Maserati’s global chief Karl-Heinz Kalbfell, one of the car industry’s most respected figures, is leaving the Fiat Group-owned marque to “pursue other interests”. The former Rolls-Royce chief executive, who also ran Alfa Romeo during his time with Fiat, will be replaced by Roberto Ronchi, who moves from Fiat Auto, where he was responsible for fleet […]
GlaxoSmithKline is meeting disgruntled retailers who complain that insufficient production of Ribena and Lucozade has caused a loss in revenue for two summers. The retailers are warning GSK that its issue with production and capacity must be sorted out by next summer. GSK was forced to de-list Ribena Berry Burst to make room for core […]
Sega, the Japanese video games brand, is boosting its European marketing and communications team with a raft of new recruits. David Miller has been appointed brand marketing director, joining from rival gaming brand Namco. Michelle Dix, who will work on iconic brands Sonic and Tom Mahoney, arrives as senior brand manager from Take 2. Nina […]
RWE-owned utility company Thames Water is to integrate its sales and marketing function with communications following the departure of sales and marketing director Julie Walls. It is the third time in less than two years that the water company has rejigged the divisions. It is not known whether Walls’ departure is the result of job […]
Coca-Cola has appointed Mediaedge:CIA to handle its 5m Coca-Cola Enterprises UK media planning and buying account for the Capri-Sun and Appletiser brands.
BT has signed a joint marketing deal with Packard Bell for its new range of broadband packages, BT Total Broadband. All Packard Bell desktop and notebook computers in the UK will come pre-loaded with BT Total Broadband as part of the agreement. The broadband service, and other BT consumer products, will be promoted on Packard […]
Yakult, the health drink, is talking to agencies about a pan-European advertising brief to launch the drink in new markets. It is understood that the talks, which are in early stages, will not affect Wieden & Kennedy, which handles the brand’s £5m UK advertising account. The company is expected to invest a significant amount in […]
Lottery operator hikes senior director’s pay while achieving only modest gains for Good causes
Tiscali has started a major shake-up of its business following the acquisition of Homechoice last month, with staff across the company having to reapply for their jobs. The scale of the changes is believed to have surprised people inside the company, with staff in both Homechoice and Tiscali unhappy about the changes. There are no […]
A leading telecoms analyst has slammed Orange’s new “converged” fixed and mobile phone service Unique for failing to live up to its name.
KFC brand director Matthew Critchley is leaving the fast food chain at the end of this week. It is understood that he found another role but has yet to announce details. Critchley, a former account manager at ad agency Bates UK, joined KFC UK in October 2004 with a brief to oversee advertising and media. […]
Federal Express has retained PHD to handle its pan-European media planning and buying account after a competitive pitch against an undisclosed agency. The account is understood to be worth about £2m in the UK. PHD’s interactive division PHDiq will handle the business as the delivery company continues its strategy of investing an increasingly prohigher portion […]
Triple Velvet, the SCA Hygiene-owned toilet tissue, is launching a second burst of advertising featuring the Baby managing director character. It breaks next week. The ads, created by Fallon, will continue the theme of “authority on softness” and will show the Baby MD sharing his belief in the possibility of a “softer world”. Other executions […]
Mental health charity Rethink has appointed Paul Jenkins as chief executive. He joins with a brief to build awareness of both the charity and the issues it tackles. Jenkins, currently director of service development at the NHS Direct Special Health Authority, replaces Cliff Prior, who is leaving to become chief executive at UnLtd, the foundation […]
Dealgroupmedia, the online marketing group, has rebranded as Fuel from today (Wednesday). The new name will be unveiled at the Ad:tech trade show in London. The company offers search engine marketing, online advertising and affiliate marketing, and will provide these services under three subsidiary brands – Web Gravity, Fuel Ad Network and DGM Affiliates. The […]