Analysis

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

Digital radio “facing a crisis”, says GCap chief

Marketing Week

Digital radio in the UK is facing a crisis, according to Ralph Bernard, outgoing chief executive of GCap Media. He has urged the Government to set an analogue switch over date so the industry can form a “business plan that makes sense”. In an interview with Marketing Week, Bernard says that Digital One, the national […]

Motorola to expand EMEA marketing team

Marketing Week

Motorola is looking to expand its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) marketing team following the appointment of Andrew Morley as vice-president of marketing for the region in July. Morley, a former BSkyB and Harrods marketer, replaced European marketing director Simon Thompson, who stepped down to join Lastminute.com in March. Motorola has a UK marketing […]

Brand management head joins Samsung from IBM

Marketing Week

Samsung has appointed IBM marketer Max Bonpain as head of brand management for the UK and Ireland. The role is new and is part of an extension of the company’s marketing team. Bonpain, who was previously a managing consultant within IBM’s global business services division, will be responsible for aboveand below-the-line activity, PR, events and […]

Ofgem’s green energy guide gets a ‘cautious’ thumbs up

Marketing Week

Energywatch and the National Consumer Council (NCC) have given a “cautious” welcome to proposals from Ofgem to create new guidelines to help consumers rate “green” energy tariffs. The two consumer bodies say although the proposals are “positive steps in the right direction” much more must be done to address consumer confusion over the term “low […]

Ford of Europe creates motorsports director role

Marketing Week

Ford of Europe has appointed Mark Deans to the new role of motorsport director. He will be responsible for developing Ford’s motorsport activities through extended advertising, sponsorship, sales promotion and merchandising programmes. Deans, who was previously Ford’s regional sales director for the South of England, will work alongside Malcolm Wilson, BP-Ford team director and owner […]

Christmas toy sales are ‘lagging’ by two weeks

Marketing Week

The 2007 Christmas toy market is lagging two weeks behind last year’s and is being driven by price promotions, according to Toy Retailers Association chairman Gary Grant. He says that although the most popular brands are, as often, in short supply, retailers are offering huge discounts on other ranges to secure market share. Grant says […]

King of Shaves owner goes green

Marketing Week

KMI, the company behind King of Shaves, is launching a range of eco-friendly handwashes, shower gels and anti-bacterial sanitisers called Patently Obvious. The range, which will be launched in Boots in February, will be backed with a digital marketing campaign and a strategic partnership with a yet-to-be-named charity. The initial line will consist of three […]

ASA pulls plug on posters showing actors holding firearms

Marketing Week

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has slammed a poster campaign for action thriller “Shoot ‘Em Up”, which showed actor Clive Owen brandishing a gun, because it glamourised gun crime. The campaign had three different executions of actors, including Monica Bellucci and Paul Giamatti, in various poses with guns. The campaign triggered 55 complaints. The ASA […]

COI picks client services chief for commercial role

Marketing Week

COI has promoted client services director Ian Hamilton to the new role of commercial director. The position has been created as part of a restructure that aims to improve its relationship with Whitehall clients. Hamilton, who will report to chief executive Alan Bishop, will have a brief to liaise with COI’s clients and the Office […]

National Express overhauls marketing for united brand

Marketing Week

The National Express Group is restructuring its marketing operations as it unites its various divisions under a single company-wide brand. The company has created a new strategic marketing department to oversee its activities, to be headed by Paul Bunting, currently chief executive of the National Express coach business. As director of strategic marketing, Bunting will […]

Will the UK follow the US lead in the ethnic beauty market?

Marketing Week

Black and Asian consumers in the UK are not being properly catered for by the beauty industry, according to research from Mintel (MW last week). A new report says the market for ethnic cosmetics in this country has grown by 24% since 2002, but is still worth only £65m, a scant 2% of the total […]