City AM, the London business freesheet, has abandoned plans to roll out sister editions across the UK, as it announces a profit for the first time since its launch. Managing director Lawson Muncaster, who helped launch the freesheet 18 months ago with a £10m launch budget, will not be drawn on the paper’s profit margins, […]
Digital channel Paramount Comedy is launching its first ad-funded TV series with US city Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has partnered with Paramount sales house Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS) for the deal, brokered by R&R Partners and Initiative. The ten ad-funded programmes form a retrospective comedy series based on Simon and […]
The Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSHCC) is understood to be looking for a media agency to handle its £1.5m planning and buying business. The charity is believed to have approached a number of agencies. It is thought to be boosting its marketing activities and fundraising initiatives (MW April 20, 2006). It is not […]
Next, the high street retailer, has appointed Mediaedge:cia to its 10m media planning and buying. The struggling clothes store group awarded the business to Mediaedge:cia following a competitive pitch against incumbent MediaVest Manchester. However, the Manchester-based agency is believed to have retained its 2m Next Directory account.
The Home Office’s decision to consolidate its entire media-planning operation into one agency (MW last week) is expected to herald a round of similar centralisations by Government departments. Three agencies are pitching for the consolidated Home Office communications planning work. Manning Gottlieb OMD and Mediaedge/cia – which already handle the bulk of the department’s media […]
Transform Medical Group, the UK’s largest cosmetic surgery provider, has launched a new advertising strategy following a review of its marketing. Sales and marketing director Gary Nicholls, who was appointed in December last year, is planning a more targeted, segmented approach to the group’s advertising to build awareness of the services Transform offers. He has […]
LV=, the financial services friendly society previously known as Liverpool Victoria, is looking for an advertising agency to handle its creative account, worth several million pounds. It is thought that the agency will be given the task of raising the profile of the friendly society, which rebranded earlier this year, and that LV= has been […]
City Gateway Media, operator of the largest commercial LED screen in Europe, in conjunction with outdoor company Posterscope, is advertising Spiderman 3 on its Manchester screen from Friday April 27. The campaign has been planned by Manning Gottlieb OMD invENTS. Dominic Milan, digital insight and development manager at Posterscope says/ “Spiderman on the City Gateway […]
Asda is launching a major schools initiative to teach children about food, health and the environment. The Kids Checkout Challenge, which starts next week, will be the retailer’s flagship community programme. The retailer is inviting 700 primary schools to visit one of its 350 stores or depots to take part in activities and quizzes on […]
Skoda has promoted Michal Hrabk to run its motorsport division. He replaces Martin Muehlmeier, who is returning to Audi after three years at Skoda. Hrabk, previously a head of sales and marketing for technical development at Skoda, will report to Eckhard Scholz, who is the company’s board member for technical development.
Sony’s decision to cut almost 10% of staff across its Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) division, as revealed on marketingweek.co.uk last week, has led some to suggest its PlayStation 3 console is not the breakthrough product the electronics manufacturer had hoped for. Up to 160 staff – or 8.9% of the workforce – will be […]
Troubled retailer Woolworths has signed Kelly Osbourne, Rolf Harris and Darth Vader to front a major campaign for its “Worth It” range in an attempt to turnaround its lacklustre performance. The high street retailer is losing market share to the supermarket groups and launched the low-cost range to take on rival brands such as Tesco’s […]
The sale of 49.9% of Clemmow Hornby Inge & Partners to WPP Group last week has helped European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson pocket over 1m.
The Number 118 118 has strengthened its senior management line up with the appointment of former Premier Foods marketer Martin Hall as commercial director. In the newly created role Hall will report directly to chief executive Mark Horgan. Hall, who was general manager for convenience business at Premier Foods, will have overall responsibility for the […]
Smyths, the Irish retail giant, is plotting its first foray into England with the launch of a chain of superstores by the end of the year. The 24-strong store empire is eyeing locations around the country with the intention of creating a retail base from an assortment of city-centre and out-of-town stores. Smyths is looking […]