Marketing Week articles from November 2008

Marketing Week archives from November 2008

Nationwide forced to scrap review after Gandolfi exit.
November 6, 2008... Head of brand strategy leaves building society two weeks after Leagas Delaney resigns ad business Peter Gandolfi, head of brand strategy at Nationwide, has made an abrupt exit from the building society, just weeks after calling an...

PepsiCo ditches Tropicana Spirit sparkling juice brand.
November 6, 2008... PepsiCo is scrapping its sparkling juice brand Tropicana Spirit less than nine months after it was launched. The move has come at the same time as the drinks company's decision to pull its PJ Smoothies line. Tropicana Spirit was launched...

Key Cadbury launch will enter Maltesers territory.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Cadbury is understood to be planning a major assault on rival Mars next year with the launch of a bite-size product. It is understood Cadbury is keen to steal market share from Maltesers and Mars Planets, which dominate the category. ...

P&G laundry brands go for compact versions.
November 6, 2008... Procter & Gamble is poised to introduce compact versions of its laundry detergent formats across all brands. The decision means fillers will be removed from powders, tablets and liquitabs, reducing their size by up to a quarter, by February...

WACL Anniversary: Brown joins 85th celebration.(Women in Advertising and Communications London)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Sonoo Singh, Marketing Week deputy editor, did not hang back when offered the chance to meet the Prime Minister at a recent WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications London) lunch. Gordon Brown entertained the industry's leading ladies...

Estee Lauder to launch anti-ageing innovation.
November 6, 2008... Estee Lauder is introducing a range of anti-ageing moisturisers which the cosmetics company claims "breaks new ground" and "reinvents the anti-wrinkle moisturiser". The company says its Time Zone Line and Wrinkle Reducing Moisturisers...

CSR website launches to restore trust in Cadbury.(corporate social responsibility)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Cadbury is launching a corporate social responsibility brand and website that aims to engage consumers, in an attempt to recover its reputation as a trusted British brand. The new branding, which has been created by social enterprise...

Wrigley cuts gum to get 'back to basics'.(The Wrigley Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... The Wrigley Company is understood to be scaling back the number of variants in its chewing gum range in a bid to "get back to basics". The move comes as rival brand Cadbury-owned Trident also looks to consolidate its portfolio of products....

Portman Group campaign champions self-regulation.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... The Portman Group is launching a campaign to encourage consumers to complain about social responsibility issues surrounding alcohol. The move aims to champion the alcohol industry's self-regulation credentials. The press campaign, which...

IN BRIEF: Eurostar services close to normal.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Eurostar has asked us to point out that the restrictions placed on travelling immediately after the Channel Tunnel fire have been relaxed and services are now close to normal (MW last week). Greg Nugent, head of UK marketing, will remain with...

IN BRIEF: Nokia appointment.(promotion of sales director Mark Loughran )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Nokia has promoted sales director Mark Loughran to the role of general manager. He takes over from Simon Ainslie who takes the new role of vice president of retail and customer marketing globally. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd....

IN BRIEF: M&S slashing prices.(Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Marks & Spencer is slashing the price of its clothing and food to take on the no-frills grocery and fashion store brands, following a 34% slump in its half-year profits. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Motorola postpones spin-off of handset division.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Motorola has postponed the spin-off of its handset division, after poor third-quarter results. The handset-maker posted losses of 15% to #4.56bn for the period to September 30. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Debenhams MD to leave.(Angela Spindler)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Debenhams managing director Angela Spindler is leaving the department store following a reshuffle. Her responsibilities will be given to Michael Sharp, who is moving from chief operating officer to deputy chief executive. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: BAA investing in Crossrail.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... BAA will invest #230m into the cross-London rail project Crossrail. The scheme, which will link Heathrow, Canary Wharf and Maidenhead, is still seeking further private-sector investment. The Government has already pledged #5.6bn. ...

Two Travelodge marketing positions hang in balance.(Travelodge Hotels Inc.)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Travelodge, the budget hotel chain, is understood to be considering cutting a number of jobs, including members of its marketing team. It is hoped the cuts will save #2m that could support the brand's expansion plans. Travelodge is axing...

Analysis: Chewing gum sector's bubble shows no sign of bursting.
November 6, 2008... There has been plenty to chew over in the gum market in the past 18 months following the introduction of Cadbury's Trident brand and market leader Wrigley's subsequent retaliation. According to Cadbury, the launch of Trident helped reverse...

