Marketing Week articles from July 2006

Marketing Week archives from July 2006

FSA rebuke to Cadbury sparks food sector scare.(Food Standards Agency)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Food Standards Agency's (FSA) publication of a damning claim that Cadbury Schweppes "underestimated the risk" of salmonella contamination in several of its chocolate products could be the first of a raft of health scares in the food...

Former British Gas boss to take global Accenture role.(Nick Smith take a global marketing role at consultancy giant Accenture)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Nick Smith, the former British Gas marketing director, is poised to take a global marketing role at consultancy giant Accenture. Smith, who was replaced by Amanda Mackenzie last November, left the utilities group without a job to go after...

Bond ditches British Airways for Virgin Atlantic in latest 007 film.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... James Bond 007 has ditched British Airways in favour of Virgin Atlantic in the new movie Casino Royale, with Branson himself making an appearance in the film. The news follows BA's surcharge investigation and the subsequent commercial...

New campaign: Yazoo milkshakes.(advertising campaign )(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Campina is launching a multi-million pound national advertising campaign for its Yazoo flavoured milkshakes, building on its "milk your imagination" promotion. It involves a number of executions calling on children to campaign against...

Barclays rejig continues with loss of top marketer.(resignation of Bruce Kelsall)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Barclays has lost one of its top, and longest-serving, marketers - commercial director Bruce Kelsall, who has left the bank without a job to go to. His role has been axed, and his responsibilities have been taken by Matt Hammerstein, who...

BT brand experience chief set to join marketing consultancy.(Jan Gooding resignation)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... BT head of brand experience Jan Gooding is leaving the company after three years to join brand and marketing consultancy Antennae. Gooding, who was previously head of strategic communications in the group marketing and brand team, leaves...

Banks launch 'freebie' push for this year's student intake.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... HSBC and Lloyds TSB are unveiling their latest graduate services ahead of the new academic year in September, in an attempt to attract student accounts through free gifts and promotions. HSBC is offering an MP4 music player or ten free...

Borders shake-up as marketing boss goes.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Borders, the books, music and film retailer, is searching for a top UK marketer after the departure of Cathy Ferrier. As commercial and supply chain director, Ferrier oversaw UK marketing and buying. She has resigned from the company,...

Ford sets up development centre for hybrid research.(product development)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Ford Motor Company is setting up a centre to spearhead the development of hybrid vehicles. The centre, which will be in Gothenburg in Sweden, will develop hybrid concepts for both Ford of Europe and its Premier Automotive Group, which...

IN BRIEF: Retailers face rebuff.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Retailers face a rebuff to their demands for an extension to Sunday trading hours. The Government is expected to make a statement blocking moves by retailers, after it found no consensus among traders. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

IN BRIEF: Auction for Birds Eye range.(merketing)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... PepsiCo's former UK president Martin Glenn is understood to be front- ing a consortium involved in the #1bn auction for Unilever's Birds Eye range. Glenn is spearheading a group of private equity firms. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

IN BRIEF: Thames Water will not be fined.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Thames Water will not be fined by industry regulator Ofwat after missing its leak reduction targets for the third year in a row. However, Thames has been ordered to invest #150m of shareholders' money to stop future leaks. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Creation of Energy Supply Ombudsman service.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Ofgem's calls for the energy supply industry to set up an ombudsman service to rule on disputed bills have resulted in the creation of an Energy Supply Ombudsman service, able to settle disputes and award customers compensation of up to...

IN BRIEF: Government set to unveil new body.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Government is set to unveil a new body following its decision to axe the Meat and Livestock Commission. The MLC, along with other councils including British Potato, Milk Development, Horticultural Development and Home Grown Cereals, will...

IN BRIEF: Renault and Nissan in talks.(partnerships)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Renault and Nissan are in talks with troubled General Motors about a three-way alliance that could see the Franco-Japanese partners take a 20% stake in the US group, the world's biggest car maker. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

PEOPLE: SBS Radio Group.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Graham Bryce, former managing director of the Xfm, Choice FM and Capital Gold radio networks, has been named senior vice-president of SBS Radio Group, which operates radio networks and individual stations in eight European countries. Bryce left...

PEOPLE: French Connection.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... French Connection marketing director Matthew Griffiths has left the fashion retail chain. He oversaw the company's recent TV ad campaign featuring a fight between two models. It is not known if he has a job to go to. Copyright: Centaur...

