Marketing Week
27 March 2008
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Absolute in pole position to buy Virgin Radio
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
Absolute Radio, a consultancy led by former radio industry executives, is understood to be the frontrunner to acquire Virgin Radio. SMG, the current owner of Virgin, is due to make an announcement at its annual results tomorrow (April 3).
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Ad spend will rise by 3.2% in 2008, says report
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Ad spend in the UK is to increase by 3.2% in 2008 despite the gloomy economic outlook, according to the Advertising Association's (AA) Advertising Forecast. The report shows that spending is up from last year across most media.
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Auntie oversteps commercial mark
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
The BBC is part of the fabric of our daily lives. Auntie is a uniquely British institution of which we are all proud as citizens (aka licence fee payers), viewers and listeners. The BBC also plays a unique role on the international stage, bringing (in the words of ...
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Avanti ad sales jump 145%
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Avanti Screenmedia Group, the digital media company, reported a 145% surge in advertising sales for the six months ending December 31 2007. The company says the increase was boosted by new contract wins, including the showcase mall at Bluewater.
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Barcrest in mobile games venture
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
Barcrest, the gambling company, is rolling out a range of slot machine-style games for mobile phones after its parent company agreed an investment deal with interactive games developer Million-2-1.
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BJL wins Lambrini ad work
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Halewood International, the wine and spirits company, has appointed BJL to handle the advertising for its flagship Lambrini brand. It follows a competitive pitch for the account against Connectpoint and Propaganda.
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Car industry calls for CO2 collaboration
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
The car industry says European governments must work together to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The call comes after it emerged that almost all Western European countries now have some form of CO2-related taxation.
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Citigroup poaches Lloyds retail bank chief
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
Lloyds TSB retail banking chief executive Terri Dial is understood to have been poached by beleaguered bank Citigroup to run its consumer business. Her appointment is part of a wider reshuffle of Citi's structure under new chief executive Vikram Pandit.
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Ecoescape green UK travel guide launches
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
A series of eco-travel guides that aim to promote the world's greenest destinations have been launched. The first instalment of Ecoescape will cover the UK.
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Elle Macpherson agrees Revlon deal
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Revlon has signed supermodel Elle Macpherson as its global brand ambassador. Macpherson will feature in a major advertising campaign as well as supporting the cosmetics brand through other activity.
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Energy pricing is failing the fuel poor, says report
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
The removal of price controls on gas and electricity has failed to benefit the fuel poor, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). A report, to be published later today, will increase pressure on the Government to force energy companies to pay out more to vulnerable customers.
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Friends of the Earth slams Government
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Friends of the Earth has hit out at the Government for refusing to increase consumer grants for installing renewable energy products and has described its low-carbon building scheme as an “unmitigated disaster”.
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GCap reports 4% revenue rise ahead of Global bid deadline
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
GCap Media, the UK's largest radio operator, has reported a 4% increase in like-for-like revenues for the year to March 31 in a pre-close trading update. The announcement comes head of today's deadline for Global Radio to make a bid for the company.
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Global Radio buys GCap for 375m
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
Global Radio, the group led by former ITV chief executive Charles Allen, is to takeover GCap Media, the UK's largest radio group. Global's £375m bid for GCap was accepted on Monday (March 31) evening.
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Hardys Wine embarks on 12m marketing push
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Constellation Europe is ramping up its UK advertising budget investing 12m in flagship brand Hardys. A TV campaign breaks next month supported by a number of sponsorship deals.
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How Dak Liyanearachchi Got Ahead
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
I stumbled in through quite a roundabout route, starting off in IT, moving on to databases, then to database marketing, then finally to marketing.
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Industry players welcome momentous step for radio
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
The commercial radio industry is braced for a momentous week, according to industry observers. Global Radios 375m acquisition of GCap Media has been welcomed by the industry as the second real wave of consolidation.
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Irn Bru owner reports profits rise
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
AG Barr, the soft drinks company, has reported strong full year results despite poor weather last summer and increasing competition in the soft drinks market. The Irn-Bru-owner has posted pre-tax profits of £20.8m, a 27.4% increase.
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ITV broadband chief leaves after 15 months
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
ITV managing director of broadband Annelies Van Den Belt is leaving the broadcaster after 15 months to join Russian online publishers Sup as managing director. Her departure comes ahead of a planned relaunch of the ITV.com portal.
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John Lewis launches spring campaign
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
John Lewis is launching a spring TV campaign for the first time in three years. The ad, which has been created by Lowe London, will showcase its latest homeware range.
