Month: July 2007

Chrysalis Radio chief quits ahead of acquisition

Marketing Week

Phil Riley, the chief executive of Chrysalis Radio, will not join Global Radio when it completes its acquisition of Chrysalis. He leaves the business after 13 years without a job to go to. Riley, who will also step down from the Chrysalis board, is understood to have been offered a role at Global, which is […]

Carl Johnson backs Anomaly off-shoot

Marketing Week

Duncan Bird, co-founder of Soul, is launching a new agency in New York backed by Carl Johnson, founder of the marketing agency Anomaly. Bird, vice president of brand partnerships at Sony BMG, has already signed up Coca-Cola and the Association of American Advertisers as clients. The agency, which will be called Another Anomaly, aims to […]

Icstis plans clamp down on anonymous texting

Marketing Week

Icstis is planning to clamp down on anonymous text messaging services that encourage the bullying, grooming or stalking of children because it believes abuse of such services pose a “high risk” to public trust in phone paid services. The premium rate services industry has come under criticism from Icstis, Ofcom and the Government following complaints […]

BSkyB buys Amstrad for £125m

Marketing Week

Sir Alan Sugar has agreed to sell his once iconic electronics business Amstrad to BSkyB in a deal understood to be worth £125m. Sugar says he “cannot imagine a better home” for the business. The deal, which has yet to be agreed by shareholders, will net Sugar about £35m. BSkyB says the acquisition will improve […]

Emap drops traditional ads from Heat Radio

Marketing Week

Emap is dropping traditional spot advertising from Heat Radio in favour of bespoke sponsorships, promotions and advertising-funded programmes. The move aims to reposition the digital-only station as a lifestyle radio brand. The station will offer an “exclusive club” of five clients a variety of opportunities on the station in a bid to shift its advertising […]

Setanta launches broadband services

Marketing Week

Setanta, the pay-TV sports provider, is launching a broadband service, which it claims is the only way to watch Barclays Premier League football action live online. Setanta by Broadband is one of a number of new products from the Irish broadcaster ahead of the start of the new season.

Goodfella’s Mooney to head sauces marketing at Heinz

Marketing Week

Heinz has appointed Adrian Mooney as marketing director for its sauces portfolio, including the iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Salad Cream brands. He takes over the role imminently. He will be responsible for driving growth across the sauces business, which also includes Lea & Perrins, and will report to Heinz chief marketing officer, Suzanne Douglas. […]

ICrossing buys Proxicom in digital push

Marketing Week

ICrossing, the search marketing agency, has acquired US-based Web development agency Proxicom. It claims the deal makes it the largest independent digital marketing agency in the world. The agency will retain the Proxicom brand and the agency’s chief operating officer Blue Van Dyke will stay on. Its clients include Chevron, Dupont and Toyota. The deal […]

Coca-Cola launches fruit-flavoured energy drink

Marketing Week

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) is launching a fruit-flavoured variant of energy drink Relentless. The drink, which is being launched in August, will be supported through a £1.7m brand campaign. The campaign will include advertising, sponsorship and experiential sampling aligned to action sports, motorbike racing and modern rock music. This year the company is sponsoring a number […]

Honda F1 team appoints marketing chief

Marketing Week

The Honda Racing F1 Team has appointed David Butler as marketing director. He replaces Alistair Watkins to join the Alinghi America’s Cup sailing team earlier this year. Butler joins from Laureus, a joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Richemont that promotes sporting excellent, where he was marketing director for the group’s, sports awards, sports academy and […]

TV advertising to begin recovery in 2008

Marketing Week

The television advertising market will start growing in 2008, according to a report published by ZenithOptimedia. The media agency joins the growing number of experts to claim that the TV market is recovering. The agency says the market will “stabilise” this year and it predicts “modest” growth of 2% in 2008, with further growth of […]

Coca-Cola names global marketing and commercial head

Marketing Week

The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Joseph Tripodi to the position of chief marketing and commercial officer. He will have a global remit and be based in the US, reporting to president and chief operating officer Muhtar Kent. The appointment comes after Mary Minnick (pictured), president of marketing, strategy and innovation, left the company in January […]

MGA takes on Mattel with Bratz social network

Marketing Week

MGA Entertainments, the toy manufacturer behind Bratz dolls, is going head to head with rival Mattel with the launch of a Bratz social network. Mattel launched a Barbie Girl-branded site in May. Be-Bratz was launched weeks later in response to the Barbie site. Both are aimed at girls aged between eight and 12 years old. […]

Virgin Media gears up for possible Freeview box retail release

Marketing Week

Virgin Media is considering a retail launch of its branded Freeview set-top box. The box is already offered free to non-cable customers purchasing the £19.99 8mb broadband and Talk Anytime phone bundle. Virgin customers on other packages can buy the box either in Virgin Megastores or over the web. But Ashley Stockwell, Virgin Media managing […]