Marketing Week
7 June 2007

  • 150,000 To take part in ethical and green study

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Research group Toluna has launched a specialist research panel of over 150,000 consumers to study attitudes around green and ethical issues.

  • 20Th Century Fox in 40m review

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Twentieth Century Fox has put its estimated 40m UK advertising and marketing roster up for review as the film company seeks to boost its marketing potential.

  • ABC figures reveal bad fortunes for The Independent on Sunday

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    The Independent on Sunday suffered the greatest hit in circulation figures during May with a drop of 14.6% compared with relatively level circulation figures for other papers according to the latest ABC figures.

  • Aegis will gain from Havas tie-up, says chairman

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Havas chairman Vincent Bollor?elieves that rival media group Aegis needs Havas rather than the other way round. Bollor?who is also the largest shareholder in Aegis, made the claims at Havas' annual general meeting this week.

  • Agencies that cheat their clients

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The spat between Sky and Virgin Media shows how the digital TV market is hotting up. Agencies need to look at these 'deals' again, says Colin Mills

  • AMV beats BBH to Birds Eye ad account

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO (AMV) has snatched the 15m Birds Eye advertising account from incumbent Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) following a two-way pitch. The appointment has been made by Martin Glenn chief executive and former president of PepsiCo...

  • Analyst claims more work is needed to reach mobile search's full potential

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    The mobile phone industry needs to work harder if mobile search is going to fulfil its potential, according to a leading analyst. Ovum's Eden Zoller says low consumer awareness, poor ease of use and the need for industry-wide standards are three of the key issues that need to be addressed.

  • Arsenal fan in Old Trafford awards ceremony conflict

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    It's not often that personal conflicts occur in the course of our professional lives. Well the Diary hopes that's the case for Sean Montgomery, managing partner of Ten Nine, considering that his company delivers "responsible and vetted messaging" ...

  • Asda unveils second fly-on-the-wall ad

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Asda is using comedian Paul Whitehouse to front its latest ad campaign. The ads promote the supermarket's range of milk and show Whitehouse milking cows and helping in-store.

  • Bacardi airs liquid figures

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Bacardi is launching a new product-focused campaign, which marks a shift in strategy for the rum brand. The ad, which breaks today (Thursday), aims to "re-interpret" its brand values.

  • Bacardi to scrap RKCR 'You In?' for product push

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Bacardi has axed its global "You In?" campaign less than a year after it was launched and its new campaign, due to break imminently, will be product-led.

  • BBC Global Channels appoints worldwide marketing chief

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    BBC Worldwide has poached Warner Bros UK marketing head Beck Diver to lead the marketing of its international channels. Diver joins BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, in the new role of vice-president of marketing for BBC Global Channels.

  • Beattie McGuiness Bungay bags Ikea UK account

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Ikea has appointed Beattie McGuiness Bungay to handle its £12m UK account following a three-way pitch against Wieden & Kennedy and Mother. The pitch was handled by the AAR...

  • Brewer pushes Continental supping style

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Heineken is trying to change the drinking behaviour of the British public with a new advertising campaign after a hiatus of two years.

  • Britvic gives Drench 2.4m push

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Britvic is backing its water brand Drench with a 2.4m national marketing push, new strapline and a radical packaging overhaul as it looks to boost sales.

  • Broken logo is a chip off the Blairite block

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    A wave of Olympic fervour is sweeping the country following the unveiling of the 2012 logo. But Tony Blair, Tessa Jowell, Sebastian Coe, Ken Livingstone and all the other presiding dignitaries won't be preening themselves on having created it for long. This is a wave of revulsion.

  • Case for an older audience

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Settled buying habits, and a distrust of the new, was the traditional view of the mature market. But with older adults set to outnumber the young, that thinking may change, writes Alicia Clegg

  • Cello buys Market Research International

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Cello Group, the marketing services company, has paid £1.5m to add Market Research International to its growing portfolio. Cello will pay a further performance related consideration of up to £4.5m for the company.

