Marketing Week articles from December 2007

Marketing Week archives from December 2007

BMW and Honda strike out at hydrogen fuel criticism.(BMW AG)(Honda Motor Europe Ltd)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... The car marques continue with their alternative fuel commitments despite dismissal by expert BMW and Honda have reiterated their commitment to hydrogen-powered cars after they were dismissed as "not the way to go" by an expert on...

BARB extends TV audience measure contract deadline.(Broadcasters' Audience Research Board Ltd)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) has been forced to extend the tender deadline for its #10m TV audience measure contract over fears that the negotiations would run out of time. The contract should have been signed today...

Duff poised for top Euro role in IPG media shake-up.(Interpublic Group )(Graham Duff)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Graham Duff, the Universal McCann president for EMEA, is set to take an expanded role overseeing the region's operations for Interpublic Group sister agency Initiative. It follows IPG's decision to align the media networks more closely. ...

Nintendo pulls Wii ads due to demand.
December 6, 2007... Nintendo, the gaming giant, has been forced to pull ads for its Wii console in the run up to Christmas as demand is already too high. The campaign for Wii, created by Karmarama, will be replaced by ads for its handheld console, Nintendo...

New campaign: BA launches T5 Christmas ads.
December 6, 2007... British Airways is launching its first campaign featuring Terminal 5 at Heathrow, which will be the airline's new base from the New Year. The seasonal campaign, which breaks on December 10, shows a woman meeting her grandchild at the...

ASA slams ad for making surgery look too easy.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... A poster ad for cosmetic surgery has been slammed by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for promoting a surgical operation as "easy". The series of posters, which ran on the London Underground, showed a young woman called Amy...

#2m New Year spend on the cards for Royal Caribbean.(Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd)
December 6, 2007... Royal Caribbean Cruises is launching a #2m ad campaign, which it claims is its biggest New Year spend to date. It will include "personalised websites" as part of a targeted effort to attract new holidaymakers. The campaign, which has...

WPP Dell win casts doubt over Mother.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Mother's position on Dell's $4.5bn (#2.2bn) global advertising roster hangs in the balance after the computer giant appointed WPP Group to handle the consolidated business. WPP will be allowed to decide whether it wants to work with any...

Bid to prevent point-of-sale activity at fast-food chains.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... McDonald's, Burger King and other fast-food chains face devastating curbs on their point-of-sale marketing from a new Bill presented to Parliament this week. A Private Member's Bill from Nigel Griffiths MP, which had its first reading...

IN BRIEF: poached.(appointment of Bob Shennan)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Channel 4 has poached Bob Shennan, the controller of BBC Radio Five, to head the launch of its three new digital stations. He will take over the director of radio job from Nathalie Schwarz, who has been promoted to the Channel 4 board as new...

IN BRIEF: Adidas to join forces with Diesel.(adidas-Salomon AG)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Adidas is to join forces with Diesel to create a range called Adidas Originals Denim by Diesel. It is believed the line, which will be exclusive to Adidas Originals stores, will include two styles for men and women. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Motorola appointment.(appointment of Greg Brown)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Motorola has named chief operating officer Greg Brown as its new chief executive to replace Ed Zander, who is leaving at the end of this year after four years in the role. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Vivendi to merge computer games business.(Activision Blizzard)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Vivendi is merging its computer games business with American rival Activision to create the world's largest video games manufacturer in an $18.9bn (#9.2bn) deal. The new company will be called Activision Blizzard. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: O2 appointment.(Peter Erskine to quit )(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... O2 chairman and chief executive Peter Erskine - the man who made O2 into the biggest mobile phone operator in the UK - is leaving the company at the end of January. He will be replaced by O2 UK chief executive Matthew Key. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Aeroplan buys LMG.(Loyalty Management Group)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Aeroplan, the Canadian loyalty marketing business, has bought LMG, the company behind the Nectar loyalty card scheme, for #368m. It is thought that LMG chairman Sir Keith Mills will receive #161m from the sale. Copyright: Centaur...

Ex-George boss takes reins at Debenhams.(appointment of Angela Spindler)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Debenhams has appointed Angela Spindler, former head of Asda-owned fashion label George, to the new role of managing director. She will join the company at the beginning of February next year and will be responsible for the development of...

Analysis: Junk food brand owners prepare for body blow from new Bill.
December 6, 2007... Brand owners have condemned a new Bill which seeks to outlaw the promotion of snack foods to children through websites, product packaging and point of sale materials. A Private Members Bill from Nigel Griffiths MP, which gets its first...

