Analysis

In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.

Rise in crime triggers agency search

Marketing Week

A 100% rise in gun crime in London’s City of Westminster has added to pressure on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to step up the fight against gang violence and firearms offences. Smith launched a national drive against gang violence in September and is considering whether to hire an ad agency as part of the battle. […]

ABTA launches green scheme for travellers on the Web

Marketing Week

The Association of British Travel Agents has launched its first approved carbon offsetting programme for the travel industry. The web-based initiative, reducemyfootprint.travel, has been developed by ABTA and has the backing of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). It will be operated by Carbon Offsets. Reduce My Footprint aims to support offsetting projects that […]

Glasses Direct appoints first marketing director

Marketing Week

Glasses Direct has appointed Phil Gates, former head of online marketing at Virgin Mobile and Virgin Media, as its marketing director. The appointment is one of a number of recruits for the online retailer’s inaugural marketing department. The move comes ahead of plans by Glasses Direct founder Jamie Murray Wells to ramp up his operation, […]

Pugh’s promotion makes him a contender for the Camelot throne

Marketing Week

Camelot’s promotion of marketing director Martin Pugh to its executive board earlier this month opens the way for the former Pizza Hut and Safeway marketer to succeed chief executive Dianne Thompson when she steps down in 2012. He may have his hands full trying to revive flagging sales of the Olympic fundraising game Dream Number, […]

Aveda to push green issues in campaign

Marketing Week

Aveda, the beauty products company, is ramping up its focus on its green credentials as part of a marketing strategy for next year. It plans to launch a product or range linked to an environmental issue every two months. The first execution will launch in the US on January 1 and will focus on wind […]

O2 seeks head for first CSR division

Marketing Week

O2 is seeking a senior marketer to head a new corporate social responsibility (CSR) division. It is understood that O2 is the first mobile operator to launch a standalone CSR team. The mobile operator wants to appoint a head of corporate responsibility, environment and community to lead its environment and sustainability arm and its corporate […]

Bernard’s dire digital radio warning

Marketing Week

Digital radio is “facing a crisis” despite the forthcoming launch of a national commercial multiplex next year, according to outgoing GCap Media chief executive Ralph Bernard. Bernard, who is stepping down after 25 years as the head of Britain’s biggest commercial radio broadcaster, told Marketing Week that the Government’s failure to set an analogue switchover […]

Jobs axe to fall on GB Airline marketers

Marketing Week

GB Airways’ marketing department is expected to be axed when it is taken over by easyJet in the New Year. It is understood that the airline’s cabin crew and pilots will remain with the airline but other a question mark hangs over other staff, including the five-strong marketing team once the deal is completed.Although the […]

Glasses Direct focuses on fashion

Marketing Week

James Murray Wells, the 24-year-old entrepreneur behind online spectacles retailer Glasses Direct, has appointed Albion as the company’s first retained advertising agency ahead of a renewed marketing push (MW last week). It is the latest step for the young man who started the business in 2004 with £1,000 from his student loan. Alarmed at the […]

Media owners to join Online Marketing Show

Marketing Week

Marketing Week and New Media Age have broadened the Online Marketing Show to include media’s role in marketing communications. The event, renamed the Online Marketing and Media Show 08, will take place at the Business Design Centre in north London on June 24 and 25, 2008. The event will see media owners represented on the […]

TBWA/London nets pan-European ad account for Emaar’s hotel brand

Marketing Week

Emaar, the largest property owner in the Middle East, is poised to appoint TBWA/ London to its pan-European advertising account for its new hotel brand. The account is understood to be worth about £10m. The agency is understood to have won the account following a competitive pitch against a number of undisclosed agencies. It was […]

Cadbury World adds Big to roster as marketing agency

Marketing Week

Big Communications has been appointed by Cadbury World to handle its integrated advertising account. The win follows a four-way pitch against UnitComms, Connect Group and KLM. Incumbent agency Palmer Hargreaves Wallis Tomlinson, which had worked for Cadbury World for seven years, was not invited to repitch. Big is developing a strategy for the Birmingham tourist […]

Five seeks agency to refresh on-air identity after exit of director

Marketing Week

Five is talking to agencies about a project to refresh the broadcaster’s on-air identity. The news follows the departure of its marketing director Jane Scott last month. A spokesman confirms that Five is talking to “one or two agencies about some ident work”, but he denies speculation it is reviewing its £5m advertising account, which […]