Metro readies marketing plans

Metro, the free morning newspaper, has appointed Quiet Storm to develop a number of new campaigns following the upheaval in London’s free publication market.

Associated Newspapers, owner of Metro, is closing its free afternoon title London Lite today (13 November).

News International’s free rival, thelondopaper, closed last month while former Associated title the London Evening Standard recently became free. It is now majority-owned by Russian oligarch Alexander Lebedev.

Quiet Storm has already started working on a consumer campaign to promote the redesign of Metro.co.uk due to launch in January 2010, as well as some trade activity and a new design for Metro’s stationery.

The agency has previously worked with London Lite.

Abigail Slater, head of marketing at Metro Newspapers says: “We’ve loved working with Quiet Storm on London Lite and they have brought to life some innovative ideas. We’re confident that their fresh thinking will work really well on some of our projects.”

Metro’s media is currently handled by Starcom MediaVest.