Yardley, Vosene owner picks UK brand chief.(appointment of Guy Revis at Lornamead Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Lornamead, the personal care business that owns the Vosene and Yardley brands, has appointed Guy Revis as managing director to head its new UK division. The move comes ahead of plans to ramp up investment in its brands. The company...

Mitsubishi joins electric car drive.(Mitsubishi Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Mitsubishi Motor Corporation is planning to launch an electric version of its "i" city car in the UK. The move is a further step towards the commercialisation of electric vehicles. The Japanese marque will start producing and testing the...

Uncle Ben's to overhaul packaging for new image.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Uncle Ben's, the Mars Foods-owned rice and sauce brand, has redesigned its packaging as part of a revamp of the brand's look that will also see it put Guideline Daily Amounts nutrition labelling on the front of packs. The new design...

Analysis: Mars lends its support to brand extensions.
December 6, 2007... The Mars Bar has been a fixture in the UK confectionery market since the 1930s, yet its eponymous parent company has only started in earnest to develop it as a master brand over the past four years. The UK confectionery arm of the...

Analysis: Dial M for money and mainstream?
December 6, 2007... The telecoms industry has long been heralding a time when mobiles will replace wallets by allowing people to pay for goods and services simply by swiping their handset across a machine. But the concept could best be described as blue-sky...

French hotel firm plans resurrection of Pullman brand.(Pullman International Hotels)(Accor S.A.)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... The Pullman Hotel brand is relaunching in Europe this week after a 14- year absence. Accor, the French hotel company, is resurrecting the brand as part of a repositioning of its portfolio. The company, which has 4,000 hotels across 13...

Favre Sports to shake up ski rental market with Web shop.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... A new ski sports brand claims it will "revolutionise" the rental market with cheaper, better quality equipment that can be ordered online. Ski Republic, which is owned by winter sports group Favre Sports, is launching in France for this...

Air New Zealand to review #2m Euro brief.
December 6, 2007... Air New Zealand is reviewing its #2m European advertising account, which has been handled by Fox Kalomaski for 12 years. It is thought the agency has been invited to repitch. The review, which is being overseen by the AAR, is in the early...

Premier Foods hands MCBD Loyd Grossman and Ambrosia brands.(Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Premier Foods is understood to have handed the Loyd Grossman brand to Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy, following its appointment to the food company's #26m roster last month. It is thought the agency will also work on dairy brand...

Analysis: The ASA clamps down on 'green' claims in ads.( Advertising Standards Authority )
December 6, 2007... The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has pledged to crack down on the so-called "greenwash" in advertising in a bid to quell growing public concern. Chairman Lord Smith last week made a commitment to closely police advertisers against...

IN BRIEF: Havas biggest shareholder ups stake.(Vincent Bollore)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Havas' biggest shareholder Vincent Bollore has upped his stake in the holding company to 32.8%, just short of the 33% limit, which under French law triggers a requirement to make a full takeover bid. Bollore is the largest shareholder in...

IN BRIEF: Ebay media planning and buying account.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Ebay says it is putting its media planning and buying account with PHD 'on hold' in 2008 as the online auction site shifts its advertising focus from above the line to digital media, which it handles in house. It denies a review of the...

IN BRIEF: BSkyB pitch.(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... MediaCom and Diffiniti are pitching for the #15m BSkyB digital display account. It follows a split between incumbent agency i-level and the satellite broadcaster. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Yahoo! ad account.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Publicis Dialog has won the Yahoo! advertising account following a review overseen by ISBA. It will become Yahoo!'s lead strategic and creative agency across a range of platforms and forms part of an overhaul of the internet company's marketing...

IN BRIEF: Cancer Research UK digital ad business.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... OgilvyOne has won the digital advertising business for Cancer Research UK, while MediaCom will handle online media planning. The appointments follow pitches against undisclosed agencies. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Waitrose ad account.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Drugstore, an independent agency based in Shoreditch, is the seventh agency pitching for the #26m Waitrose advertising account. Agencies pitched this week and last, with a decision expected this month. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

CHI denies rumours it is in line for Virgin Money brief.(Virgin Money Personal Financial Service Ltd.)(CHI & Partners )(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Speculation is mounting about Virgin Money's #23m media planning and buying account as it continues its battle to take over beleaguered Northern Rock. The company has already parted company with RKCR/Y&R over a potential conflict with...