PEOPLE: BLM Media.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... BLM Media has named Pedro Avery managing director of trading and futures in a restructure of senior roles at the agency. Avery was previously joint managing director with Pippa Glucklick, who has been given day-to-day responsibility for running...

PEOPLE: ITV.(new appointments)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... ITV has confirmed newly appointed advertiser development director Nicky Buss is due to go on maternity leave in the autumn. Buss, the former Research International client services director, only took up the role at the beginning of June. ...

PEOPLE: Sport England.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Sport England, the government body responsible for promoting healthier lifestyles, has appointed Jane Clarke as head of communications. Clarke, a former head of internal communications with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will have...

Lexus marketing chief to move over from Toyota GB.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Lexus has appointed Toyota executive Mark Roden as its marketing chief to replace Jan Kidacki, who left last month after two years in the role (MW June 22). Roden, who was general manager for network development at Toyota GB, joins...

Former Norwich Union marketer to join German catalogue business Otto.(new appointment)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Colin Webb, the former Boots and Norwich Union marketing director, is joining German retail giant Otto as UK group commercial director. Webb, who left Norwich Union following a reshuffle of its marketing department, was headhunted for the...

Jaeger loses marketing boss to property firm.(new appointment and resignations)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... High street fashion brand Jaeger is on the hunt for a marketing director following the departure of Catherine Thomas, who is leaving to join property services group Arlington Securities. Thomas, previously a marketer at Debenhams, joined...

ING Direct prepares home insurance launch.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... ING Direct, the online savings bank, is to launch a home insurance product following the introduction of its much heralded mortgage offering later this year. The home insurance product will be only the third launch from the direct bank...

ASA upholds complaints over mobile phone claims.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Mobile phone company 3 has been ordered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to change a television ad for its WePay service - which "pays" customers for answering calls and receiving texts - because the regulator says it is...

ASA rejects complaints about Help The Aged circular.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The ASA rejected complaints about a Help The Aged circular promoting its "Enough is Enough" anti-abuse campaign. The leaflet used a picture of a frightened woman's eyes and graphic descriptions of elder abuse. The ASA said that use of the...

Analysis: Why Ford needs Mazda's zoom zoom.(Mazda Motors UK Ltd.)
July 6, 2006... Ford's decision to poach Mazda's European marketing chief Steve Cootes to run Land Rover in Europe (MW last week) is further evidence of the respect the car giant has for the management team that has masterminded the turnaround of its...

King of Shaves introduces toothpaste brand for men.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... King of Shaves (KoS) founder Will King is planning to launch a toothpaste aimed at the male market under the sub-brand King of Smiles. The product is ready to be rolled out, but King has yet to find a retailer to list his latest launch. ...

Analysis: Cereal makers hoping to sweeten market with healthy options.(sales and earnings)
July 6, 2006... With one in five people skipping breakfast every day, cereal manufacturers are looking at ways to boost product sales. As part of this trend, Kellogg UK has shifted the #4m ad account for Rice Krispies out of JWT into Leo Burnett without a...

Co-op unveils green car insurance policy.(service introduction of insurance policy)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Co-operative Insurance (CIS) is to underline its "green" credentials with the launch of the UK's first eco-friendly motor policy. Owners of greener cars will be offered premium discounts and the insurer will offset 20% of all insured...

Warburtons bakery to review #5m media out of MindShare.
July 6, 2006... Warburtons, the Lancashire-based baker, is reviewing its #5m media planning and buying business, currently held by MindShare. It is not known whether the WPP Group-owned agency will repitch as part of the process, which is being handled by...

EHS Brann picks up charity brief.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... EHS Brann Group chairman Terry Hunt says: "Concern is a fantastic organ- isation, punching well above its weight. It was first in its field during four out of the five most recent humanitarian crises around the world." Concern has...

New campaign: Orange.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Mother has created a cinema campaign for Orange, featuring actor Steven Seagal. The ad, which launches this week, sees the familiar Orange Film Funding boardroom backdrop swapped for a golf course. Seagal attempts to pitch his idea for a...

IN BRIEF: Beattie McGuinness Bungay.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Beattie McGuinness Bungay has been put on alert by retailer French Connection. The retailer says it is in talks with agencies, including BMB, about its #2.5m account. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Euro RSCG.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Euro RSCG has won Reckitt Benckiser's consolidated #400m global advertising account following a review. The Havas-owned network beat Reckitt's other roster agencies, McCann Erickson and JWT. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Omnicom Group.(new appointments)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Omnicom Group is understood to have promoted vice-chairman Tim Love to the position of global co-chairman. Love was previously president of global clients for TBWA Worldwide and before that vice-chairman at Saatchi & Saatchi. ...

