Marketing Week articles from July 2008

Marketing Week archives from July 2008

Nationwide seeks fresh face for marketing director role.(Nationwide Building Society)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Building society looks externally for candidates after biggest marketing department restructure in years Nationwide Building Society is looking for a marketing director in a major restructure that casts doubts over the future role of head...

Ex-Mars chief set to head Walkers marketing team.(PepsiCo UK appointed Ian Ellington )(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... PepsiCo UK has drafted in Mars strategy chief Ian Ellington as vice- president of marketing for its Walkers business. He joins from Mars UK, where he has worked for the past 17 years. The move marks a departure in Pepsico's strategy of...

TNS and GfK merger hit by EU competition issues.(Taylor Nelson Sofres PLC)(European Union)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Taylor Nelson Sofres merger with Nuremberg-based research company GfK has hit a fresh snag after respected independent study group Enders Analysis said it raised serious European Union competition issues in the area of television...

DCMS's 'good news' for bingo meets opposition.(Department of Culture, Media and Sport)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Department of Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) long-awaited "good news" for bingo operators to increase the number of lucrative, high- paying slots in bingo halls, has been slammed by opposition MPs. Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe's...

Home Bargains set for national expansion.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Liverpool-based discount retailer Home Bargains is planning to launch itself as a national retailer in an ambitious attempt to capitalise on the credit crunch. The retailer, owned by TJ Morris, sells end-of-line goods at cheap prices. It...

Co-op banks sign up for online brand protection.(Co-operative Financial Services )(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) is acting to protect its brands online by signing up to an online brand protection service. The moves follow growing concern over Google's change to its trademarked terms policy. The SearchSentry...

P&G launches Gillette body and hair care range for men.
July 3, 2008... Procter & Gamble (P&G) is poised to launch a series of men's body and haircare products under the Gillette brand. First to hit the market will be a body wash called Gillette 2-in-1 Dry Skin Hydrator & Body Wash. The body wash product...

Motorola unveils new tack to attract tech-savvy youth.
July 3, 2008... Motorola is launching a new strategy and strapline as part of a campaign to promote a range of specialist music and camera phones. The brand is hoping to build loyalty among younger consumers, exploit an increasing interest in hi-tech...

Ladbrokes appoints Greene King marketing chief to head up retail.
July 3, 2008... Ladbrokes has appointed Greene King marketer Adam Collett as retail marketing director. Collett joined the bookmaker last week to fill the role previously held by Barry Clemo, who left to join Punch Taverns in February. Collett will report...

IN BRIEF: Revlon signs Leslie Bibb.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Revlon has signed rising Hollywood star Leslie Bibb as brand ambassador for its Almay skin care line. Bibb will appear in global advertising campaigns, including television. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Microsoft promotes Michael Delman.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Microsoft has promoted Michael Delman to corporate vice-president of global marketing for its Interactive Entertainment Business, which houses the XBox games console. Delman is currently corporate vice- president of its global marketing...

IN BRIEF: The Tote appoints Mike Smith.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Tote has appointed Mike Smith as chairman. The former chief executive of Ladbrokes and Rank is understood to have been appointed because of his experience in mergers and acquisitions. The Government is seeking a buyer for the Tote. ...

IN BRIEF: Co-operative Group expected to seal deal.(Somerfield PLC)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Co-operative Group is expected to seal a deal to buy supermarket chain Somerfield from its private equity owners as early as next week, in an acquisition worth up to #2bn. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Ford in talks with Renault.(Ford Motor Company Ltd.)(Regie Nationale des Usines Renault)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Ford is reported to have had talks with rival car manufacturer Renault over the potential sale of the Volvo car marque. It is also believed to have spoken to Dongfeng Motor Group, China's third-largest automaker, as a potential partner for...

IN BRIEF: InBev hostile bid.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... InBev says it will go hostile with its #23bn takeover bid for Budweiser manufacturer Anheuser-Busch. A-B rejected an offer in late June. InBev's statement says it is willing to go directly to shareholders if A-B's board will not discuss a...

BMI bolsters marketing with ex-Silverjet bosses.(British Midland Airways Ltd. appointed Martyn Bridger and Katherine Gershon )(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Airline BMI has swept up two senior employees from failed business carrier Silverjet to bolster its marketing team. Travel industry veteran Martyn Bridger, who was customer experience director for Silverjet, has been appointed as interim...

