Car company Seat has promoted regional brand manager Mark McKenna to head its marketing. McKenna takes over from head of marketing Gary Savage, who has moved to head of sales and operation at the Volkswagen-owned subsidiary. The move also follows Kevin James’ appointment as director of Seat. James, who was joint managing director of Volkswagen’s […]
The Football League has appointed the commercial director of the Ladies European Golf Tour, Richard Masters, as its commercial director. Masters replaces Brian Philpotts, who joined the FA Premier League as commercial director earlier this year. Masters, who takes up his role in June, says: “The Football League is a brand with a high level […]
The Sales Promotion Consultants Association is to launch a commercial arm following the breakdown of merger talks with the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).
London Underground (LU) is to launch a service that will enable advertisers to show moving images on the wall opposite platforms. Nearly 18 months after first proposing the idea, LU has signed a deal with four companies that will enable the medium to be tested this year. The deal was through advertising contractor TDI, which […]
Job applicants are often encouraged to include unusual hobbies and achievements on their CVs to make prospective employers sit up and take notice. But one agency boss has added a rare talent to his own list of pastimes. Matt Etherington, head of brand naming agency Matt Etherington Names Names, met a challenge from workmates head […]
The Diary hears that George Best may pull out of McCann-Erickson’s booze-fuelled football evening at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge next month. Best, one of the greatest footballers ever, was due to be the star speaker until he fell off the wagon again. Party organisers made frantic calls to Best’s agent after reading in the Sunday papers […]
First Choice and Royal Caribbean Cruises are launching a cruise line, called Island, aimed at attracting younger customers. Island launches this week, backed by advertising created by RPM3. It represents a &£200m investment by the two rival companies. Instead of the usual trimmings that are associated with cruises, such as dressing for dinner, dancing lessons, […]
Jeans manufacturers are bracing themselves for a relaxation of textile imports into the European Union, which is likely to encourage a wider choice of cheap imported goods for consumers. Textile companies say the scrapping of import duties could result in a flood of products from beyond the EU, slashing prices and resulting in tougher competition. […]
Citibank has promoted Jonathan Mindell to sales and marketing director for the company’s UK consumer business. Mindell replaces Martin Johnson, who quit as marketing director last month to join Halifax Card Services as its first director of marketing (MW March 29). Mindell was formerly sales and distribution director, a position he held since last January […]
Ogilvy & Mather has axed 19 members of staff from its UK office, six per cent of its 300-strong workforce. The axe has fallen at the advertising agency across all departments and on various accounts, but the cuts will not extend to the rest of
Lycos, the Internet search engine, launches its £2.5m advertising campaign for its interactive online ‘flirting service’ later this month.
German sports car manufacturer Porsche is to make its first foray into the school-run market with the Cayenne. Is this a clever move into a new sector, or does it cheapen Porsche’s good name?
Universal McCann is tipped to win the media planning and buying account for Microsoft’s forthcoming games console, the Xbox. The account is understood to be worth £50m across Europe. The agency has also been awarded Microsoft’s UK media planning and buying account, which includes Microsoft Office, Windows and the company’s hardware products. The business was […]
Alan Mitchell’s article (MW March 29) pointing out the need for win-win solutions to sustain the effectiveness of advertising to consumers touches on the importance of a mutually acceptable value exchange between a company and its customers. As the world becomes more competitive, only those companies that have invested in, understand and can evaluate their […]
I have to take issue with some of the points raised in your article “Has viral marketing burned itself out?” (MW March 29). The implication is that viral marketing is somehow becoming less effective. It’s probably true that, on average, people are less inclined to forward viral marketing content. But I suggest that the reason […]