Marketing Week articles from May 2003

Marketing Week archives from May 2003

An allied assault to weaken Cordiant? (This Week).
May 1, 2003... It would be no surprise to find Colin Hearn, worldwide head of Cordiant Communications' direct and interactive operations, shortly following Peter Stead, chief executive of Fitch, its design division, to the exit -- P45 in hand. Not that...

Rothmans takes axe to marketers: up to one-third of Rothmans UK marketers are to lose their jobs in an operational restructure.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Rothmans UK is to cull up to a third of its marketing and sales team as part of a wider operational restructure at the company. Parent company British American Tobacco (BAT) has said that about 90 jobs will go at Rothmans' 270-strong...

Halfords loses top marketer and chief executive following job cull.(David Clayton-Smith and Rod Scribbins)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Halfords marketing and merchandising director David Clayton-Smith and chief executive Rod Scribbins are leaving the company, which is in the throes of a lobs cull. At the beginning of April, Marketing Week revealed that bicycle and...

BMW chief slams quality of TV schedules.(Phil Horton)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... BMW marketing director Phil Horton is to attack broadcasters for delivering "average, inferior or downright inane programmes" as well as advertisers and their creative agencies for a decline in the quality of advertising in a speech at the TV...

Homebase top marketer steps down.(Andrea Preducov)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Homebase chief marketer Andrea Preducov is stepping down from her role as head of brand marketing. The move follows the acquisition of the DIY retailer by GUS, owner of the Argos Retail Group, in November last year for [pounds...

Ex-Gillette chief returns to fill Mattel UK vacancy. (News).(Jackie Jordan)
May 1, 2003... Toymaker Mattel UK has chosen Jackie Jordan as marketing director, a post vacant since David All-mark's departure in August 2001 (MW August 23, 2001). Jordan will take up her post as head of a reshuffled marketing team at the end of the...

Mazda picks Euro boss as head of marketing. (News).(Stephen Odell)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Mazda has promoted European president Stephen Odell to be its global marketing chief. He replaces David Thomas, who was Mazda's senior managing executive officer for marketing, sales and customer service. Thomas is understood to be...

Vodafone launches new payment scheme. (News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Vodafone is launching a payment scheme called "Perfect Fit", an all-inclusive package to offer bundles of minutes for talk-time, SMS and picture messaging. The launch is similar to Orange's "Your Plan", which was launched seven months ago to...

Remington fills post of commercial director. (News).(Paul Martin, in Europe)
May 1, 2003... Remington has promoted sales manager Paul Martin to commercial director in the wake of a string of recent senior management departures. Martin will have responsibility for both sales and marketing. Remington will be hoping this marks the...

Intercontinental Hotels names top marketer as redundancies loom. (News).(David Hughes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Intercontinental Hotels Group has named David Hughes as its top marketer and is preparing to cut a number of marketing jobs. The beleaguered hotels group, formed from the demerger of Six Continents earlier this month, is restructuring its...

BHF poster campaign most complained-about of 2002. (News).(British Heart Foundation)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... A press advertisement for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) which featured a woman with a plastic bag over her head, was the most complained-about ad of last year, according to the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) annual report. ...

Butterkist relauncher goes it alone. (News).(Adrian Precious sets up Business Infinity, marketing consultancy, UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Adrian Precious, the Cadbury Schweppes marketer responsible for relaunching Butterkist popcorn, has left the company to set up a marketing consultancy, Business Infinity. Cadbury Schweppes brought in Precious, who has also worked for...

Energywatch to harden stance on utility billing. (News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Energywatch, the utilities industry watchdog, is planning to name and shame gas and electricity companies for sending "inaccurate, unclear and late" bills to consumers. The move comes after the industry watchdog criticised British Gas over...

Spean Bridge Cinemas to rebrand Warner Village after [pounds sterling]250m deal. (News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Cinema chain Warner Village is to be rebranded after it was sold to cinema operator Spean Bridge Ginemas (SBC). The final details of an estimated u250m deal are being agreed and the acquisition is expected to be completed by next week. The...

Top Olympic athlete fronts Coty UK ads. (News).(James Cracknell)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Coty UK has signed up world and Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell to promote the launch of Adidas Active Skincare in May. The sponsorship deal will feature Cracknell in a series of advertorials for the introduction of Adidas Active...

Choice Hotels signs marketer. (Digests).(Choice Hotels Europe signs Vicky La Trobe as marketing director for Europe)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Choice Hotels Europe has appointed Vicky La Trobe to the new position of marketing director for Europe. La Trobe joins the company from rival hotel chain Millennium Copthorne, where she was director of marketing for Europe, the Middle East...