  • Claims Direct appoints All Response

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Claims Direct has appointed All Response Media to handle its £5m media planning and buying account ahead of a relaunch of the brand. It follows the appointment of Manchester-based Air to handle its advertising business last week.

  • Confused.com slams Direct Line's 'desperate' advertising

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Price comparison site Confused.com has hit out at Direct Line's new advertising campaign, branding the insurer "desperate" and "increasingly uncompetitive". The Direct Line campaign implies consumers are missing out on additional benefits if they buy insurance via online comparison sites.

  • Continental shift

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Heineken is aiming to reverse its fortunes in the UK by introducing pub-goers to Continental drinking habits around its draught premium 5% ABV Export brand. Matthew Gorman reports

  • Creston revenue jumps 60%

    Tue, 12 Jun 2007

    Marketing services group Creston has announced a 60% growth in revenue for the year to March 31, 2007, in its preliminary financial results this week. The company posted revenue of £69.7m, up from £43.5m a year earlier.

  • Critics deride logo for 2012 Olympics

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (Locog) is taking a critical mauling from designers and branding experts after the unveiling of its new emblem.

  • DMG names former Next head as chairman

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The Direct Marketing Group (DMG) has appointed retailer David Jones as chairman. Jones was previously chairman of high-street retailer Next and deputy chairman of Morrisons and will be tasked with preparing DMG for listing on the AIM stock market next year.

  • DSGi acts to replace chief exec

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    DSG International, the electrical retailing group, has appointed John Browett as chief executive to replace John Clare, who is retiring in September. Browett will join from Tesco, where he is operations development director.

  • DSGi starts review as Clare announces his retirement

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    DSG International, the electrical retailing group, is understood to be reviewing its corporate strategy following last week’s surprise announcement that group chief executive John Clare is retiring later this year.

  • Enjoy England launches mobile website

    Tue, 12 Jun 2007

    Tourism body Enjoy England is launching a new mobile website, which aims to drive tourism by offering information to visitors on the move. The dotMobi site, which launches this week, will help visitors find local attractions and areas of interest and access information on venues.

  • Eurostar sponsors Ebbsfleet United FC

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Eurostar has signed a three-year deal to become the main sponsor of non-league football team Ebbsfleet United as part of a campaign to support the launch of its Ebbsfleet International station in north Kent.

  • Evening Standard head slams ads

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The Evening Standard's new managing director Andy Mullins has hit out at the paper's previous advertising campaign, condemning its strapline as "defensive" and "short-termist".

  • Experts fear Jaguar could follow MG model when sold

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Ford's decision to put Jaguar up for sale could see the iconic British marque suffer the same fate as MG Rover, car experts have warned. MG Rover collapsed in 2005, five years after BMW sold it to a group of businessmen.

  • Ex-Starcom chief Roberts in talks over start-up agency

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Andy Roberts, the former client managing director at Starcom, is poised to return to the industry with the launch of a start-up agency. It is understood that the new venture is due to officially launch in September.

  • Festival support seals the show

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Music festivals provide brands with an affluent and almost captive audience, but if campaigns are to succeed they must be in tune with the spirit and atmosphere of the event, says Steve Hemsley

  • Filofax briefs BLM Red to create fashion-led brand

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Filofax, the personal organiser brand, has appointed BLM Red to handle its media planning and buying account ahead of a marketing push at the end of the year. The business moves from Goodstuff without a pitch.

  • Food lobby body calls for additives warnings

    Tue, 12 Jun 2007

    The Food Commission is calling for food and soft drinks to carry health warnings because of the additives they contain. The food lobby body says that preservatives and colouring that must carry warnings if used in medicines, do not have to when used in food and drinks.

  • Fujitsu Siemens Computers spearheads energy conservation initiative

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Fujitsu Siemens Computers is offering to donate 10,000 to the Climate Group for each client that does not cut costs by 40% as part of an energy conservation drive.

  • Future returns to profit under turnaround plan

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Magazine publisher Future has returned to profit in the first six months of the year, with chief executive Stevie Spring claiming her turnaround strategy is working. Better than expected online revenues and restructuring benefits have helped the consumer publisher's fortunes.