Mates marks brand overhaul with Pleasureland campaign.(Mates Healthcare)(WARL Change Behaviour)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Mates Condoms has undergone a major overhaul in a bid to take market share from rival Durex. It will be supported by a #1m campaign, which launches today (Wednesday). The overhaul includes new packaging across the range and its first...

Hamilton's success is in stark contrast to the BBC's Brand value.
November 6, 2008... It came down to the final corners of the final lap in the final Grand Prix of the Formula One season. In a few heart-stopping seconds, Lewis Hamilton realised his dream and became the sport's youngest world champion. The dramatic...

Honda starts agency trawl for Euro launch of hybrid Insight.
November 6, 2008... Honda is talking to agencies about the pan-European brief for the launch of its new Insight hybrid model. The car is due to go on sale next spring. A spokesman for the manufacturer confirmed a brief had been completed and put out to...

Coca-Cola Enterprises to streamline agency roster.(advertising contracts with Mother Ltd., Vizeum)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Coca-Cola Enterprises, the largest bottler of Coke's products, is understood to be reviewing its below-the-line agency roster in the UK. A formal pitch is expected to begin imminently. It is understood that CCE has been reviewing its...

Sony and Exposure create SBX agency.(Sony Music)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Sony Music and marketing communications agency Exposure are launching an advertising agency that aims to create commercial partnerships between artists and brands. The agency will be called SBX and will offer a broad range of services...

Fujitsu hands Scholz & Friends Euro ad business.(Fujitsu Siemens Computers)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Fujitsu Siemens Computers has appointed Scholz & Friends to run its pan- European advertising account. The account is worth an estimated #1m. The company, which previously handled its advertising in-house, appointed the agency without a...

Albion nets Famous Grouse digital brief.(Albion Communications)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... The Famous Grouse, the blended Scottish whisky brand, has appointed Albion to handle its global digital advertising account following a five-way pitch against undisclosed agencies. It is not thought there is an incumbent on the account and...

New campaign: O2 pushes its ticketing service.(advertising contract with Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Vallance Carruthers Coleman Priest has created a #6m campaign to promote 02's priority ticketing service for gigs and events at entertainment venue The O2. The TV ad is one continuous shot and is filmed as if a customer is walking through...

IN BRIEF: Department of Transport campaign.(contract with Abbott Mead Vickers/BBDO Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Abbott Mead Vickers.BBDO has created a #2.6m campaign for the Department of Transport. It uses graphic images of internal organs damaged in road accidents to highlight the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: ITV Global Entertainment off-air opportunities.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... BD Network has been appointed by ITV Global Entertainment to create off- air commercial opportunities for its key TV programmes such as Dancing on Ice, Hell's Kitchen and Coronation Street. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Initiative retains Tesco account.(Initiative Media London)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Initiative has retained Tesco's #80m media account. The decision comes months after it was understood to have put the agency on notice. Initiative will handle media planning and buying across all channels, including digital. (Leader, page...

IN BRIEF: Renault-Nissan appoint OMD.(OMD Digital )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... OMD has been appointed to run the #650m pan-European media planning and buying business for Renault-Nissan. The accounts had been split between Carat and OMD. The pitch has been going on since May (MW.co.uk May 28). Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Media Square results.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Media Square, the marketing services group, has reported a pre-tax profit of #900,000 for the six months to August 31 compared to a #13.2m loss for the same period last year. The profit comes despite a 3% decline in like-for-like revenue to...

IN BRIEF: comparethemarket.com ad account.(contract with VCCP )(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... VCCP has retained comparethemarket.com's #20m ad account. The agency won the business after a final pitch against Beattie McGuinness Bungay. The review, was overseen by the AAR. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

Five promotes sales chief to md after Airey's arrival.(Channel Five Holdings Ltd.)(Mark White)(Dawn Airey)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Five has promoted executive sales director Mark White to the new role of managing director. White's promotion comes a week after chief executive and chairman Dawn Airey arrived at the channel. She has been on gardening leave from ITV...

Clear Channel hunts for Euro boss.(Clear Channel Entertainment Europe)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Clear Channel is seeking a European chief after scrapping the role of international president. It is understood that the US-owned outdoor company wants to develop its European business following its takeover by private equity partners...

BUCS seeks partner for 2009 student sport championships.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... British Universities & Colleges Sport, the new collective organisation for university sport in the UK, is seeking commercial partners for a slew of assets. Its top priority is to find a title partner for the BUC Championships, which...

Yahoo! chases Direct Response advertisers.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Yahoo! is launching an "aggressive" campaign to encourage more advertisers to sign up to its Direct Response ads system. The internet company is seeking new revenue streams to reverse a decline in pre-tax profits in its third-quarter...