Global Cosmetics launches 'youth' suncare products. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Skincare company Global Cosmetics is to launch a range of suncare products under its Blockhead extreme sports brand. The line, which will initially comprise ten sun-, face- and lipcare products, will go on sale in Tesco, Safeway, department...

Budweiser. (Digests).(to sponsor Ferrari Formula One team, reportedly)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Budweiser is understood to be taking over the [pounds sterling]90m sponsorship of the Ferrari Formula One team from Marlboro. Phillip Morris will be forced to pull Marlboro's sponsorship in 2005 because of the EU ban on tobacco advertising.

Toshiba. (Digests).(names Chris Lucas sales and marketing director, consumer products)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Toshiba has appointed Chris Lucas as sales and marketing director for consumer products. It is the first time the sales and marketing roles have been held by one person.

Thomas Cook. (Digests).(Neale Vickery appointed marketing director )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Thomas Cook has handed responsibility for marketing to director of customer strategy Neale Vickery until a marketing director is appointed in the autumn.

McDonald. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... McDonald's first-quarter results showed a six per cent, increase in revenues to $3.Sbn ([pounds sterling]2.4bn). The company says that increased sales have been seen in its newest restaurants.

Walkers Snacks. (Digests).(Walkers Shots launched)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Walkers Snacks has launched Walkers Shots, corn snacks that come in a tube for eating with one hand. The product comes in two flavours, Banging BBQ and Nicely Spicely, and is supported by a [pounds sterling]1.3m TV campaign created by Abbott...

Amstrad. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Amstrad has appointed Gavin Scothern as advertising manager for its Em@ilerplus product, a phone with e-mail and internet access.

Diadora. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Diadora, the Italian sportswear brand, has signed a three-year deal to supply kit and boots to Manchester United captain Roy Keane. The deal extends the length of Keane's association with the brand to eight years.

Atlantic Electric & Gas. (Digests).(partnership with Glow Communications)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Atlantic Electric & Gas has signed an affinity partnership with telecom company Glow Communications. Atlantic will sell energy to Glow's customers.

Phones 4U. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Phones 4U has promoted marketing manager Tim Wade to the post of campaigns manager. He reports to marketing director Julian Neal.

GlaxoSmithKline. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... GlaxoSmithKline has launched the Lucozade Sport Science Academy to bring together academics and athletes to 'improve sporting performance through better nutrition'.

MGM Home Entertainment. (Digests).(Don Hunton to move to Australian office )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... MGM Home Entertainment commercial director Don Hunton will be transferring to open the company's Australian office in June. His replacement has not been announced.

Travelex. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Travelex, the foreign exchange company, has signed a [pounds sterling]1m sponsorship deal covering the National Theatre's [pounds sterling]10 season. The initiative, under new National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner, will see two-thirds of...

Electrolux. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Electrolux launches a robotic vacuum cleaner in the UK on Friday (May 2). The Trilobire, which will cost [pounds sterling]1,000, has already been rolled out in Scandinavia and Japan.

Smart Car reviews [pounds sterling]2m brief out of Maher Bird. (Agencies).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Daimler Chrysler-owned Smart Car is reviewing its [pounds sterling]2m advertising business with Maher Bird Associates. It is understood the company is talking to as many as eight agencies about pitching for the business. The review is...

BDDH poised to win [pounds sterling]4m Orange Glo. (Agencies).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Orange Glo is tipped to hand its [pounds sterling]4m advertising business to Partners BDDH after a three-month search. The US household goods company has been hunting for an agency to mastermind its UK push since it introduced its...

GLA roster agencies vie for recycling task. (Agencies).(Greater London Authority)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Soul, BMP DDB and Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper are to pitch for The Greater London Authority's (GLA) multi-million pound brief to promote recycling across the capital. As predicted in Marketing Week last year (MW May 9, 2002), the GLA has asked...

[pounds sterling]8m Bulmers review waved on by S&N. (Agencies).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Cider-maker Bulmers says it will continue with its [pounds sterling]8m advertising agency review called earlier this month (MW March 27), despite being acquired by brewer Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) for [pounds sterling]278m. The brand...

Cordiant loss is Publicis gain: Cordiant group in death throes. (Advertising).
May 1, 2003... Debt-laden Cordiant Communications, which owns Bates UK and direct marketing agency 141, looks set to be sold off following Allied Domecq's decision to move its business to Publicis. Cordiant, headed by chief executive David Hearn, is now...

