Month: March 2002

Ad watchdog orders withdrawal of Ali G Indahouse poster campaign

Marketing Week

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ordered that posters be pulled for the film Ali G Indahouse after a barrage of complaints. The United International Pictures (UIP) film, which features Sacha Baron-Cohen playing his alter ego Ali G, has been promoted with a 1,500-site nationwide poster campaign showing Ali G with his hand on a […]

Banging ITV’s heads together

Marketing Week

It’s not often that a sequel betters the original. But the performance of Nestlé Rowntree marketing director Andrew Harrison at the Marketing Week TV2002 Conference in Prague was an exception that proves the rule.

I’d just like to thank the 13,000

Marketing Week

Congratulations to British Airways. The airline was celebrating at the Superbrand awards last week after it managed to scoop a community award for its sterling work. The company certainly has been doing some valuable work for the community of late. Last year, it announced it was making redundancies, and at last count 13, 000 jobs […]

Can Hearn make Bates tempting?

Marketing Week

Troubled Cordiant Communications has brought in an executive from the client side to manage one of its subsidiaries. His track record and ability to take big decisions may improve Bates’ credibility.

Powergen seeks agencies to pitch for £12m UK advertising business

Marketing Week

Energy company Powergen is reviewing its £12m advertising business as part of a brand-building exercise. The decision comes months before the company’s acquisition by German utility company Eon is finalised. Powergen works with Soul on a project basis. The agency created the high-profile Powergen sponsorship for ITV’s national weather bulletins, and created the “Monsters Inc” […]

Anheuser-Busch picks Randall Blackford to steer UK marketing

Marketing Week

Randall Blackford has been promoted to UK marketing director at Anheuser-Busch, taking control of the company’s &£14.5m advertising budget (AC Nielsen). Blackford, previously the company’s North-east Asia marketing director, moved to Anheuser-Busch UK’s office six months ago, to take the job of consumer marketing controller. As well as managing UK advertising for Budweiser, Bud Ice […]

Slots cut as Night and Day ITV soap flops

Marketing Week

ITV 1 has axed its tea-time slot for Night and Day as speculation mounts over the future of the soap. From April 11, the soap, which launched last November, will no longer be shown on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. It will only be shown on ITV 1 in its late night 11pm slot on […]

Fisher stops COI roster carping

Marketing Week

COI Communications roster agencies were quick to defend themselves this week against Carol Fisher’s accusation that they cannot create integrated campaigns. “Well she may have a point,” said one agency managing director, hiding under his desk. “I mean, we are a bit poor aren’t we? She’s not in the building is she?” “Now I think […]

Cussons marketing director to shed international responsibilities

Marketing Week

Cussons, manufacturer of Imperial Leather and Foamburst, has moved international marketing director Dominic Box back to his old position of UK marketing director, after less than nine months in the global role. Box’s promotion last August to international marketing director for personal cleansing saw the creation of a new role at Cussons as an extension […]

I’m sure I put a tenner in the card

Marketing Week

The Diary was happy to attend Metro’s third birthday party recently and was more than happy to receive pictures of the event. Metro, which is up to £7m in debt, managed to scrape together enough money to enlist Boy George as headline DJ. The Diary was disappointed that his record selection didn’t reflect the financial […]

Drugs body pushes TV price promos

Marketing Week

Anadin, Clarityn, Vicks and Gaviscon are some of the medicines that could soon advertise price promotions on TV, if proposals by the regulatory body for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are given the go-ahead. As part of a consultation paper initiated by the Independent Television Commission (which wants to amend the advertising controls on all OTC medicines), […]

Persil to introduce aloe vera detergent variant

Marketing Week

Unilever is to launch an aloe vera variant of Persil tablets and powder detergent to capitalise on the growing popularity of alternative remedies. Industry insiders say that this will be the first time the plant, known for its natural healing properties, has been used in a cleaning product. The launch, in April, will be supported […]

Marketing Week

Marketing Week

Marketing Week will award the writer of the best letter of the month £300 of Thomson Holiday vouchers provided by Landround.