IN BRIEF: Global Radio launching TV campaign.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Global Radio is launching a TV campaign created by Atticus Finch to promote the rebrand of its Galaxy network. London's Choice FM will also join the Galaxy network, but will retain its identity. The campaign has been created by Atticus Finch....

IN BRIEF: RadioCentre appointment.(appointment of Dianne Thompson)(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... RadioCentre has appointed Dianne Thompson, Camelot chief executive, to replace Paul Brown as non-executive chairman. Thompson will start her new role on February 1. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Yahoo! and Google revising terms.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... Yahoo! and Google are understood to be revising the terms of their proposed joint search deal in a bid to have it approved by the US Department of Justice. The two internet giants are reportedly shortening the length of the deal from ten years...

IN BRIEF: BSkyB and Virgin Media end stand-off.(Virgin Media Group Ltd.)(British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC)
November 6, 2008... BSkyB and Virgin Media have ended their 20-month stand-off after signing a new channel carriage agreement and dropping legal proceedings against each other. The agreement means Sky's "basic" channels will return to Virgin Media's cable...

Phone prank fury highlights a very real brand strategy conundrum.(Editorial)
November 6, 2008... The Ross and Brand phone scandal is a tale of a certain mood pervading British culture that will have a dramatic effect on brands and businesses I'm in a horrible position. I have found myself spending a lot of time thinking about a...

AGENCY ISSUES: Discover secrets of real creativity.
November 6, 2008... Magazines are the true bastion of creativity It is sometimes hard to believe that the world managed to operate before the internet. At Universal McCann, our rallying cry of "next thing now" is rooted in a belief that innovation and...

VIJAY MALLYA: Return of the nabob.
November 6, 2008... Last May Indian billionaire Dr Vijay Mallya added Whyte & Mackay to his business empire that spans beer, spirits, airlines and Formula One. Taking time from fraternizing with celebrities and international politicians, he talks to Sonoo Singh...

ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS: An end to extravagance.
November 6, 2008... Christmas is traditionally a time of high-spending excess, and seasonal ad campaigns from major retailers reflected this mood. But not this year. David Benady examines how the high street giants are promoting a 'value' proposition to reflect...

OLAY: Upmarketing to the masses.
November 6, 2008... Can Olay convince women to choose its high-priced mass-market offering against established premium products at a time when money is becoming tighter? asks Archana Venkatraman Procter & Gamble is giving Olay a sub-brand with the launch of...

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE: The confidence crunch.
November 6, 2008... With the global economic downturn still looming large in the media, consumer confidence has taken a turn for the worse and this quarter it is down over all age groups and regions of the UK What gives consumers confidence in the stock...

GREEN: Turning green into gold.
November 6, 2008... Brands must offer value-for-money green products because, although consumers pay lip service to 'doing their bit' for the environment, they are unwilling to spend any extra on them. By Louise Jack The consideration of environmental issues...

GREEN: Food miles study.(Brief article)
November 6, 2008... If attitudes to environmental issues harden during the economic gloom, brands should take note, warns BMRB marketing director Steve Cooke. TGI data shows that between 2000 and 2006, 13% of adults felt there was "too much concern" about the...

GREEN: Case study: the 11th hour.
November 6, 2008... If you're marketing a film that explores the ecological impact mankind is having on the planet, you better be sure the packaging is consistent with the theme. Warner Bros DVD The 11th Hour - produced and starring Leonardo DiCaprio -...

GREEN: Case study: ORANGE.
November 6, 2008... A great deal of focus has been placed on the green production of point of sale material, but little attention has - until now - been placed on how material is "handled" post-campaign, most notably ensuring that it is disposed of in an...

The BBC's problem is its need to keep all licence fee payers smiling.(British Broadcasting Corp.)
November 6, 2008... The BBC's desire to 'connect' with all segments of its audience has caused it to slip into the gutter to find the material that passes for modern comedy In the light of recent events and given this column's long-standing aversion both...

GM freezes media spend as swingeing job cuts loom.
November 13, 2008... Deeply troubled US carmaker attempts to hoard money amid fears that it could become insolvent General Motors, the troubled US carmaker, is understood to have frozen its $2.1bn (#1.36bn) global media spend and has not ruled out cutting...

Lloyds TSB marketing chief likely to take on HBOS brands.(Lloyds TSB Group PLC's Nigel Gilbert)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Nigel Gilbert, Lloyds TSB group marketing director, is understood to be in line for the top marketing role if the bank's merger with HBOS goes ahead. Gilbert would take control of brands including Halifax, Bank of Scotland and...