  • GapYear.com and APS launch card for student travel

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    A new pre-paid card called GapYear for students embarking on a travel expedition is being launched later this month.

  • GCap marketing director joins Multimap

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    GCap Media group marketing and interactive director Jim Cruikshank is leaving the company to join Multimap.com as general manager of its business to consumer division. He will join the global mapping service in the "next few months".

  • Graphico handed digital strategy London Eye brief

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The British Airways London Eye has appointed a new digital agency after a six-way pitch, replacing the Open Agency with Graphico.

  • Green Flag TV ad marks campaign launch

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Green Flag is launching a major campaign focusing on the company's speed of service. The campaign will run throughout 2007 and is the first work created for the breakdown service by Shop.

  • H&M produces virtual fashions for Sims videogame

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Electronic Arts, the US videogames publisher, has teamed up with fashion retailer H&M in a jointly branded partnership around EA's popular Sims game.

  • Home Office campaign threatens kerb crawlers with heavy fines

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The Government has launched a multi-million pound advertising campaign warning kerb crawlers of an arrest and a fine, as part of its crackdown on prostitution.

  • Honda expected to name Diageo man as brand head

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Honda is understood to have appointed former Diageo marketer Harry Cooklin as its new brand chief. Cooklin replaces Matthew Coombe, who left to join Vodafone last year.

  • In the drink unaware

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    This was the most unkindest cut of all In public, David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, was fulsomely supportive of the Governments latest offensive in the war against alcohol abuse. We welcome, he said in a hastily trundled out release, the private review into whether price promotions contribute to harmful drinking.

  • Incentivated wins Cannons Health Clubs mobile marketing account

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Cannons Health Clubs has appointed Incentivated to its roster as it seeks to ramp up its mobile marketing activity. The company wants the agency to help increase membership numbers and support its membership relationship programme.

  • Indesit to take Hotpoint into Europe

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Indesit, the Italian-owned white goods company, is launching Hotpoint in mainland Europe as part of a strategy to phase out Ariston and simplify its brand portfolio.

  • Innocent reviews 4m account

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Innocent Drinks, the smoothie brand, is seeking an advertising agency for its 4m account. The business is currently handled by Lowe London, which is understood to be repitching.

  • Iris Experience appoints director

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Iris Experience, the below-the-line agency's experiential division, has strengthened its senior management team with the appointment of Dale Barker as director. Barker joins from Lime with a brief to expand the agency's portfolio of experiential disciplines.

  • Is there money at the top?

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    WPP boss Sir Martin Sorrell appears to have hit something of a pay ceiling, according to the advertising group's annual report. Sir Martin was paid £3,294,000 last year, up by just £16,000 on the year before. His pay includes £832,000 in salary and fees, which is topped up by £34,000 for benefits such as life assurance and allowances. He also pocketed a bonus of £1,613,000, worth 192% of his salary, and a share award of £815,000.

  • IT people can be creative

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    IT people creative? What's so creative about turning a computer off and on again or blocking social networking sites, forcing colleagues to actually do some work? Or so the small-minded may ask. Last week the DesignIT exhibition launched to celebrate the creativity of those working in IT.

  • KFC supports new product with ad push

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    KFC is supporting the launch of its new Wrapstar sandwich with a TV ad showing an accident-prone young man enjoying a mess-free lunch thanks to the fast food chain. The campaign breaks on June 18.

  • Krow wins 15m Euro brief for Punto update

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Krow has strengthened its position on Fiat's advertising roster by winning the pan-European brief to launch a new version of the company's Grande Punto model. It is thought the project is worth more than £15m.

  • Launching the lead balloon

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Do you know anyone who actually likes the recently-unveiled London 2012 Olympics logo? How could they have got it so wrong in terms of public and professional response? And what does the whole incident say about the UK's branding and marketing industry? By John Stones

  • Leagas Delaney takes on 2.5m Italian pasta task

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Leagas Delaney London has scooped the 2.5m UK advertising account for Italian food manufacturer Pastificio Rana. It won the business following a three-way pitch against Grey London and WFCA.