BT Vision trials ad-funded content.
December 6, 2007... BT is taking its first steps into advertiser-funded content by offering free films to people willing to accept ads from brands such as Renault, Coors and Norwich Union. It is thought that it will be the first broadcaster in Europe to offer...

Five plots major online and VOD upgrade.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Five is planning a "significant" relaunch of its online and video-on- demand (VOD) services next year. The news comes as the broadcaster insists it is still in talks to join Kangaroo, the on-demand joint venture announced by its terrestrial...

Adidas builds presence in UK football with Sky deal.(adidas-Salomon AG)(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC. Sky Digital)(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Adidas is ramping up its presence in UK football during the run-up to the Euro 2008 finals with a major deal to sponsor Sky's online and mobile network. The move comes despite the England Football team's failure to qualify for the...

Analysis: Will a Neighbours-led, refreshed 2008 be enough to save Five?
December 6, 2007... Broadcaster Five is looking to refresh its on-air identity early next year as it seeks to bed in Neighbours, the Australian soap it is poaching from terrestrial rival BBC1. Five is in talks with a number of advertising agencies about the...

Airline Network sets up social travel site.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Web-based travel brand Airline Network is relaunching its website in a bid to tap into the popularity of social networking. The Airline Network's new-look site, which goes live later this month, will allow visitors to build their own...

Other media owners provide no challenge for Google.(Brief article)
December 6, 2007... Despite the rise of social networking, Google continues to outgrow its competitors and looks likely to conquer old and new media alike It also seems to be the unique company on the planet to worry Microsoft. Before the success of Google,...

LETTER: Co-ordinated efforts to beat youth gun crime.(Letter to the editor)
December 6, 2007... David Benady (MW last week) asks if advertising can halt gun crime. If it is part of a co-ordinated campaign involving direct action and community-based support programmes from charities such as Rainer, I'd say we might just have a chance....

LETTER: Camelot's 2012 target 'a stretch' but doable.(Letter to the editor)
December 6, 2007... Last week's article "Camelot sales slump sparks concerns over 2012 funding", didn't tell the whole story. Across the portfolio of National Lottery Games there has been a 7.4% (#336.9m) increase in sales over the past four years. And, as...

LETTER: Straplines without the service are useless.(Letter to the editor)
December 6, 2007... There can be no argument that straplines can be a useful way of underling the qualities of a brand and driving company ethos (MW last week), but it means nothing to the consumer if the message does not consistently meet expectations. "The...

LETTER: Why ads could spell the end of Facebook.(Letter to the editor)
December 6, 2007... In your article about advertising on social networking sites (MW November 14), you quote Joerg Reimann of BMW as saying "Advertising won't damage Facebook." While Mr Reimann undoubtedly has a vested interest in believing that turning...

LETTER: Social media is just today's word of mouth.(Letter to the editor)
December 6, 2007... I was struck by the comment in Marketing Week's Social Media supplement which quoted Mark Tomblin of TBG London saying: "Social media is the control freak's worst nightmare because you can't have complete control." Brand managers have...

LEADER: Dell win vindicates 'team WPP' concept.(WPP Group PLC)
December 6, 2007... While everyone else is wallowing in the increasingly viscous mire of economic despondency, WPP has found several reasons to be cheerful. And they're all called Dell. This, quite simply, has been a colossal win for the global marketing...

BEER SPONSORSHIP: Through a glass darkly.
December 6, 2007... Following Carling's withdrawal from music festival sponsorship, and all four Home Nations' failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals, beer brands must now seize the opportunity to try something more creative in a bid to reverse their...

PROFILE - STEVIE SPRING: Future forward for spring.
December 6, 2007... Stevie Spring's smile was even broader than usual last week after her magazine publishing company Future reported impressive full-year results just 18 months into her tenure. That the former Clear Channel UK chief executive has achieved so...

TIME OUT: Moving beyond its City limits.(Time Out Group Ltd.)
December 6, 2007... One of Time Out's architects of its return as a passionate London guide is leaving at a time when the title must get to grips with the online world and the challenges it presents. By John Reynolds The news that Time Out group marketing...

MULTICHANNEL ENGAGEMENT: Joined-up working will pay off.
December 6, 2007... The days of separate departments operating in splendid isolation are over. Marketers must join forces to understand the customer, says Phil Nunn It has been reported that the first weekend of December was a record- breaker, with Oxford...

