Month: November 1996

United News & Media is to buy West- country TV this week, so bolstering the future of its ITV sales house TSMS. The City expects UN&M to pay between 75m and 90m for the licence.

We were surprised by the suggestion that it is peculiar that advertising should be called upon to justify itself (A Measure of Strength, MW November 1). It is our experience that no business is happy to spend money on activities which can’t be justified. And to provide a level playing field, the basis of justification […]

Swiss engineering and power giant ABB has hired McCann-Erickson to handle its estimated 10m global corporate account. But neither ABB, which was formally known as Asea Brown Boveri, nor McCann will confirm the win. It is understood an announcement has been delayed because ABB is drawing up a series of other company changes, which are […]

People will talk, especially when it comes to media buying. Rumours of free flights, ‘ghost’ sites and dodgy deals always abound, but the row between CIA and Laser will probably change media buying forever.

I write with reference to “Alcopops are tops with kids, survey claims”, (MW 1 November). Are we supposed to be truly surprised by this claim? Ever since the release of alcopops they have received an enormous amount of negative publicity with regard to their teenage appeal. Surely this has a “reverse-psychology” effect on the inquisitive […]

David Evans, former managing director at Warner Interactive, has been appointed to head Lego Media, the Danish toy company’s UK multimedia division. Lego Media’s first product, to be launched in January with press and television advertising, will be the Lego Technic Nautilus Submarine with CD-Rom, priced at about 35. The Nautilus kit combines traditional Lego […]

Colin Darwen, marketing director of white goods company Candy Domestic Appliances, is leaving to become a consultant. His responsibilities for marketing are being assumed by Candy’s commercial director, John Hall. Darwen, who leaves the company at Christmas, joined Candy more than 25 years ago. Alberto Pedinelli, managing director of Candy, says: “Colin has given Candy […]

Doctor power is getting out of control – now they’re even dictating the social behaviour of top television executives

Drinks companies are collaborating with other suppliers this Christmas on a series of on-pack giveaways. The aim is to halt what is seen as a damaging trend towards price promotion. The “added consumer value” move has accelerated this year, according to industry sources, with most major spirits companies following the same link-up strategy. Whyte & […]

Former Akzo Nobel marketing chief Steve Duncan has joined Nouvelle tissue manufacturer Fort Sterling, as group marketing director. Duncan was group marketing director at Akzo Nobel, best known for its Crown paint brand, but was ousted in February when the company merged sales and marketing functions, and created separate sales and marketing director positions for […]

Thomas Cook has pulled out of a scheme which would have rivalled Air Miles as the foremost loyalty programme for the travel industry. The plan was likely to have been called Holiday Smiles and would have involved the travel company linking up with six other businesses in a variety of sectors. The businesses are known […]

Boots Healthcare International is hiring former Kellogg’s marketing chief Rob Morgan as its director of marketing. Morgan, who has worked as managing director of car accessories company Turtle Wax International for the past year, takes up the post after Christmas. He replaces Peter Milburn, who has been moved by parent company Boots to act as […]

An important element of Pedigree Petfoods’ advertising, its Waltham research centre is home to more than 1,000 animals. Stephanie Bentley visits the Leicestershire site to see how the cats and dogs live it up

CIA Medianetwork has made an unconditional offer to settle the airtime dispute with Laser and its broadcasters out of its own funds. CIA is believed to be offering to pay off its 1m debt from 1995 in cash, a move unconnected to the parallel dispute over the 1996 airtime deal. This would negate the writs […]

The return of Alan Bishop to run Saatchi & Saatchi’s London oper-ations will have an impact on more than just Charlotte Street.