WH Smith’s commercial director Brent Wilkinson has left after clashing with new managing director Beverley Hodson, who joined in May. Wilkinson leaves with no job to go to. It is understood he was unhappy that the md’s job was given to an outsider, and felt he should have been given it rather than Hodson. Hodson […]
This week, the Diary dipped into the delights of the 1997 edition of the Regional Marketing Pocket Book – published on behalf of the Advertising Association. The work is a treasure trove of information about the regional quirks of this land of ours. Did you know that in Scotland, there is one dentist for every […]
New technology offers the chance of better analysis of media and creative performance. Not only that, the millions spent on advertising will be more usefully invested. Simon Mathews looks at developments ahead. Simon Mathews is managing direct
Hemp, the energy drink containing extract from the male cannabis plant, has finally gained approval from the Home Office. Analysts have finished product tests which have confirmed that the controversial drink does not contain a controlled drug. Hemp contains extract from the male cannabis plant, known as hemp, which is grown and sold legally throughout […]
The Central Office of Information is understood to have split the bulk of its 65m centralised media buying between incumbents The Media Centre and Zenith. The largest account, 25m of TV planning and buying, is understood to have been awarded to The Media Centre, with Zenith picking up the 20m press account. Zenith previously handled […]
New Labour is determined that it won’t fall into the Conservative trap of striking secret deals – the media agenda will dominate, says George Pitcher. George Pitcher is chief executive of issue management consultancy Luther Pendragon
Rover’s recent advertisement offended many, but unlike most car ads, at least we will remember who it was made by
As the alcopops row rages, spirit makers are being pitted against the brewers in a fight over their pre-mixed brands.
BBC Worldwide managing director of publishing and multimedia, Nick Chapman, is leaving the BBC following the restructuring of the commercial division. Chapman was in charge of BBC Magazines, the BBC/Flextech joint venture, the online service The Beeb, and BBC Worldwide book publishing interests, as well as being responsible for developing BBC Worldwide’s brands. His exit […]
Your Leader (MW June 5) seems to use Mike Doyle’s so-called “greed” to argue for higher remuneration for marketers who operate in an entrepreneurial culture. First point: In this case, greed led to criminal acts which are bound to colour the view which some have of marketers, especially as agencies were also involved. Second point: […]
Saatchi & Saatchi has launched what it claims is the first cause-related marketing unit in a UK ad agency. The new arm, called the Saatchi & Saatchi Cause Connection, will attempt to develop long-term links between businesses and charities.
Poster contractor Mills & Allen will be running the second phase of a barcoding initiative without its original partner Maiden Outdoor.
Financial services groups received more unfavourable coverage for their marketing over the past quarter than any other type of organisation. According to Presswatch, which monitors the levels of positive and negative press coverage of 1,500 companies, the bottom five companies in terms of coverage of their marketing were Fidelity, which scored -97, Prudential with -71, […]
The company at the centre of a privatisation row with the new socialist government in France is centralising its global advertising into Publicis. The consumer electronics company, Thomson Multimedia, a subsidiary of the state-owned defence and electronics group Thomson SA, has hired the French-owned agency after a pitch which also included Ogilvy & Mather, J […]
Camelot is considering launching giant scratchcards based on popular games such as Monopoly and bingo in a bid to relaunch the ailing Instants brand. The Lottery operator has revealed plans to improve sales of scratchcards – which have fallen from a peak of 44 million a week two years ago to about 15 million – […]