Analysis: It's game on for Sainsbury's and Asda.(ASDA Group Ltd.)
July 3, 2008... Asda and Sainsbury's are to battle it out for the gamer's pound this summer, as they both ramp up their presence in the gaming sector to increase sales and claim market share. They are both set to unveil new in-store gaming areas that...

Experian picks Tiscali man to push credit report service.(appointments of )(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Information services company Experian has hired former Tiscali and Freeserve marketer Peter Turner as director and general manager of its CreditExpert service. Turner will develop Credit-Expert's customer base and expand its product...

ASA pulls superhero gambling ad.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Littlewoods Gaming)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... An online ad for Littlewoods casino and pools websites featuring cartoon superhero Spiderman has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority. The ad used images of Spiderman to drive traffic to the website onlinegamblerweb.com,...

Analysis: Why Davie's BBC promotion isn't music to everyone's ears.
July 3, 2008... BBC marketing chief Tim Davie's promotion to head of its #200m audio and music output marks the first time a marketer has landed one of the key programming executive roles at the corporation. Some suggest the move from director of...

Coke teams up with Kiss Radio for festival deal.
July 3, 2008... Coca-Cola has formed an exclusive partnership to sponsor on-air coverage, online content and exclusive sets from some of the biggest summer festivals in the UK. The soft drinks brand sealed the deal with Bauer Advertising, the sales arm...

IN BRIEF: BBC digital roster.(Play UK)(BBC Worldwide Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Agency Republic and Play have won places on the digital roster for the BBC's Global News business following a pitch. Agency Republic retained its place but Play is new to the account. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Below-the-line ad business for Cricket Board.(English and Wales Cricket Board)(Initials)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Initials has been appointed to handle the below-the-line advertising business for the English and Wales Cricket Board. It will work on marketing activity around the Ashes 2009. It will also help the Board seek sponsorship partners for the...

IN BRIEF: Poke deny rumours.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Poke, the digital agency, has denied rumours that it is up for sale. The agency says: 'We've had interested parties knock on the door, but we haven't been interested in any of them.' Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: TV campaign for Mr Kipling Cake Bites.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... McCann Erickson London has created a TV campaign for Mr Kipling Cake Bites. The campaign, featuring the strapline 'Exceedingly Happy Cakes', is the first from the agency and the first TV spot for the cake brand in three years. ...

IN BRIEF: Publicis to handle Challenge Jackpot.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Publicis has been appointed to handle the #3m brief to launch Challenge Jackpot. The campaign will include TV, print and digital activity. The gaming company is owned by Virgin Media Television and Two Way Gaming. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Orange DM account.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Chemistry Communications has been handed Orange's #18m DM account without a pitch. The telco parted ways with incumbent Wunderman after just one year. The appointment comes in the week Orange launched a new global positioning and advertising...

Adam & Eve founders face legal challenge from WPP.(WPP Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... A bitter feud is thought to have broken out between Adam & Eve, the start-up from the former management team of WPP-owned Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, and WPP's chief executive Sir Martin Sorrell over the "circumstances" in which the new...

Thresher seeks agencies to fill the place of integrated agency Poulters.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Off-license retail chain Thresher Group is understood to be seeking an advertising and media planning and buying agency. The move follows the closure of Thresher's Leeds-based integrated agency Poulters. It is thought that the pitches...

New campaign: BBH promotes LG's steam washing machine range.(Bartle Bogle Hegarty Ltd.)(LG Electronics UK Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Bartle Bogle Hegarty is launching a #3m above-the-line campaign to raise the profile of LG new steam washing machine range. The campaign will form part of the company's global marketing strategy which will begin with TV ads in July. This will...

MPG wins UK account to launch The Style Network.
July 3, 2008... MPG has scooped the #1m UK launch account for lifestyle TV channel The Style Network without a pitch. It will launch a heavyweight press campaign across celebrity magazines as well as TV spots. The channel, owned by US media group...

Analysis: Is Vivaki publicity stunt or will it deliver results?(Publicis Groupe S.A.)
July 3, 2008... Is Publicis Groupe's consolidation venture Vivaki a publicity stunt or will it deliver results? Publicis Groupe is seeking to steal a march on its rivals by consolidating its digital offerings into umbrella unit Vivaki. Group chief...

The Land Registry kicks off marketing pitch through COI.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Land Registry, the Government body responsible for registering titles to land in England and Wales, is undertaking a marketing communications pitch through the COI, which is thought to include both advertising and direct marketing. The...