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING: 'Tis the season to shop online.
December 6, 2007... The Christmas shopping rush is here again but, instead of hitting the high streets, people are taking the more leisurely approach of sitting at their computers, taking time to research the best bargains With the festive season starting in...

MARKET RESEARCH: Using the face-to-face approach.
December 6, 2007... Despite its advantages, the internet has not killed off the need for travel when conducting global marketing research. Alicia Clegg reports on why immersion in other cultures is still very important There was a day, around the time the...

Generation y is just the latest to be talkin' 'bout a revolution.(Interview)
December 6, 2007... Twenty-somethings may be the world's first truly mobile generation, but their prehistoric forefathers made more of a difference than them - or us For as long as it can remember, this column has kept to hand a brimming bucket of scorn...

Virgin set to unwrap plans for major new hotel brand.(Virgin Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Craig Inglis, former Virgin Trains commercial chief, is spearheading launch of pan-European brand Virgin is understood to be plotting the launch of a major new hotel brand. Former Virgin Trains marketer Craig Inglis is thought to be...

TNS makes play for senior executives at AGBNielsen.(AGB Nielsen Media Research Inc.)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Research company TNS has tried to poach senior executives at AGBNielsen, as the two rivals vie for the #10m Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) TV measurement contract. The research company is understood to have approached...

Government takes hard line on alcohol warnings.(National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)
December 13, 2007... The Government is expected to force the alcohol industry to use health warnings on packaging after it resisted attempts to introduce a voluntary code. The move marks a U-turn by the Department of Health (DoH), which previously favoured...

Thorntons unveils ice cream launch.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Thorntons, the high street chocolatier, is launching into the ice cream sector for the first time. The ice cream will be positioned as a super premium product and will be introduced early in the new year. The product will be made under...

New campaign: Nokia unveils first W&K ads.
December 13, 2007... Wieden & Kennedy has created its first advertising campaign for Nokia since being appointed to the handset manufacturer's #175m global advertising account for mobile phones earlier this year. The press and outdoor campaign, which breaks...

RBS Insurance md joins raft of exits in wake of rejig.(Royal Bank of Scotland PLC)(Chris Moat)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... RBS Insurance managing director Chris Moat is leaving the company to "pursue other opportunities". It is not thought he has a job to go to. The company, which owns Churchill and Direct Line, is seeking a replacement for him. His...

Carlton Screen's future in doubt after deal collapses.(Carlton Screen Advertising)(Cineworld)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... The future of ITV-owned Carlton Screen Advertising hangs in the balance, after it emerged that ITV's weak cinema advertising revenue has forced it to renegotiate its advertising contract with Cineworld. CSA, the country's biggest cinema...

Orange rethinks marketing in bid to find its 'voice'.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Orange is overhauling its marketing strategy in a bid to get its "voice" back. The changes follow the appointment of Justin Billingsley as UK brand marketing director earlier this year. Billingsley says he wants the mobile operator's...

Snoop Dogg joins ranks of Gold Spot stars.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Orange has signed rapper Snoop Dogg and actors Rob Lowe, Dennis Hopper and Anjelica Huston to appear in its Gold Spot cinema ads next year. The four will feature in separate executions over the course of next year alongside Gold Spot...

IN BRIEF: Cut London carbon emissions by 2025.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Ikea are among the companies to have signed up to a scheme designed to cut London's carbon emissions by 60% by 2025. The initiative, is called Green 500. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors...

IN BRIEF: BRC appointment.(Stephen Robertson joined British Retail Consortium)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... The British Retail Consortium has appointed former Woolworths marketing director Stephen Robertson as director general. He replaces Kevin Hawkins on February 1. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Global Radio appointment.(Nicola Thomson)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Global Radio has appointed Nicola Thomson, marketing director at EMAP- owned Magic 105.4, as director of marketing. Thomson will now be responsible for Magic rival Heart. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: EU pledge to change food and drink advertising.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Burger King, Mars and Ferrero are among 11 food companies to have signed up to an EU pledge to change their food and drink advertising to children, to help promote healthy lifestyles. The initiative is endorsed by the World Federation of...