IN BRIEF: Yell.(service introduction)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Yell, the company that owns Yellow Pages, will hand its #20m account to Mother or Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest. United and Wieden & Kennedy have now been eliminated, along with Leagas Delaney and Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy. ...

IN BRIEF: BDH-TBWA.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... BDH/TBWA has been dropped from the Morrisons creative pitch, ending a three-year relationship with the retailer. The Manchester-based agency was pitching with TBWA/London but failed to make the shortlist, along with Lowe London. Delaney Lund...

CHI parts company with Reveal publishing house.(Clemmow Hornby Inge partnerships)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Clemmow Hornby Inge (CHI) and ACP-NatMag have parted company after two years. The AAR has already started putting together a shortlist of agencies for the publishing house. ACP-NatMag titles include Best, Reveal, and the recently...

Cheetham Bell wins #1m sport brief.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Sport England has appointed Cheetham Bell JWT to handle its #1m advertising business after a statutory review. The Manchester-based agency, which beat incumbent Team Saatchi , will focus on developing a new regional campaign for Sport...

Joshua loses out in #15m NatWest fight.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Joshua is understood to have lost its place on NatWest's direct marketing roster following a protracted review. Earlier this year, Royal Bank of Scotland called a review of the #15m below-the-line rosters for its RBS and NatWest brands....

Empire Direct to review #2m media business.(management)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Empire Direct, the online retailer of discount electrical goods for the home and the car, is gearing up for a review of its #2m media planning and buying business. The account is currently held by All Response Media, part of Havas. The...

Former HSBC chief slams DM industry.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Former First Direct and HSBC marketing chief Peter Simpson has slammed the direct marketing industry for not living up to its potential. Simpson, who helped launch First Direct and spent 13 years as the 24- hour bank's commercial...

Analysis: Cello strikes odd note with merger of Farm and Leith.(acquisitions)
July 6, 2006... Farm Communications and Cello-owned Leith London announced a merger last week, with both advertising agencies stating the deal would allow them to achieve "critical mass". They agreed that they were too small individually to make certain pitch...

IN BRIEF: Carlsberg.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Carlsberg is poised to sign a #32m, four-year headline sponsorship deal with the England football team, according to reports. The brewer will join utilities company E.ON, which backs the FA Cup. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: MindShare.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... MindShare has been appointed by the Department for Work and Pensions to handle media planning for a #3.5m campaign combating benefit fraud. The DWP is yet to appoint a creative agency but has shortlisted Cheetham Bell JWT and Vallance...

IN BRIEF: Carat.(restructuring)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Carat is set to restructure into six self-contained business units with the aim of improving client services and meeting demand for integrated media solutions. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Danone.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Carat, OMD, Media Planning Group and an agency from Group M will compete for Danone's consolidated UK media account, worth about #33m. The pitch, due to take place in September, is part of Danone's #300m global media review. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Alliance and Leicester.(television buying, direct marketing and inserts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Alliance & Leicester is reviewing its #30m UK media planning and buying business with a view to consolidating the account into one agency. MediaVest Manchester handles media planning, television buying, direct marketing and inserts. Carat...

Ofcom urged to pass junk food enquiry to consultant.(rules for junk foods)
July 6, 2006... Media regulator Ofcom has been urged to hand over its consultation on the future of food and drink advertising to children to an independent adviser. Broadcast lobby group Public Voice believes the watchdog will otherwise become...

ITV unveils major Emmerdale push.(ITV is launching its biggest campaign )(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... ITV is launching its biggest campaign to date for prime-time soap Emmerdale as the broadcaster follows a strategy to spend more marketing money promoting fewer key shows. Activity for Emmerdale breaks on Friday and will encompass on-air...

Royal Mail plans #10m 'proportional parcel pricing' drive.(marketing campaign)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Royal Mail is launching its biggest marketing campaign to date to explain its new Pricing in Proportion system. The #10m integrated campaign includes a door-drop to every UK address - both business and consumer - and television ads voiced...