  • Leith holds on to Coors for TV push

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The Leith Agency has been reappointed by brewing giant Coors Brewers to develop a nationwide campaign for its Coors Light brand.

  • Listeners shape future of commercial radio

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Commercial radio listeners will be given the chance to air their views on the future of radio this week as part of a major survey across local and national stations. The Big Listen is being led by industry body RadioCentre.

  • Marketing expert warns Whole Food Markets off US approach in London

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Whole Foods Market, the natural and organic supermarket that opened in London this week, should not impose its American retail template on the UK market or it will fail, according to a leading transatlantic brand expert.

  • Mason Zimbler man at the top of the world

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    At first the Diary wasn't quite sure what James Kerr did to annoy his colleagues at integrated digital marketing company Mason Zimbler. But they teamed up with local suppliers in Bristol to pay to send the production manager on a trip far and high away - to the top of Everest, in fact.

  • 'Media strategists can cut path through changing TV landscape'

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    GlaxoSmithKline European media director Andy Bolden has called for the return of the "TV strategist", claiming that clients need more help negotiating their way through a rapidly changing television landscape.

  • Monster loses marketing director

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Monster's marketing director Lisa Hutt is leaving the online recruitment company mid-way through its £5m pan-European advertising review. Hutt, who was only handed the top marketing role at the end of last year, will leave at the end of June.

  • New campaign - Virgin Radio

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Virgin Radio is launching a major press campaign to support its summer festival season. It will promote the station's live coverage and competitions to win tickets to the sold-out V Festival.

  • Ofcom secures support for PSP plans

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Ofcom says its Public Service Publisher (PSP) proposal has received "positive" feedback from the majority of respondents to its initial consultation. The creation of the PSP, which is backed by Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, ...

  • Olympic logo agency was 'most economic' choice

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Wolff Olins, the branding agency behind the much-derided London 2012 Olympic Games logo, won the contract to design the emblem after providing “the most economic financial proposal,” according to a letter leaked to Marketing Week.

  • PKR.com to run ads between free poker games

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    PKR.com, the online poker site, is introducing in-game adverts across its tables. The gaming company has signed an exclusive deal with in-game advertising company IGA Worldwide to provide 15 and 30-second video ad breaks between free-to-play games.

  • Price sites take a direct hit

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    Direct Line, the first no-middleman insurance service, has launched a salvo against price comparison sites, saying these 'people's champions' are merely brokers in disguise. And with sky-high valuations in the news, the future is not so assured for switch sites. David Benady reports

  • Reay steps down as Titan MD

    Tue, 12 Jun 2007

    Alison Reay, the joint managing director of Titan Outdoor, is leaving the company after just a year after she was bought in to help turn the company around. She does not have a job to go to.

  • Recruitment sites battle social networking

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The online recruitment sector is gearing up for a pre-emptive land grab as social networking sites look to muscle in on this increasingly lucrative area.

  • RLA Group campaign drives VW Vans' change of attitude

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VCV) is taking on market leaders Ford and Vauxhall with a new strategy that aims to move VCV away from the main VW brand.

  • Rutherford quits Unilever for Digitas

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Unilever vice-president of global media Alan Rutherford is leaving to join Publicis Groupe-owned Digitas Global as chief executive. He will oversee the digital network's international expansion.

  • Sky reignites public feud with Virgin Media

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    BSkyB has reignited its public war of words with rival Virgin Media, claiming cable customers "deserve better". The marketing push comes just days after Virgin Media announced the launch of Virgin 1, a TV channel aimed to challenge Sky One. 

  • Slack tide for TBWA?

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    TBWA Group UK has finally got a heavy-hitter. Tim Lindsay, the seasoned advertising man who has spent the past three years at Publicis, has been hired to revive an agency once revered as adland's enfant terrible.

  • Sony PSP phone closer to launch after patent move

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Speculation is rife that Sony is gearing up to launch a PSP (PlayStationPortable) Sony Ericsson phone after filing a US patent application at the end of last month. The news comes as the company appears to be plotting an assault on the mobile games market.

