American Express is close to signing a deal with NatWest Bank to launch its first co-branded charge card in the UK. The company card will be aimed initially at corporate customers, but is likely to be made available for personal use at some point. At the same time, Amex is launching a global advertising campaign […]

Marketing Week has discovered what appears to be the most expensive, and probably most profitable, consumer branded product in the world. According to a Liverpool pharmacist, a prescription drug derived from vitamin D – found naturally in kippers and eggs – is probably the most world’s most expensive product. The drug, called alfacalcidol, is produced […]

The head of marketing for Phileas Fogg is leaving KP-owned Derwent Valley Foods as the business hunts for an advertising agency. Sarah Burt, group brand manager, has been appointed new product development (npd) manager for sister company KP Snacks. Her departure comes as Derwent seeks an agency for its 2m account, after Bartle Bogle Hegarty […]

Airtours, Britain’s second biggest holiday company, has appointed Leeds-based Advertising Principles to handle its 7m brief (MW June 7). The account was previously handled by Sass Panayi in Manchester. The move to Advertising Principles brings the agency’s billings to over 40m, it claims, making it the largest independent agency outside London. Among the agencies which […]

Debenhams chief executive Terry Green has cleared out the store’s top marketing executives in a company shake-up. The roles of advertising and promotions director, held by Alison Dow, and visual and merchandising director, held by Guy Scarangello, were axed last week. The two roles will be replaced by one new position – visual & promotions […]

American Express is close to signing a deal with NatWest Bank to launch its first co-branded charge card in the UK. The company card will be aimed initially at corporate customers, but is likely to be made available for personal use at some point. At the same time, Amex is launching a global advertising campaign […]

Direct Line Insurance is reviewing its 8m account, held by TBWA for seven years. The company is drawing up a shortlist of four agencies, including TBWA which created the red telephone branding device. However, it will give no further details and a spokeswoman says: “No speculative approaches will be considered.” Direct Line general manager Karen […]

Technological advances mean the portable office is now a reality. Martin Croft considers the benefits.

The head of marketing for Phileas Fogg is leaving KP-owned Derwent Valley Foods as the business hunts for an advertising agency. Sarah Burt, group brand manager, has been appointed new product development (npd) manager for sister company KP Snacks. Her departure comes as Derwent seeks an agency for its 2m account, after Bartle Bogle Hegarty […]

Cadbury is preparing to follow in Heinz’ footsteps this year with a switch to a generic TV campaign. Ad agency GGT is understood to be preparing commercials on the virtues of “Cadburyness”. It won an internal pitch last year involving EURO RSCG and then roster agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty. One of the reasons BBH split […]

Improved facilities and the demand for cheaper venues have led to a resurgence of universities as conference venues. But they will have to work hard to prise any more customers away from hotels and purpose-built centres. Catherine Stewart repo

Britvic is putting its marketing and distribution muscle behind a new sports drink called Red Card, to take on market leader Lucozade. The multi-million pound launch comes only two months after Britvic stopped distributing Lucozade following the ending of an agreement it had with Lucozade owner Smith-Kline Beecham. Britvic had distributed Lucozade and Ribena for […]

A marketing reshuffle spurred HMV to look at its ad strategy so, in November 1995, it decided to call pitches for both its media and creative business. Case history by Paul McCann

The Network, Ogilvy & Mather’s media department, is pitching to M&C Saatchi to replace Optimedia as its media buying operation.