RSPB signs up as first UK charity to sponsor TV show.(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds contracts with British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is to become the first UK charity to sponsor a TV series, after signing a deal with BSkyB. The sponsorship comes as the RSPB repositions itself as a "campaigning" organisation rather...

Vodafone adds summer gigs in London to music portfolio.(contracts)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Vodafone has signed up as headline sponsor of the Summer Series music concerts at Somerset House. The deal adds to the mobile operator's burgeoning portfolio of musical events that also includes its TBA series, which culminates in the...

Analysis: Media Steps trips up in the outdoor arena.
July 6, 2006... Media Steps, an outdoor media specialist set up to sell ad space on stairways in train stations and sports stadia around the UK, has sold its business for #1 this week after putting up the "for sale" sign (MW last week). It listed on the stock...

Guardian unveils magazine launch to target international readership.(Guardian Newspapers Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Guardian Newspapers is launching a monthly magazine this autumn aimed at The Guardian and Observer readers in North America, Europe and Australia. The magazine, which does not yet have a title, will be made up of features already...

Private buyer snaps up Media Steps for #1.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Media Steps, the failed outdoor advertising specialist, has sold its two operating businesses for #1, marking the end of its efforts to sell ad space on steps in train stations and sports stadiums. The private buyer of the business has...

Adwalker in talks with 'two of three' major outdoor firms.(Viacom Inc.)(JC Decaux)(ClearChannel)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Adwalker, the "wearable media" specialist, is in talks about collaborating with a number of major outdoor advertising groups. Adwalker group chief executive Simon Krisp declined to say who he is in talks with, but confirms: "We've spoken...

PartyGaming in hunt for affiliate marketing agency.(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... PartyGaming, the online gambling firm, is looking for a new agency to work on its affiliate marketing account - one of the largest in the world and responsible for #155m of its revenues last year. The company, which owns the PartyPoker...

Parlophone-signed singer starts mobile loyalty scheme.(Lily Allen)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Singer-songwriter Lily Allen has launched a mobile loyalty scheme, as digital activity is ramped up to coincide with the release of her debut single for Parlophone this week. Parlophone claims the loyalty scheme for Allen's mobile WAP...

Barclays picks Dare for online revamp.(Barclays Bank Ltd.)(Dare Digital)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Dare Digital was brought in to communicate the launch of the new service. It has produced a series of banner ads for the site, and an interactive online demonstration to illustrate the benefits of the new website and the practice of online...

Otto appoints Cheeze to boost its new e-tail brand.(new online business)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Otto, the company behind mail-order houses Grattan and Freemans, has appointed digital marketing agency Cheeze to manage the digital marketing strategy for its new online business Duck.co.uk. Duck launched last month selling electrical...

IN BRIEF: iTagg to launch keywords on MMS shortcodes.(campaigns)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... iTagg, the mobile marketing company, is to launch keywords on MMS shortcodes, which it claims is a first for the UK. Previously only plain text message campaigns could use keywords. Advertisers will be able to run inbound text, MMS picture and...

IN BRIEF: Themutual.net turnover.(financial report)(Financial report)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Themutual.net, the internet marketing group, has seen turnover treble in its latest set of results. The company said it was capitalising on rapid growth in online advertising and retail spend. Its turnover in the year to April 30 rose from...

IN BRIEF: Code hired.(Code digital agency)(online marketing campaign)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Code, the Manchester-based digital agency, has been hired by paint company Akzo Nobel to relaunch the site for Crown Paint and develop the first site for its Berger brand. Code will also design a business site aimed at retailers, and has...

IN BRIEF: Cello taking controlling stake in Oomph.(digital marketing consultancy)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Cello Group, the marketing services group, is taking a controlling stake in Oomph, a digital marketing consultancy. Cello is buying 50.1% of Oomph for #150,000. The remaining 49.9% is subject to a put option by the sellers for up to #1.5m....

LETTER: The perils of ignoring risk management advice.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... Following your article"Tied up in knots" (MW June 22), I would like to draw your attention to the fact that not only did Hoover disregard professional advice from the sales promotion industry, but it went on to ignore advice from the...

LETTER: Baby boomers: not all ready for the Stannah.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... I read the article on the over-50s and the internet (MW June 29) with great interest, being "over the hill" myself, at 54. Oh, for those dim and distant days when I was in my 40s and you could buy a pint of beer, have a fish and chip...

