News Group marketing chief starts up agency

News Group Newspapers (NGN) promotions director Andy Agar is leaving the group to set up his own promotions agency.

Agar’s move will leave NGN without a senior marketer, as Agar has been acting as interim marketing director since Nick Canning left to join Iceland in November (MW October 31, 2002). Agar’s departure was tipped in Marketing Week several months ago, but denied by NGN (MW November 21, 2002).

Agar will take The Sun and News of the World business with him and will work out of an office at NGN’s advertising agency TBWA/London’s building four days a week, and one day a week at NGN’s offices in Wapping.

Agar was promoted to promotions director in August 1999, from the position of promotions manager.

The Sun launched an aggressive television promotion of its reduced cover price last week, following an announcement from rival Daily Mirror that it was planning to return to its full price of 32p in all regions. Both newspapers are now selling for 25p in the Carlton ITV region.

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News Group Newspapers parent company News International has promoted Stuart Corke to director of strategic planning from head of advertising planning. He now has overall charge of advertising planning and brand and circulation planning.