The Direct Marketing Association has set up an umbrella organisation to bring all the direct marketing watchdog bodies under one roof. The self-regulating Direct Marketing Authority will deal with complaints about the DMA – previously the remit of the Authority of the DMA, the Mailing Preference Service, the Fax Preference Service, the Direct Mail Accreditation & Recognition Centre and the Telephone Preference Service. The watchdog will be chaired by former director general of the Office of Fair Trading Lord Borrie.

The European Commission said yesterday (Tuesday) it would renew efforts to introduce a European Union-wide ban on tobacco advertising. With the UK Government’s announcement of a national ban, there is no longer a blocking minority of member states in the EU.

The French Government Tourist Office has shortlisted incumbent EURO RSCG, Publicis and Doner Cardwell Hawkins for its 3m account, which is likely to include TV advertising. Media buying is currently with MediaStar.

True North Communications of Chicago is reputedly closer than ever to buying Bozell Jacobs Kenyan & Eckhardt, as a bolt-on to its existing global ad agency Foote Cone & Belding. The Omnicom group is also understood to have held preliminary talks with Bozell Jacobs.

Lowe Howard-Spink has created a 500,000 nationwide poster campaign for Weetabix (right), which breaks this week. The 14 London sites feature a fairground-type mirror which makes you look thin regardless of shape or size.

Axa Equity & Law is believed to be reviewing all its supplier relationships, including its above-the-line agency TBWA/Simons Palmer and its 2m county cricket sponsorship.The review precedes the merger of Axa with another French insurer UAP, which owns the Sun Life brand in the UK.

Land Rover is sponsoring the British Lions rugby tour of South Africa, to be screened on Sky TV. The total deal is understood to be worth about 1m and has been set up by Land Rover’s media agency, WCRS.

GGT has appointed Peter Herd as group strategic director. He will report directly to chairman and chief executive Michael Greenlees. Herd will continue to be chairman of GGT Direct Advertising.

Breitling, the Swiss watchmaker, has appointed advertising agency Griffin Bacal to create a press campaign.

Whitbread Beer Company, which acquired Labatt Brewing UK last year, is airing the new Rolling Rock campaign, through Bartle Bogle Hegarty, in cinemas for the first time from this week.