LETTER: Cadbury must tell the public that it cares.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... I am writing in response to Caroline Parry's article "Major Cadbury launch in disarray after Dairy Milk salmonella recall" (MW June 29). I was shocked to think that such a household name as Cadbury had been aware of the contamination...

LETTER: Strong sales show TV sets still in the lead.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... Torin Douglas made a valid comment in his article on television viewing (MW June 29). There is a great deal of talk about viewing TV on PCs, mobile phones etc, but sales of TVs and set-top boxes are booming. In the past year, over 6.7...

LETTER: Keeping up with the media Joneses.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... I was interested to read the thoughts of Carat managing director Neil Jones on moves to digital ad spend (MW last week). But I couldn't help notice that in the picture accompanying the article he appears to have morphed into his namesake...

LETTER: No downmarket move for Ivan the Terrible.(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... Your article "Russian premium vodka revamp heralds downmarket move in UK" (MW June 15) represented the rebranding of Ivan the Terrible vodka in an incorrect way. Ivan the Terrible is a super premium Russian vodka. With the new packaging...

LEADER: Melting moments for Cadbury's reputation.(handling of salmonella outbreak )
July 6, 2006... Initially, BA looked the more serious of the crises which rocked, almost simultaneously, two of our bluest of blue chip brands. Now it's less easy to be sure, as Cadbury's reputation continues to melt away drip by drip. That's not to...

CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Guilty of sweet nothing.(Cadbury Schweppes PLC salmonella investigation)
July 6, 2006... Cadbury is facing a major confidence crisis after failing to act on a salmonella scare until forced to do so by the FSA. Legally its actions may be justifiable, but it's made a mockery of the brand's 'ethical' credentials - and taken the...

NICHE PLAYERS: Hitting above their weight.(ACDOCO competes for market share)
July 6, 2006... The household cleaning market is dominated by behemoths like P&G and Unilever, so small companies launching products into the sector must expect to face 'David vs Goliath' battles. Can ACDOCO's new oven cleaner win shelf space without being...

The buying services making the marketing message irrelevant.(forecast and trends in television advertising)
July 6, 2006... It is not market and media fragmentation that marketers should be concerned about but a new breed of services like Kelkoo and MySpace I have a question for you: is a 30-second commercial half way through Lost the best for way for an...

VIRGIN ATLANTIC: King of the carrier castle.(investigation of Virgin Atlantic and British Airways for price fixing)
July 6, 2006... Virgin Atlantic has great timing, clever PR, and a knack of benefiting from others' misfortune. Is there no holding it back? asks Mark Choueke The latest furore surrounding British Airways - allegations of price- fixing amid rising fuel...

PARENTING: Bringing up baby with brands.(brand image)
July 6, 2006... Parenting has changed radically over the years and children today seem more like mini-adults. But as youngsters absorb hundreds of brand messages their parents still hanker after traditional ways Something is happening to modern children -...

PARENTING: Our job at Disney.(Walt Disney Studios)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... As a mother myself, I am only too aware of the challenges of parenting in the 21st century. Naturally parents have different approaches - no one size fits all. Furthermore, as every parent knows, no two children are the same, so it should...

FLOTATIONS: Marketers must show passion and profit for success.
July 6, 2006... Poor results for two AIM-listed marketing services companies could have an impact on how investors view the whole sector, meaning businesses considering a float must convince investors they are in it for more than just the money, says Bob...

MARKET RESEARCH: Spend your money wisely.
July 6, 2006... Return on investment is always hard to determine, but MR clients must take the long view, assess different suppliers and make sure briefs are understood before negotiating costs. By Alicia Clegg Deciding what to charge for your services...

PROMOTIONS AND INCENTIVES: Caught in the bra elastic.(european union)
July 6, 2006... During last year's 'bra wars' it was the major retailers who made the headlines after falling victim to import quotas, but small firms and the promotions industry were also hit hard. By Richard West It takes a lot for most people to get...

The word, the whole word, and nothing but the word.(future od advertising)
July 6, 2006... Maurice Saatchi's latest elixir is One Word Equity, a mono-syllabic cure for modern marketing ills, including the dreaded continuous partial attention Just as the changing seasons never fail to gladden the heart, with their reassurance...

Drinks body chief exec Jean Coussins to move on.(chief executive)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... The Portman Group chief executive Jean Coussins is to leave after a decade at the drinks industry body, following the creation of the new independent charitable Drinkaware Trust, which is aimed at changing the UK's drinking culture. ...