  • SPF 15 head takes on kids at their own game

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Anyone who's ever watched any of the It'll Be Alright On The Night programmes will be only too aware of the timeless phrase, "never work with children or animals".

  • Taylor takes commercial director role at GMG Radio

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Guardian Media Group (GMG) has appointed Stuart Taylor, news and media commercial director, to the new role of commercial director for its sister business, GMG Radio. Taylor will oversee commercial strategy across the division.

  • Technology drives change

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Of the numerous factors working to change the marketing sector, online activity is considered one of the most important, according to results from the latest CIM Marketing Trends Survey

  • Tesco buys up Dobbie Garden Centres

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Tesco is breaking into the UK garden centre market with the 155.6m acquisition of Dobbies Garden Centres. The supermarket giant has agreed a 22.6% stake in the Scottish-based business and intends to launch an offer for the remaining shares...

  • The Engine Group to launch full-service digital agency

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    The Engine Group, the marketing service group, is moving digital to the "heart of its business" with the launch of a full-service digital agency called Altogether. The new agency will merge its existing digital agencies with DC Interact, which it acquired last week.

  • The 'split' agency model ain't broken, it's merely cracked

    Wed, 13 Jun 2007

    The growing call for a return to full-service is getting no support from media agencies, who remember all too well those 'bad old days'

  • The Standard changes its pitch

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Why is the Evening Standard putting its 10m advertising account up for pitch (MW last week)?

  • Thomas Cook marketing director secures role in merged operation

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Thomas Cook's marketing director Simon Carter will head the company's new marketing department following its merger with MyTravel. He will report to MyTravel chief executive John Bloodworth, who becomes UK and Ireland executive director.

  • Todger boffins give dainty-footed men reason to be cock-a-hoop

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    An extensive study of men's tackle has concluded that women are more interested in personality - and shoe size is no indicator of performance

  • Toyota pulls Prius ad after exaggerating CO2 benefits

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Toyota has been banned from running a television ad for its hybrid Prius car until it removes claims that the vehicle emits less CO2 than an equivalent family car.

  • Trinity Mirror sponsors flagship venue in Liverpool

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Trinity Mirror has won the naming rights for Liverpool's new waterfront arena, with the stadium being renamed the Liverpool Echo Arena.

  • TV campaign for Foster's Super Chilled

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Foster's is launching a new TV campaign to promote its Super Chilled beer brand.

  • Umbro loses chief exec to Americana

    Tue, 12 Jun 2007

    Umbro chief executive Peter McGuigan is leaving the sports brand to join Americana, the owner of fashion brands Bench and Hooch. Steve Makin, Umbro financial director, will take over his responsibilities.

  • Virgin launches branded free-to-air channel

    Mon, 11 Jun 2007

    Virgin Media TV is launching its first Virgin-branded free-to-air television channel, Virgin 1. The general entertainment channel will be available on Freeview, cable and Sky from the autumn.

  • Virgin Media predicts customer growth

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    Virgin Media is predicting a return to overall customer growth in the second half of 2007 following "better than expected" TV subscriber performance during April and May. The announcement today contradicts a forecast last month of TV subscriber losses due to the withdrawal of BSkyB basic channels from the ...

  • W&K pulls out of Monster pitch after $60m win

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Wieden & Kennedy has pulled out of the running for Monster.co.uk's pan-European advertising account, understood to be worth 5m, after winning the account for a rival online recruitment site.

  • W&K secures Observer account

    Fri, 8 Jun 2007

    The Observer has moved its £5m advertising account to Wieden & Kennedy, which already handles advertising for sister newspaper The Guardian. The business moves from Mother without a pitch.

  • Will Barr give John Lewis the marketing focus it's lacking?

    Thu, 7 Jun 2007

    Department store chain John Lewis has appointed top retail marketer Gill Barr as its first board level marketing director (www.marketingweek.co.uk), but some wonder whether she will be able to clear up the marketing confusion besetting the company.

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