Bates UK. (Digests).(appointed to handle advertising for Schering Healthcare's Levonelle morning-after pill brand)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Bates UK has been appointed to handle the advertising for Schering Healrhcare's Levonelle morning-after pill brand. The agency pitched against Abbot Mead Vickers. BBDO and Scholz & Friends. (See opposite and Leader, page 3.)

Omnicom Group. (Digests).(financial results for first quarter of 2003 )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Omnicom Group's income after tax for the first quarter of 2003 is marginally up on last year -- from $128.56m to $128.58m (from [pounds sterling]80.78m to [pounds sterling]80.8m). Worldwide revenue increased by 12 per cent to $1.9bn ([pounds...

Starcom Motive. (Digests).(holds on to pounds sterling5m media account for Kia)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Starcom Motive has held on to the [pounds sterling]5m media account for Korean car marque Kia.

The Leith Agency. (Digests).(appointed to work on brand development for Standard Life Bank while Faulds Advertising will develop its sales channels)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Leith Agency has been appointed to work on brand development for Standard Life Bank while Faulds Advertising will develop its sales channels. The company plans to spend [pounds sterling]lm from its [pounds sterling]5m marketing budget on...

WCRS. (Digests).(creates radio campaign for Ferrero-owned chocolate brand Kinder Bueno)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... WCRS has created a radio campaign for Ferrero-owned chocolate brand Kinder Bueno. The promotion will run alongside the TV 'Love Me' campaign. Both break in May. Initiative Media handles the media buying account.

Publicis. (Digests).(creates first TV campaign for dairy brand President Emmental)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Publicis has created the first TV campaign for dairy brand President Emmental. The [pounds sterling]lm campaign breaks this week and will run for six weeks. Media planning and buying is handled by Feather Brooksbank.

Saatchi & Saatchi. (Digests).(develops educational radio campaign for NSPCC to promote Children's Day on May 6)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Saatcbi & Saatchi has developed an educational radio campaign for the NSPCC, to promote Children's Day on May 6.

HHCL/Red Cell. (Digests).(creates latest campaign for Britvic Soft Drinks' Robinsons Fruit Shoot)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... HHCL/Red Cell has created the latest campaign for Britvic Soft Drinks' Robinsons Fruit Shoot. Two new ads feature children demonstrating maturity when they are beaten in sports. The campaign retains the 'New Thinking' strapline...

Britvic. (Digests).(talking to 7 firms about pitching for pounds sterling 6m Robinsons business)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Britvic is understood to be talking to Barrett Cernis, Battle Bogle Hegarty, BMP DDB, Clemmow Hornby Inge, J Walter Thompson, M&C Saatchi and WCRS about pitching for the [pounds sterling]6m Robinsons business.

Team Saatchi. (Digests).(creates first work for holiday services company Holiday Extras)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Team Saatchi has created its first work for holiday services company Holiday Extras. The campaign is Holiday Extras' first consumer drive. It launches this week, appearing initially in national newspapers groups such as Metro.

Nation1. (Digests).(wins account for Royal Scottish National Orchestra)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Nation1, the new Glasgow-based integrated creative agency, has won the account for the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Its brief is to attract a younger audience to classical music.

Goodyear. (Digests).(is looking for integrated agency)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Goodyear, the tyre company, is understood to be hunting for an integrated agency. The AAR is handling the review.

M&C Saatchi. (Digests).(develops press campaign for BA Holidays' January 2004 brochures )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... M&C Saatchi has developed a press campaign for BA Holidays' January 2004 brochures, which offer packages to Florida and the Indian Ocean among others.

ECB picks ex-BSkyB man as commercial director. (Agencies).(England & Wales Cricket Board appoints Mark Sibley as commercial director. )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Mark Sibley as commercial director. Sibley will take control of the ECB marketing team, replacing Terry Blake who has left the cricket board after 13 years. A sports industry source...

Actions speak louder than words in ads. (Agencies).(research finds use of iconic gestures in television ads helps boosts recall among viewers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The use of iconic gestures in television ads helps boosts recall among viewers, according to the latest tranche of research into how the brain responds to messages on the TV, by Professor Geoffrey Beattie, head of psychology at Manchester...

NatMags plans another teen title. (Agencies).(National Magazine Co. to launch another teenage title in the UK)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The National Magazine Company (NatMags) is planning to launch another teenage title in the UK -- a British version of US magazine Seventeen -- alongside its existing title CosmoGirl!. Last week, Hearst Magazines, of which NatMags is a...