Trinity Mirror merges DM sales teams.(direct marketing)(Trinity Mirror Digital Media Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Trinity Mirror is restructuring its direct marketing sales division to enable advertisers to create inserted promotional material across its national and regional titles. AMRA Direct, which previously serviced the publisher's regional...

New campaign: TAG Heuer goes digital for GP.(TAG Heuer International S.A.)(British Grand Prix)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... TAG Heuer is launching a four-day campaign on digital outdoor billboards building on its long-term association with motor racing and the British Grand Prix. The campaign will run from July 4 to July 7 using TAG Heuer brand ambassador Lewis...

Mark Chippendale leaves News Group.(News Group Newspapers Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... News Group Newspapers media director Mark Chippendale is leaving the company after failing to get the top job of the newly-created advertising sales role overseeing the soon-to-be merged NGN and Times Media departments. His departure is...

Pemsel's vision of ITV as 'UK Disney'.(David Pemsel)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... ITV has ambitions to be the "UK Disney" says group marketing director David Pemsel, stating that previously it has wasted too much marketing value by failing to exploit merchandising and licensing opportunities. Pemsel says the...

IN BRIEF: P&O Cruises relaunching website.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... P&O Cruises is relaunching its website as part of new digital strategy. Digital agency Yucca created the site which will see the increased use of Web 2.0 technology. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Project Kangaroo referred to Competition Commission.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Project Kangaroo, the video-on-demand internet service from BBC Worldwide, Channel 4 and ITV, is being referred to the Competition Commission by the Office of Fair Trading. It is thought the launch will be delayed until next year at the...

IN BRIEF: Ebay to pay #31m.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Ebay has been ordered by a French court to pay about #31m to luxury goods maker LVMH for failing to do enough to block the sales of counterfeit goods on the auction site. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: MySpace and Vodafone team up.(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... MySpace and Vodafone have teamed up to launch a mobile music platform called the Vodafone Music Reporter, to give fans of its music events the chance to present an MTV online and mobile show. It will see the launch of an interactive profile...

IN BRIEF: The Sunday Times to launch campaign.(CHI & Partners)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The Sunday Times is launching a #3m campaign to coincide with its full- colour redesign to be unveiled this weekend. The TV and press ads, which feature the strapline 'For all you are', were created by CHI & Partners. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Turner Broadcasting appointment.(Turner Broadcasting Europe Ltd. appointed Barnaby Dawe)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... Turner Broadcasting has appointed Barnaby Dawe, the former managing director at Heart FM, as its vice-president of marketing and communications across its entertainment in the UK, which includes Cartoon Network and Nuts TV. Copyright:...

National TV Awards drops The Sun for Sunday Mail.(television)(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... The National Television Awards (NTAs) has dropped The Sun as its newspaper partner and replaced it with Mail on Sunday in a bid to broaden the appeal of the awards. The deal marks the end of the NTAs' 13-year relationship with The Sun. It...

Gulf Air put shirts on QPR.(Queens Park Rangers signs contract with Gulf Air )(Brief article)
July 3, 2008... It is understood Queens Park Rangers Football Club is poised to reveal a multi-million pound deal with Gulf Air as shirt sponsors, in what is thought will be a three-year sponsorship. The deal with the Bahrain-based airline is the latest...

Analysis: Jazz FM returns with ambitions beyond radio.(Jazz FM will be relaunched under a licensing deal with Local Radio Company )
July 3, 2008... Jazz FM is being resurrected by the Local Radio Company (LRC) in a move that sees the group's strategy inch away from its "local" roots. The station was scrapped three years ago by owner Guardian Media Group Radio, in favour of Smooth...

LETTER: How best to police product placement?(Letter to the editor)
July 3, 2008... Culture secretary Andy Burnham should realise that product placement is already live and kicking, certainly on the BBC at any rate. In his leader column (MW June 19), Stuart Smith says that product placement is a symbol of trust, but...

LETTER: Brands ignore social media at their peril.
July 3, 2008... I have to question Alan Mitchell's comments regarding online mentions of major brands (MW June 26). The numbers he quotes are misleading as even the most sophisticated web crawlers can only cover a small portion of the internet at any one...

LETTER: Take action to ensure ethical production.
July 3, 2008... Primark's admission that it discovered a lapse in production standards and stopped trading with three long-standing suppliers in India for using child labour is the tip of the iceberg. Manufactures in China are also under pressure to...

