Red Brick Road has won the Gala Coral advertising account without a formal pitch. It is thought to be worth about £8m. It is understood that the gambling operator decided against a full pitch, instead appointing Red Brick Road after a strong first-round meeting with the agency, which launched a year ago. The agency will […]
Nectar, the biggest loyalty scheme in the UK, is understood to be reconsidering its business model amid fears consumers are not fully using their reward points. The company has approached several agencies asking for views on the future of loyalty schemes in the UK. It is likely that it will hold a below-the-line pitch before […]
SFR, Frances second-largest telecoms operator, has appointed Havas-owned Leg to handle its 100m advertising account. The business moves from Publicis Groupe, which held the account for 13 years.
FIFA marketing director Jerome Valcke has been ousted alongside three key executives after a US court last week ruled that the football body has repeatedly “lied” in its sponsorship negotiations with Visa and MasterCard. FIFA head of sales Stefan Schuster, head of business development and sales Robert Lampman and its in-house lawyer Tom Houseman have […]
BT has poached two senior executives from PHD to create its new in-house planning team four months after parting company with the agency. PHD media group manager, Allison Grainger, and media director, Stuart Bowden, have left the agency to join the BT Media Team headed by Steve Huddleston. Their move follows the decision by BT’s […]
Grey Global has promoted Jim Heekin to chairman and chief executive to replace Ed Meyer, who is retiring after 36 years in the role. Heekin (pictured), who has been chairman and chief executive of Grey Worldwide since September last year, will oversee the advertising network and its below-the-line operation G2. He will continue in his […]
Fremantle Media has signed a series of licensing deals for The X Factor show, which includes a trial of branded karaoke booths in shopping centres. The booths, which will launch later this month, allow consumers to select a song and perform it in front of stage graphics from the TV show and it is recorded […]
Napster, the online music provider, is launching its mobile service in Ireland later this month. It is the first European launch for the company. The service, which is launching with 02, will be Ericsson and will make Napster’s 3 million-plus songs, images and ring tones, available to O2 Ireland’s 1.6 million subscribers. In the US, […]
Leo Burnett Worldwide has announced a restructure that sees UK chief executive Bruce Haines appointed to a new global management council (GMC). The news follows the departure of European president Richard Pinder, who left to join Publicis as chief operating officer in October. The restructure sees Leo Burnett Worldwide aligned more closely with its below-the-line […]
Warner Bros has appointed Joshua Berger as president and managing director of its Entertainment UK and Ireland division. He was previously executive vice-president and managing director for the UK. Berger (pictured), who has been with the company for 17 years, will oversee all aspects of Warner Bros Entertainment’s businesses in the UK and will work […]
BSkyB chief operating officer Mike Darcey’s role has been expanded to include advertising sales and commercial partnerships following the satellite broadcaster’s confirmation that managing director of channels and services Dawn Airey will leave next year. Airey (pictured), who joined Sky in January 2003, is leaving in spring to become chief executive of start-up Iostar, which […]
Cadbury will roll out its first Christmas idents for Coronation Street this week. The campaign supports its seasonal products and continues the “Behind the Scenes” drama theme. The idents, created by Publicis, promote the Cadbury Roses Tin, Cadbury Roses Luxury Collection and Cadbury Stocking products. As in the previous idents, the cast based on a […]
Coca-Cola has promoted international operations director Muhtar Kent to president and chief operating officer. Kent will take over immediately in the new role that makes him the soft drinks company’s second-most powerful executive behind chairman and CEO Neville Isdell, as well as the leading candidate to succeed his boss. Kent has spent 28 years working […]
Honda’s much-anticipated new advertising campaign will feature an “advanced humanoid” robot called Asimo. The campaign, created by Wieden & Kennedy, breaks on Friday and is the first activity for which new UK head of marketing Jeff Dodds has been directly responsible…
Media agency Carat has revised its forecast for global advertising spend upwards for 2006 and 2007. The Aegis-owned agency has changed its estimate of 5.5% growth this year to 5.8%, with 2007 also raised from 5.5% to 5.8%. It says the world’s two largest markets – America and Japan – will see an improving outlook. […]