NEWS The Automobile Association has been forced to apologise to some of its members, including a terminally ill woman, who panicked after receiving fake police reports and bills in a mailing campaign.

Keeping pace with global developments involves more than addressing short-term, specific needs. John Shannon finds that advertisers must strive for a broader understanding

Tussauds Group head of corporate marketing Nick Varney has resigned to become managing director of leisure company competitor Vardon Attractions. Varney will be replaced by Jill Britton, divisional director of marketing at Tussaud’s-owned Alton Towers. Britton will remain in her role at the theme park until next January to see through the first stages of […]

After a year of constant staff upheavals, direct marketing agency PPHN is relaunching in July as Touch. Only one of the original founders of PPHN, creative partner Ian Haworth, is still at the agency. Stewart Pearson, who co-founded the agency in 1989, was forced out in August last year and last month PPHN managing director […]

Equating the company that brings you PG Tips, Persil and Lynx toiletries with the Devil might seem laughable at first. Until you realise that an influential US Christian lobbying group with 1 million members is in deadly earnest about it. The American Family Association is trying to organise a national boycott in a market where […]

Poster giant More O’Ferrall is searching for a marketing director to replace Martin Mason following his sudden resignation last week. MO’F says the split is amicable and that Mason may continue to advise the company on certain aspects of its marketing. Mason joined the company from BSkyB, where he was Sky advertising director. Mason has […]

Total expenditure – all media* RankMay 94 -May 93 -Change 95 94Apr 95 (m)Apr 94 (m)% 11Saatchi & Saatchi328.

Bass Taverns plans to open up to 300 new outlets under its branded pub chains Fork & Pitcher, All Bar One and Innkeeper’s Fayre. It will spend a large part of its 200m expansion budget developing the chains over the next three years. The plans include expanding the mid-market Fork & Pitcher chain from 25 […]

By Jon Rees

Companies realise the importance of customer data but, if the gathering process is not up to scratch, huge targeting opportunities can be missed. Sue Norris investigates the benefits of effective marketing technology

The Mersey Partnership is about to roll out a 1m profile-building campaign, drawing on humorous stereotypical images of the area and its people. But is the initiative on the right track to lure investors? Tom O’Sullivan reports

Cordiant is now looking for a chief executive as a possible alternative to the vacant role of chairman, which it has been unable to fill since January. Cordiant’s current chief executive and acting chairman Charlie Scott is expected to work in harness with the successful candidate, either as chief executive or chairman. According to sources […]

United Distillers has begun trials of a new gin-based drink which it hopes will increase the Gordon’s brand appeal to a younger market. Ginzing is a mix of Gordon’s Special Dry Gin, herb extracts and citrus flavourings. Sold in 275ml bottles, it is only available in four Nottingham bars. UD will test Ginzing for a […]

UK advertisers have been criticised in a House of Commons Motion for running ads during Channel 4’s screening of the controversial film, The Last Temptation Of Christ. The complaint comes in the same week as an influential US Christian lobby group is calling for a boycott of Unilever goods in protest at what it claims […]

By Jon Rees