appointed Richard Lindsay-Davies as director general.

  • The green cost of fruit and veg

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Asda is piloting a food delivery scheme that it says could cut 3 million "food miles" a year if it were successfully rolled out across its UK stores (MW last week). The initial two-month pilot in Cornwall will see farmers delivering their prod

  • Thinking ahead

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Many in the advertising industry were surprised by The Guardian's decision to appoint Wieden & Kennedy to its &£5m advertising account, but the newspaper has always done things its own way. Mark Choueke finds its traditional values hold true, but it has an eye on the future

  • Thomson Directories appoints Jill Pringle

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Thomson Directories has appointed internet marketing manager Jill Pringle as product and marketing manager for new media. Internet sales manager Jeff Turner has been made commercial manager for new media.

  • Tory Party picks former ad exec to head marketing as rebrand looms

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Conservative Party has hired former ad agency account director Anna-Maren Ashford as its chief marketer as the party looks set to undergo a major rebrand featuring a new-look logo.

  • Trinity Mirror to launch Scottish evening dailies

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Trinity Mirror's Scottish Daily Record is to launch two evening editions targeting the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is understood that the newspapers will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks.

  • Tunisian Tourist Board launches statutory review

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    The Tunisian Tourist Board has launched a statutory review of its advertising business and is in talks with ten selected agencies to create a â¬1.2m (&£800,000) brand campaign.

  • TV viewing figures fall for seventh successive quarter

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    TV viewing figures have fallen for the seventh successive quarter, according to the IPA Trends in Television Viewing report. Average daily viewing is 3.43 hours, down from 3.89 in the first quarter of 2006.

  • Two-and-a-half minute ad for Nissan

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    TBWA/London has created a two-and-a-half minute ad for car manufacturer Nissan - the longest spot it has run - to air on FilmFour. It features idents from Nissan's sponsorship of TV show 24 and continues an integrated "adventure" theme launched in June (MW June 15).

  • Unilever told Adez supply issues could harm launch

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Retailers have warned Unilever it is risking the long-term success of Adez because it is struggling to keep up with demand for the soya-based fruit drink. It is understood that store bosses are becoming impatient over supply issues.

  • Vimto plans relaunch of energy drink brand Indigo

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Vimto Soft Drinks is relaunching energy drink brand Indigo in a last-ditch attempt to boost sales of the brand. The new positioning will be supported by a marketing campaign aimed at boosting awareness of the drink.

  • Virgin Mobile to offer a year's free broadband

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Virgin Mobile is offering a year's free broadband to new customers who sign up to one of the company's SIM-only monthly tariffs. Meanwhile, Virgin Mobile's new owner NTL is currently in talks with a number of private equity companies about a takeover.

  • Wanadoo shake-up sheds top marketer

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Wanadoo's top marketer Peter Turner is understood to be leaving following the brand's merger with Orange. He is thought to be departing next week and it is not known whether he has a job to go to.

  • Weeklies add gloss to market

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    While newspapers reinvent themselves in a bid to tackle the signs of a slow, long-term decline, magazines appear to be in relatively rude health.

  • Wildlife fashion label taps into fair-trade sector with eco slant

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    A new fashion label called Wildlife Works UK is aiming to preserve wildlife while tapping into a growing trend for fair-trade products, and says it can provide "style alongside substance".

  • William Grant boss lands senior role at Diageo Asia

    Thu, 24 Aug 2006

    Distiller William Grant & Sons innovation boss Guy Middleton is understood to have landed a senior marketing role at Diageo's Asia division. It is believed that he has already taken up the post.

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