Carling to sponsor buskers on the Tube. (Agencies).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Carling, the Coors Brewers lager brand, is to sponsor busking on the London Underground with an estimated budget of [pounds sterling]500,000. London Underground (LU) first revealed plans to launch licensed busking pitches last June (MW...

Grant to head Capital sales. (Digests).(Capital Radio Group promotes Linda Grant to commercial managing director of its London stations )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Capital Radio Group commercial marketing director Linda Grant has been promoted to commercial managing director of its London stations. The new role will absorb her markering responsibilities. Grant, who joined Capital Radio from newspaper...

UKTV chief announces plans for TV ad breaks. (Digests).(UKTV chief executive Dick Emeryto announce launch of experiment to examine effect of different break patterns on advertising recall at TV United 2003 )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... UKTV chief executive Dick Emery is to announce the launch of an experiment that will examine the effect of different break patterns on advertising recall at TV United 2003 in Bath today (Wednesday). UKTV is teaming up with Billetts and a...

Initiative Media. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Initiative Media has won back the [pounds sterling]2m media planning and buying account for Brands Hatch Circuits (formerly Octagon Motorsports) from Total Media, which was appointed in February. Interactive and Brands Hatch are owned by...

O2. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... O2 has renewed its sponsorship of Channel 4's Big Brother in a [pounds sterling]4.5m deal negotiated by Drum PHD and the Allmond Partnership.

Channel 4. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Channel 4 returned to the black last year after a loss of [pounds sterling]28m in 2001. For 2002, the broadcaster reported a pretax profit of [pounds sterling]16.5m. Revenues for Channel 4's advertising and sponsorship division rose four per...

Scholl. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Scholl is to support the launch of its Express Foot Skincare range with a six-week outdoor media push as part of a wider [pounds sterling]2m advertising campaign.

Cognosis. (Digests).(creates brand identity for Lord's)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Cognosis has created a brand identity for Lord's to distinguish the cricket ground from its owner, the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) in an attempt to maximise its commercial potential as a business conference venue.

Cafe Met. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Cafe Met, the milk-based drink from Arla Foods, is sponsoring Jazz FM's Late Lounge and Hed Kandi sessions for three months and will be developing a special summer music event with the radio station...

Jazz FM. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... ... Jazz FM has appointed Mike Craddock to the new position. of sales director, overseeing the station's non-national sales. He joins from Wave 105 in Hampshire, where he was head of sales.

Associated New Media. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Associated New Media, the digital publishing division of Associated Newspapers, has appointed Andrew Hart as managing director. Hart's previous jobs include chief executive of Ask Jeeves.

IDS. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... IDS has signed up Garnier Fructis Style to sponsor the Endless Extreme Summer on the Extreme Sports Channel from May 5 until August 31.

EMAP. (Digests).(radio stations partner for Music Industry Soccer Six tournament)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... EMAP-owned radio stations Kiss 100, Radio City and Metro FM are the official radio partners for The Music Industry Soccer Six tournament, which kicks off in May.

Flextech Television. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Flextech Television has signed up Hello! magazine to sponsor Loose Lips, the new daily talk show on Living TV, presented by Melinda Messenger.

TalkSport. (Digests).(signs Wireless Group agreement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... TalkSport, the national commercial station owned by the Wireless Group, has signed a deal with computer games firm Codemasrer to sponsor the station's snooker coverage.

National Geographic Channel. (Digests).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... National Geographic Channel has signed up Adidas to sponsor the Science of Sport series across Europe.

The start of a clean break for TV ads? (TV united 2003: A Preview of Marketing Week conference in Bath).
May 1, 2003... Broadcasters say they are standing shoulder to shoulder to make TV ads work. Advertisers, however, may be spoiling for a fight. The TV industry has for the past few years been split by infighting, with the major players unable to agree a...

The way to get rich is to write about the famous: the celebrity gossip sector appears able to absorb new titles without diluting existing magazines' sales. Adam Crow says there is room for still more growth. (Media Comment).
May 1, 2003... The big winners in recent Audit Bureau of Circulations reports have been celebrity magazines, with the majority of titles experiencing impressive circulation gains. EMAP's Heat has continued its success story, with a year-on-year gain of...

Have you got the bottle to spout it out? (Diary).(Coors Brewers, marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Diary is approaching this story with considerable caution as beverages have been a source of much trouble lately, particularly teabags. The Diary has managed to upset mote than one high street financial institution recently, and according...