Ex-British Gas director linked to JWT chief role.(Nick Smith )(JWT London)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Former British Gas marketing director Nick Smith has been linked to the JWT London chief executive role. Currently at consultancy group Accenture, as the group managing director for its marketing sciences, Smith is understood to be in...

Asda turns back on celebrity Xmas ads.(ASDA Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... By Sonoo Singh Asda is eschewing the use of celebrities in its Christmas campaign this year, reflecting gloomy consumer sentiment about the contracting economy. The move is in sharp contrast to last year's Christmas campaign in...

New campaign: M&S unveils Christmas line-up.(Marks and Spencer PLC)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Marks & Spencer is launching a Christmas television campaign with a slew of celebrities, including 1990s boy band Take That, as well as well-established M&S celebrities Twiggy, Erin O'Connor, Myleene Klass, Lily Cole and Noemie Lenoir. ...

Brands look on as row erupts within rugby union.(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... A row is brewing within rugby union as the sport's governing body, The Rugby Football Union, seeks to push through plans to form a second tier of fully professional clubs without backing from the teams. At a meeting on Friday (November...

WPP offloads Nielsen Media Research stake after TNS buy.(AGB Nielsen Media Research)(Taylor Nelson Sofres PLC)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... WPP Group is giving up its 50% stake in TV measurement company AGB Nielsen Media Research in an attempt to side-step competition regulators following its acquisition of research company Taylor Nelson Sofres. It is swapping the stake with...

Phones4U appoints marketing director.(Russell Braterman)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Phones4U has appointed management consultant Russell Braterman to the position of marketing director. He has taken over from Jim Slater, who recently left the company. Braterman's appointment comes as the mobile phones retailer gears up...

British Gas boosts micro-energy strategy with eco boiler launch.(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Utility giant British Gas is launching the UK's first micro-combined heat (micro-CHP) boiler in the consumer market. The utility company will market it as a unit that can generate electricity and as a result heat, therefore helping to make...

IN BRIEF: Yorkshire Tourist Board appointment.(Gary Verity)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Yorkshire Tourist Board has appointed Gary Verity as chief executive. Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency has also announced a #30m investment to raise its tourism profile. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Fast-acting paracetamol to be launched.(GlaxoSmithKline PLC)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... GlaxoSmithKline is launching a fast-acting paracetamol product under its Panadol brand, the first launch for the range for seven years. GSK says Panadol Advance works up to five times faster than a traditional tablet. Copyright: Centaur...

IN BRIEF: Vodafone to slash costs by #1bn.(Vodafone Group PLC)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Vodafone is planning to slash costs by #1bn after it was forced to cut its revenue forecast for next year. The strategy is expected to lead to job cuts across the mobile operator. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Milk Link appointment.(Hamish Renton)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Milk Link, the cheese and dairy products manufacturer, has appointed former Tesco marketer Hamish Renton as marketing director to focus on new product launches. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: C&C Group appointment.(John Dunsmore )(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Magners brewer, C&C Group, has appointed former Scottish & Newcastle chief executive John Dunsmore to the same role. Dunsmore and two former S&N colleagues are expected to invest #1.2m in the business. Copyright: Centaur Communications...

IN BRIEF: Coca-Cola acquires Waters & Robson.(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Coca-Cola Great Britain has acquired Waters & Robson, the owner of the Abbey Well water brand. It will join premium water brand Malvern in the Coke portfolio, and be bottled and distributed by Coca-Cola Enterprises. Copyright: Centaur...

Analysis: Has Nationwide fluffed a marketing opportunity?
November 13, 2008... The notion of correct client/agency etiquette came under the spotlight this week after Marketing Week revealed that Peter Gandolfi, Nationwide Building Society head of brand strategy, made an abrupt exit from his role of head of brand...

P&G plots fresh variant for Daz to see off rival Surf.(Procter and Gamble Co.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Procter & Gamble is revamping its budget detergent brand Daz in a bid to fight back against Unilever's Surf, the star performer among washing powder value brands. P&G is scrapping the Citrus Blast and Ocean Burst variants and replacing...

Hilton Hotels unveils director of marketing.
November 13, 2008... Hilton Hotels International has appointed Martin Braisby to the new role of director of marketing services. It is part of the hotel group's strategy to promote its brands outside the US. Braisby will be responsible for developing the...