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JWT takes 40m Baileys account from BBH
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
JWT as won the 40m global Baileys account from incumbent Bartle Bogle Hegarty. The win is a boost for the WPP Group-owned agency after it lost the business to BBH five years ago.
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LG Electronics marketing chief leaves for Euro role
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
LG Electronics top marketer Mark Bernard is leaving the company after just over two years. A former Casio marketer to helped relaunch the brand for the youth market, Bernard will step down from LG at the end of the month to take up an unknown European marketing role.
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M&S on charm offensive over Rose's promotion
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Marks & Spencer is hoping to quash the growing investor revolt over the promotion of Sir Stuart Rose (pictured) from chief executive to executive chairman by explaining the move to the Association of British Insurers.
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Marketing will be core to Northern Rock rescue plan
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Northern Rock management have pledged their commitment to the beleagured banking brand and have revealed that marketing will be "core" to its rescue plan.
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Motorola mobile division to go it alone
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
Motorola has announced that it is separating its struggling mobile phone business from the rest of its operations. The move, which is not expected to be completed until next year, will create two standalone companies.
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New Balance adds Phd to roster ahead of relaunch
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
Athletics brand New Balance has appointed Phd to handle its global media planning and buying, as it prepares to undergo a major relaunch.
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Rapture TVs Sky complaint appeal is rejected
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Rapture TV, the digital channel that filed a complaint against BSkyB for over charging to appear on its electronic programme guide (EPG), has suffered a second knock back after the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) unanimously dismissing the claim.
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Rimmel may drop Moss for younger model
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
Rimmel is reportedly planning to axe Kate Moss as the face of the brand in favour of someone younger. T4 presenter Alexa Chung and new Bond girl Gemma Arterton are said to be the favourites to replace her.
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Sony Ericsson Asia Pacific chief replaces Dutta as marketing head
Tue, 1 Apr 2008
Sony Ericsson has appointed Lennard Hoornik to replace Dee Dutta as head of global marketing. Hoornik, who was previously head of the company's Asia Pacific region, takes up his new role with immediate effect.
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Sony Ericsson global chief marketer Dee Dutta quits
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Sony Ericssons global marketing chief Dee Dutta is leaving the company after almost six years. It is not thought that Dutta, the mobile phone manufacturers corporate vice-president and head of global marketing, has a job to go to.
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Sorrell calls for an end to deliberate obsolescence
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
A marketing director who wishes to remain anonymous - once said to me that when Sir Martin Sorrell is quoted in the media, he always feels uneasy. My friends theory is that when the chief executive of global marketing services group WPP has time to speak to the press, then the market must be going into some kind of downturn.
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Sporting chance for BBC and ITV
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
In a bid to retain its UEFA Champions League rights, ITV appears to have performed a sophisticated sleight of hand not latterly associated with the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster.
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Sportingo launches fund raising campaign for Unicef
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Sportingo, a user generated content site for sports fans, will donate $10 to childrens charity Unicef every time an article is uploaded on the site during April.
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Stella, Hovis hype premium positioning as wheat soars
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
Inbev is hiking the price of Artois beer by 5p a pint, despite facing a continued year-on-year decline in volume as it struggles to maintain its premium positioning.
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Store openings improve H&M results
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Swedish clothing retailer Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has reported better than expected first quarter results boosted by new store openings. It reported a 20% increase in pre-tax profits for the three months to February 29.
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Telegraph Media Group appoints commerce head
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has appointed Howard Clare as director of Telegraph commerce. Clare joins from brand licensing company, Equity Management, where he was European director.
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Top BA marketers roll up sleeves to clear T5 chaos
Wed, 2 Apr 2008
British Airways has been forced to draft its top marketers onto the shopfloor as part of the efforts to alleviate the chaos at Terminal 5.
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Twinings to review 4m ad account
Mon, 31 Mar 2008
Twinings, the tea brand owned by Associated British Foods, is reviewing the 4m advertising account, currently held by Lowe London. The agency is understood to have declined to repitch for the business.
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Wilkinson Sword gives Quattro razors 10m push
Thu, 27 Mar 2008
Wilkinson Sword is launching a 10m marketing drive behind its Quattro razors. A television campaign, created by JWT London, will break imminently.
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Wrigley extends Extra and Orbit Complete ranges
Fri, 28 Mar 2008
The Wrigley Company is expanding its Extra and Orbit Complete brands with a raft of new launches. The new products will hit shelves at the end of April.