A cut above other alcoholic RTDs. (Diary).(ready-to-drink, Black Sheep to offer new product)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Following the recent rash of wine-based alcopop launches (MW April 24, April 17), the Diary is intrigued to learn of a forthcoming product from Yorkshire brewer Black Sheep. The company claims it has spotted a gap in the market for a...

Never tyre of the good old survey. (Diary).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The Diary receives the results of dozens of surveys all with attendant, lovingly crafted press releases. It has never, however, been approached to take part in the things, which is saddening -- the look on the researcher's face as the Diary...

The WHO tests its teeth on big sugar. (News Analysis).(Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases report)
May 1, 2003... The food and soft drinks industry is hitting back hard after a WHO report laid much of the blame for rising obesity at its door. Both sides are wheeling out scientific evidence, but the case will hinge on credibility. One food lobbyist...

Can Dr Martens get to grips with urban chic? Dr Martens is planning to become a wardrobe staple again by updating its products and relaunching as an urbanwear brand. (News Analysis).
May 1, 2003... Dr Martens is determined to kick down the door of fickle fashion and avoid the fate of becoming a heritage brand -- a tough proposition in an industry that swiftly forgets what was once "cool" if it's no longer at the cutting edge of this...

Not our mess. (Cover Story).(Cover Story)
May 1, 2003... The alcohol industry claims that it advertises responsibly, bound by codes of practice, and that it is not to blame if people choose to abuse its products. The health lobby, however, buoyed by its success in banning tobacco ads, looks likely to...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2003... If you don't want it, just send it back... So Richard West can't understand how an industry that creates and delivers nothing more than "junk" can survive and grow (MW April 10). Let me start by saying that, as managing director of a direct...

Sorrell hit by friendly fire as recession rumbles on: Martin Sorrell's optimistic assessment of recovery seems premature alongside tales of woe in the UK. But he's no Comical Ali of advertising. (Business).(Column)
May 1, 2003... I have been enjoying what Sir Martin Sorrell has had to say recently. It's reminded me of the optimistic media performance of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf or Comical Ali, the erstwhile Iraqi information minister. The gutters of the marketing...

Number crunching is no way to assess true value: the IT industry is finding that proving return on investment is problematic. That is because ROI ultimately misses the point. (Marketing).(Column)
May 1, 2003... Doesn't it gladden the heart? The trillion- dollar information technology industry is having to admit it's got a problem that marketers have been struggling with for decades: it cannot prove return of investment (ROT). Faced with increased...

Playing the generation game: marketers tend to group young adults together, but new research shows how segmentation can provide a more sophisticated picture of today's youth. (Factfile).
May 1, 2003... The young adult market poses one of the biggest challenges for marketers, Not only does this growing market have more buying power than ever before, but there also exists a sophistication created by the information age, which demands consumer...

The publicity plan. (Special Report: Conferences & Exhibitions).(Column)
May 1, 2003... The best show in the world will struggle to attract visitors if it is not properly marketed, so organisers spend large sums of money on communications -- and on teaching exhibitors to publicise their own attendance. True believers in...

Love loses out to cheap laughs and harsh reality: Nestle's decision to drop Rob's 23-year-old slogan 'Do you love anyone enough to give them your last Rolo' proves that romance is all but dead.(Column)
May 1, 2003... So that's it then. Romantic love is a thing of the past. No more moon and June and spoon. No mote comparing thee to a summer's day. No more brief encounters or lingering looks. No more tender sighs, no mote empty yearning, no more drinking to...

This year, words; next year, action. (This Week).(Marketing Week TV Conference)
May 8, 2003... While not exactly vying with the beau monde of 18th-century Bath, the television, marketing and advertising executives present in the city's Assembly Rooms last week were, in their own way, a pretty distinguished gathering. The occasion...

UK AMP break-up rocks marketing: marketing faces dire consequences as finance brand AMP prepares for demerger of UK operations.(Brief Article)
May 8, 2003... The demise of the AMP brand in the UK has left the future of head of global brand Helen Livesey and other senior marketers, its sponsorship of the Oval cricket ground and its relationship with agency CCHM in doubt. Following a torrid year...

Cadbury axes Wispa brand name.(Brief Article)
May 8, 2003... Cadbury Trebor Bassett is ditching the Wispa brand and relaunching the chocolate bar as Dairy Milk Bubbles. The move is part of a strategy to bring all of its small brands under the Dairy Milk umbrella. Caramel and Turkish Delight will also...