VIEWPOINT: Is Vivaki revolution just a smokescreen?
July 3, 2008... Say what you like about the point of Vivaki, the very act of setting it up shows the master jongleur at Publicis has lost none of his old legerdemain. Is it truly "nothing short of a revolution" as Maurice Levy claims? Or is it simply more...

Do you fight, debate or walk away when critics parody your brand?
July 3, 2008... When Wal-Mart found itself the subject of a protest T-shirt campaign it found the courts unsympathetic. But there are other ways to tackle brand terrorists How would you feel if someone went about linking your brand name to one of the...

LONDON 2012 OLYMPICS: Going for fools' gold.
July 3, 2008... In order to finance the dreams of potential UK athletes in the 2012 London Olympic Games, #100m must be raised from the private sector. So far the Department of Media, Culture and Sport has got nothing. Has it left it too late to start the...

PRIMARK: The price of value clothing.
July 3, 2008... Accusations that value clothing ranges on sale at Primark and Tesco are being made by Indian children working in poor conditions are unlikely to have much immediate effect on the retailers, but David Benady learns that brands must take their...

CUTOMER SATISFACTION: Battle for hearts and minds.
July 3, 2008... The release of the first results from the National Customer Satisfaction Index aim to help banks, supermarkets and mortgage lenders pinpoint the areas that consumers feel need improvement Customer satisfaction is crucial to long-term...

Scraping the barrel - because getting another is too expensive.
July 3, 2008... The price of oil is rocketing and this is having an obvious effect on US consumers struggling to cope with the costs of travel in a vast country This column has spent the past several months hinting at, debating, then awaiting the...

ONLINE MARKET RESEARCH: Virtual worlds are the reality.
July 3, 2008... Market researchers are showcasing Web 2.0 technologies like those used in Second Life to help the sector better understand consumers and improve the quality of feedback. By Alicia Clegg A talking sofa that whispers questions in your ear...

DESIGN: No frills for finance.
July 3, 2008... As the world faces economic gloom, financial services brands must focus on trust, not image, to promote themselves and to entice a new generation of customers. David Benady reports Banks, insurers and pension providers struggle to turn...

Variety is the spice of life - even if it is old wine sold in new skin.
July 3, 2008... Scientific research shows humans seek out new experiences - but common sense says that the novelty soon wears off if the promise is not delivered on It's comforting to know that in this restless, fast-changing world, some things are as...

VisitBritain rejects claims of post-2012 tourist blight.
July 10, 2008... UK tourism body defends 2012 Games strategy after report says all host nations suffer downturn VisitBritain has launched a robust defence of its tourism strategy for the 2012 Olympics after a report warned that recent Games had a...

BA chooses 'twin cities' for first foray into social media.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... British Airways is making its first move into social networking with the launch of a site that is designed to link people in London and New York. The site - www.metrotwin.com - will be officially launched later this summer and is...

Smirnoff's first entry into flavoured vodka market.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Diageo is extending Smirnoff into flavoured vodkas for the first time with the launch of two variants. It is the first time a mainstream vodka brand has made a move on the category, which has previously been dominated by premium brand...

Game set to launch more of its own titles.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... High street retailer Game is set to compete head-on with it suppliers as it launches its own-brand computer games. The move has raised concerns about the retailer's motives, but it says its plans are limited and it is not meant to...

New campaign: Ads highlight Burmese politics.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Burma Campaign UK is launching a campaign that aims to use public awareness and media coverage of the natural disaster to highlight the political regime in Burma. The campaign, created by Ogilvy Advertising, uses harrowing pictures of the...

Orange to unveil Jont music tour with MySpace.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Orange is launching an interactive music tour, which will follow a real- life musician named Jont. The tour, which starts on August 15, will trail the musician as he heads off for a one-month roadtrip, playing eight gigs in eight venues....

Euro call for clear labels to highlight food colours.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... The European Parliament has called for warnings on foods containing certain food colours to say: "May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". The Parliament has voted in favour of labelling foods containing the six...

Barclays axes Fair & Square due to low market demand.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Fair & Square, the Barclays-owned secured-loans company, which is aimed at the mainstream market, is being axed just six months after launching with a #5m marketing blitz. It joins sister brand Firstplus, famed for its ads starring...

4Radio set to appoint ex-GCap Media Daglish to director role.
July 10, 2008... 4Radio is poised to announce Simon Daglish, currently GCap Media national sales director, as its first commercial director. The role will include responsibility for sales and advertising across the broadcaster's three planned radio stations....

