The standards watchdog’s decision to ban the Young’s ‘It’s a ram’s world’ ads shows what happens when well-meaning people apply their brains to a joke In a well-regulated world, jokes would be scrutinised prior to their release to ensure their safety and fitness for human consumption. Each pleasantry would be analysed to ascertain that it […]
Orange UK has promoted Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke to vice-president of marketing. He replaces Alexis Dormandy as the company’s most senior marketer in the UK. Overbeke was director of strategic marketing, overseeing the marketing department after Dormandy left to take a role at group level last year (MW July 21, 2005). Overbeke joined Orange in 2004 […]
Unilever is extending its range of Comfort fabric conditioners by launching two luxury variants aimed at the top of the market. Comfort Crème, which launches at the end of January, backed by a &£3m television and press campaign, will be aimed at women who want an “indulgent” product. It will be available in jojoba and […]
Richard Sowerby, one of the founding directors of Gala Bingo, is to step down from his role as group sales and marketing director. Sowerby became a director following a management buy-in of the company from Bass eight years ago, Sowerby, a former advertising executive, is retiring from the company and will also be giving up […]
BenQ Mobile is to put a “significant” marketing spend behind the launch of its first handsets in the aftermath of its purchase of Siemens’ mobile division last year. The company unveiled three phones and a new logo yesterday (Tuesday). Managing director Philip Rambech and head of marketing Louise Forbes are planning to support the launches […]
Little Chef has appointed former BP marketer Nick Smith to the role of development director. He will be responsible for the restaurant chain’s retail strategy and for the launch of a new “grab and go” coffee bar chain. Smith, who has already taken over his new role, will work alongside Joanne Blake, the, marketing director […]
Coca-Cola Enterprises’ (CCE) marketing director Norman Brodie is to step down from the role with immediate effect, despite a successor not yet being in place. CCE exclusively markets, distributes and produces bottled and canned soft drinks for the Coca-Cola Company and its subsidiaries worldwide. Brodie has been in the role since May 2002, having begun […]
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr is launching a new ‘pleasant tasting’ energy drink, which is aimed at attracting more female drinkers to the category challenging the dominance of Red Bull. It is understood that AG Barr has yet to decide on a name for the new product, but it is will make use of the Irn-Bru […]
Diesel, the Italian fashion company, has agreed a deal with L’Oréal to make perfumes. Diesel has not sold fragrances since 2004.
Burger King owners Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners are reported to be considering a flotation of the fast-food chain, valuing the company at &£1.3bn.
The Government’s NHS Patient Choice policy, which gives people a choice of four hospitals when being referred for treatment by their GP, theoretically creates a whole new marketing channel, bringing with it issues such as advertising regulation. Hospitals and other care providers now have to compete with one another to attract patients. As a result, […]
The UK’s cutting edge work received much praise from the judges at the 2005 Epica creative advertising awards. The UK was the biggest winner of golds – collecting 15 awards – while DDB was crowned the top European network after collecting six awards. By Stuart Smith The 2005 Epica creative advertising awards – the nineteenth […]
David Wethey’s observations (MW last week) regarding the drivers of the industry are unquestionably sound, but only if looking to the past. Looking ahead, I’d challenge his view. The industry is going through slow, painful change, and for me the trends are extremely clear: growth for the global groups will come from emerging geographies, not […]
I enjoyed reading your article “Will creative independents fall prey to global media shops?” (MW last week). As an agency owner, it’s good to hear someone at least partially agree with what I’ve been thinking these past four years, which is that there is space – and plenty of it – for small, talented agencies. […]
Although I agree with Sarah Rayner’s article on “Questions of identity” (MW January 5), I feel compelled to sound a note of caution when addressing the belief that, like advertising, a brand identity can be allowed to evolve organically over time. The fact that brands can evolve progressively means they need to be properly managed […]