Twentieth Century Fox seeks theatrical marketing director.(Elizabeth Kesses has left Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Elizabeth Kesses, theatrical marketing director at Twentieth Century Fox, has left the company after almost two years in the role. It is not known if she has a new job to go to. The film company is currently seeking a replacement for...

Analysis: Will O2's sponsorship lead to monopolising live music scene?
November 13, 2008... O2's sponsorship of the Academy Music Group gives it dominance over the entire UK live music arena and, some say, could leave other operators' customers out in the cold. Last week, the mobile operator announced that it is to sponsor all...

IBM to focus on 'smarter planet' green initiatives.
November 13, 2008... IBM is revising its global marketing strategy to focus on its new "smarter planet" initiative, which aims to show businesses and consumers how to help reduce the effects of global warming through IT equipment. The computing giant is...

IN BRIEF: ING Direct account.(contract with Geronimo )(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Geronimo has been awarded the #4m DM account for ING Direct, the online savings bank. It won the account in a pitch against CMW, Stephen Francis Whitson, Archibald Ingall Stretton and incumbent Targetbase Claydon Heeley. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: DCSF campaign.(Department for Children, Schools and Families' contract with Iris London)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Iris London has won a campaign brief for the Department for Children, Schools and Families targeting disadvantaged parents. Iris won the account after a pitch against two other agencies. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and...

IN BRIEF: Naked Communications appointment.(Jane Geraghty )(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Naked Communications has appointed freelance advertising executive Jane Geraghty as its UK managing director. Geraghty will replace Chris Green, who recently stepped down from the role. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

IN BRIEF: Jordans account.(Jordans Cereals' advertising contract with ZenithOptimedia)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... ZenithOptimedia has won the #2m account for Jordans cereals from incumbent Media Planning Group without a pitch. ZenithOptimedia also handles media planning and buying for Jordans' majority owner Associated British Foods. Copyright:...

IN BRIEF: Aegis Group appointment.(promotion of Martyn Rattle )(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Aegis Media, the media communications business of Aegis Group, has promoted Martyn Rattle to the new position of chief client officer. Rattle will take overall responsibility for global client teams in Carat and Vizeum, as well as...

IN BRIEF: Muller shortlist.(Muller Dairy UK's advertising contract)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Muller has shortlisted M&C Saatchi, VCCP and Red Brick Road, to the #5m advertising account for its Muller Corner brands. The incumbent TBWA/London will not repitch for the business. Copyright: Centaur Communications Ltd. and licensors

BBH picks up #40m Heineken account.
November 13, 2008... Heineken has appointed Bartle Bogle Hegarty to its #40m global advertising brief following a pitch against incumbent Red Brick Road. The incumbent will retain a place on the Heineken roster. It has already been tasked with a new corporate...

Publicis secures Tata brief.(Publicis Groupe S.A's contract with Tata Steel Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Tata Steel, the world's sixth largest steel company, has appointed Publicis to handle its #10m branding account. The agency won the account after a four-way pitch thought to include two management consultancies. It is understood the...

Thomas Cook retains Angels for post-Christmas campaign.(Thomas Cook Group Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Thomas Cook has retained Company of Angels to create its post-Christmas campaign. The travel operator had been tipped to appointed Red Brick Road to its #9m account but changed its plans following the departure of executive director of...

Euro RSCG wins pitch for NYSE business.(Euro RSCG Worldwide Inc.)(NYSE Euronext Inc.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Euro RSCG has been appointed to the global advertising account for the NYSE Euronext, which includes the New York Stock Exchange. It is understood to have beaten DDB London in a final pitch. Fallon Minneapolis was the incumbent on the...

Reebok gives Glue London pan-European football brief.(Reebok International Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Reebok has appointed Glue London to handle its pan-European football brief for next year. It is not clear if the agency pitched for the business. The agency already handles the digital marketing business for Adidas, which owns the...

Analysis: Buhlmann puts brave face on Aegis Renault loss.(Aegis Group PLC's Jerry Buhlmann )
November 13, 2008... The consolidation of the #650m Renault/Nissan media planning and buying into OMD across Europe, the Middle East and Africa not only ended Carat's eight-year relationship with the Renault brand, but also brought the Aegis-owned network's...

Iris Experience gains place on Kellogg's agency roster.(Kellogg Company of Great Britain Ltd.)(Brief article)
November 13, 2008... Iris Experience, the experiential arm of Iris Worldwide, has been appointed to the Kellogg's roster. It won the business in a pitch against several undisclosed agencies. The agency will handle marketing activity for a number of the food...