IN BRIEF: Scottish & Newcastle appointment.(Jeremy Blood at Scottish and Newcastle Breweries PLC)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Scottish & Newcastle managing director Tim Seager is leaving the UK business to take up the same role at S&N France. He is being replaced in the UK by S&N pub division managing director Jeremy Blood. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

Lexus starts online debate about impact of hybrid cars.(Lexus GB Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Lexus is creating an online forum to discuss the impact of hybrid cars on society. It says the move reflects the "changing nature of relationships" between brands and consumers. The forum will have a panel of expert contributors, including...

Music festivals ditch Red Bull in favour of Monster.(Monster Beverage Co.)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Red Bull is expected to be dropped as the official energy drink of summer festivals including Global Gathering and the O2 Wireless. It is understood rival Monster is poised to snatch the contract. The loss comes just weeks after former Red...

Analysis: #2bn question will 800 into one be success for Dell and WPP?
December 13, 2007... Dell's appointment of WPP Group to handle its mammoth #2.2bn advertising business has divided industry opinion. Some believe it will benefit agency and client, while others think that, like Dell's fortunes of late, the relationship could be...

Report slams top UK pension funds.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... The UK's top pension funds have been slammed for failing to be transparent about their investment policies in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The pension funds for Barclays and BP have both come under particular fire...

WorldStores magazine aims to boost brand awareness.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... WorldStores, the e-commerce retailer, is launching a customer magazine as it attempts to boost both its brand awareness and share of consumer spend online. The retailer has appointed publisher Future Plus to produce the magazine. It will...

Analysis: Bauer and EMAP: 'a corner shop buys Selfridges'?(Emap Consumer Media)
December 13, 2007... After two decades of selling high-volume cheap magazines such as Take a Break and Bella, H Bauer has finally been catapulted into magazine publishing's elite league. The media-shy German group outbid Hearst, the owner of the National...

Viagogo seeks ad agency as online ticket sales boom.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Online ticket exchange Viagogo is seeking its first ad agency to boost its profile, in the face of the booming online ticket service industry. The news follows the appointment earlier this year of Mark McNulty to a new role of head of...

Analysis: Is hydrogen viable fuel alternative despite recent criticism?
December 13, 2007... The car industry is confident that hydrogen could still be an eventual replacement for petrol and diesel, despite it being dismissed as "not the way to go" by an expert on alternative fuels (MW last week). Experts have rallied around...

Paramount hotel brand is replaced by Barcelo.(Barcelo Hotels and Resorts)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... The Paramount hotel brand is being axed in the UK after venture capitalist owner Dawnay Shore Hotels leased the chain to Barcelo Group, a Spanish leisure company. The company will introduce the Barcelo brand as it takes over managing the...

Love Creative wins Taylors of Harrogate coffee ad work.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Love Creative, the Manchester-based agency, has extended its relationship with Taylors of Harrogate after winning the advertising business for its coffee brands. The agency won the business after a pitch against undisclosed agencies. The...

Analysis: Duff leads Universal McCann into testing times.(Graham Duff)
December 13, 2007... Graham Duff, the president of Universal McCann (UM) for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, took on a big challenge when he joined the already troubled network at the start of last year. It has been another difficult year for UM but parent...

Emaar hotel group starts formal #10m Euro ad pitch.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Dubai-based hotel group Emaar has scrapped plans to appoint TBWA/London to its #10m pan-European advertising account and has called a review that will start next year. The company is seeking an agency to spearhead the launch of a new...

IN BRIEF: BLM scoop Dolland & Aitchison account.(BLM Media Ltd.)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... BLM has scooped the #6m media planning and buying business for optician Dolland & Aitchison. The business was previously handled by Starcom, which repitched for the business. Media Planning Group was also involved. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Emirates reviewing global account.(Emirates Airline)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, is reviewing its global media account, worth #35m. The business is currently held by MediaCom, part of WPP Group. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Phil Riley joins race for GCap job.(GCap Media PLC)(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Phil Riley, the former chief executive of Chrysalis Radio, is understood to have joined the race for the GCap chief executive job after losing out on the acquisition of EMAP radio. Riley, who led a bid by buyout group Veronis Suhler Stevenson...

IN BRIEF: Signal toothpaste account.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Lowe Worldwide has scooped the $100m (#50m) advertising business for Unilever-owned Signal toothpaste brand without a pitch. Bartle Bogle Hegarty was the European incumbent. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Deutsche Bank calls off ad review.(Brief article)
December 13, 2007... Deutsche Bank, the German financial services company, is understood to have called off a planned review of its #2m UK advertising account, despite holding talks with a number of undisclosed agencies. It is unclear whether Deutsche will restart...