IN BRIEF: TomTom appointment.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Sat-Nav's TomTom brand has appointed Alex Batchelor as its chief marketing officer. He is expected to join the company later this year. Batchelor most recently worked as marketing director for Royal Mail. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: BCC reveals latest quarterly report.(British Chamber of Commerce)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... The British Chamber of Commerce has revealed in its latest quarterly report that the UK is facing a serious risk of recession within months. The findings come following a survey of small, medium and large businesses. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Virgin Atlantic and BA ordered to run ad campaign.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Virgin Atlantic and BA have been ordered to run an ad campaign to make customers aware of their rights to a refund after price fixing charges were brought against the airlines in the US. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: 3 complains to ASA.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Mobile operator 3 has complained to the ASA about T-Mobile's latest advertising campaign, which claims, 'You won't find more minutes for #30 - guaranteed'. The company claims the ad is misleading. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

IN BRIEF: Anheuser-Busch under pressure to replace board of directors.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Inbev has raised pressure on Anheuser-Busch with a plan to replace the board of directors that rejected its $46.3bn (#23.5bn)takeover offer. Stella Artois-owner Inbevhas filed a preliminary proposal in the USthat would allow Anheuser...

ASA bans scratchcard ad after bingo complaint.(Advertising Standards Authority)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... A National Lottery TV ad for scratchcards has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for "unfairly" denigrating bingo halls. The ad, created by Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO, showed a woman driving an electric mobility...

DoH enlists holiday reps to promote safe sex campaign in resorts.(Iris)(Department of Health )(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... The Department of Health (DoH) is working with holiday reps as part of strategy to promote safe sex during the peak summer holiday season. The "Condom Essential Wear" campaign, which will target 18- to 24-year- olds, will sign up the reps...

Analysis: Nationwide shakes up its marketing.
July 10, 2008... Nationwide's move to bolster its marketing division with the creation of a new executive role (MW last week) signals a push by the building society to reassess its strategy. When the chief marketer is appointed later this year, he or she...

Virgin Cola signs TV show tie-up ahead of relaunch.(Virgin Drinks Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Virgin Cola has forged a promotional tie-up with Channel 4 music programme T-mobile Transmission as part of its first major relaunch marketing activity. It is also the first marketing initiative for the soft drinks brand since Silver...

Analysis: Nokia and Motorola tune into youth music market.
July 10, 2008... Nokia and Motorola are attempting to lure music-loving, technology- savvy youth to their brands with next-generation phones. Both hope to capitalise on the buzz around models such as Apple's iPhone, all too aware that the next battleground...

Cadbury plans Wispa Easter egg launch and ad campaign.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Cadbury is hoping to continue the successful return of Wispa with the launch of an Easter egg next year. It is understood that the confectionery giant will support the seasonal product with press, online and in-store advertising. It is...

DoH scraps multi-million pound NHS Choices pitch.(Department of Health)(National Health Service )(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... By Sonoo Singh The Department of Health (DoH) has scrapped a multi-million pound pitch for an above-the-line campaign to promote awareness of the NHS Choices website, as it launches a major overhaul of its online activities. The DoH...

Ogilvy & Mather Frankfurt wins pan-Euro ad account.
July 10, 2008... Coca-Cola has appointed Ogilvy & Mather Frankfurt to handle the pan- European advertising for Sprite ahead of an expected relaunch of the brand. It beat Karmarama and M&C Saatchi Berlin. Lowe London was the last agency of record and did...

Npower hands TBG London online product campaign work.(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... TBG London has been appointed by npower to handle campaigns to increase customers for two of the energy supplier's online products. It won the business without a pitch. The business was previously handled by Vizeum but TBG took the brief...

Gulf Air starts search for global agency ahead of major rebrand.
July 10, 2008... Gulf Air is poised to put its global marketing business out to pitch. The Bahrain-based airline has previously used Middle East agency Fortune Promoseven in the region but is seeking a global network to lead a major rebrand. Gulf Air...

Draft FCB secures #2.1m luxury hotel group brief.(Dorchester Collection)(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... Luxury hotel group Dorchester Collection has appointed Draft FCB as its first advertising agency ahead of a celebrity-led campaign later this year. Draft won the #2.1m account after a three-way pitch against two undisclosed agencies. It...

SWT to combine DM and digital accounts.(South West Trains )(Brief article)
July 10, 2008... South West Trains is gearing up for a review of its direct marketing and digital accounts. It is understood that it may invite agencies to pitch for the business later in the year. The train operator, which is part of travel group...