Analysis

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

Diageo signs F1 champ to promote responsible drinking

Marketing Week

Diageo has appointed double Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen as responsible drinking ambassador for its Johnnie Walker Formula One sponsorship programme. Johnnie Walker is an official partner for Team McLaren Mercedes, and spends more than £2m a year on promoting responsible drinking. Hakkinen will tour the world promoting sensible drinking and safe driving by […]

FDF slams Which? food marketing report

Marketing Week

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has slammed consumer watchdog Which? for trying to “generate cheap headlines” about food advertising to children rather than co-operating with industry and other stakeholders. The FDF’s comments come as Which? launches a report, Foods Fables, that looks at the methods used by manufacturers to advertise to children. The watchdog […]

Magliano takes strategic role at Dyson

Marketing Week

Former London 2012 marketing chief David Magliano has joined Dyson as a non-executive director. He will advise the company on its marketing strategy and work closely with global marketing director Clare Mullin. Magliano, who was awarded an MBE in recognition of his efforts to help secure the Olympic Games for London, joins Dyson as it […]

Sky expands download service

Marketing Week

BSkyB is rebranding its Sky by Broadband service as Sky Anytime on PC and expanding the range of its downloadable entertainment content to include sport and popular Sky One shows such as Lost. The service will also rebrand the mobile phone service as Sky Anytime on Mobile before the end of the year. The third […]

Help the Aged backs social networking site

Marketing Week

Help the Aged is supporting a new social community website that encourages members to share their life stories and helps them stay in touch with friends and family. The site, meRemembered.com, will also allow users to search its database for old acquaintances and members can also set-up online “memorials” for relatives that have passed away. […]

Daily Mail reports ad sales recovery

Marketing Week

Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT), owner of the Daily Mail and Evening Standard, claims it is seeing a “gentle recovery” in national advertising sales and has reported strong results due to growth in its digital and business divisions. The newspaper group reported a 9% increase in pre-tax profits from £237m to £260m in its […]

BOA names partnership director

Marketing Week

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has named Mark Zimmer as its new director of corporate partnerships. He will be responsible for its fundraising programme in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games alongside London 2012. Zimmer previously headed the organisation’s “British Olympic Appeal” in the lead up to the 2004 Athens Olympic games. […]

Heinz hands 10m ad account to McCann and M&C

Marketing Week

Heinz has appointed McCann Erickson and M&C Saatchi to handle its 10m advertising account in a blow to Beattie McGuinness Bungay, the only roster agency left in the pitch. McCann will handle the majority of the business, including baked beans and tomato ketchup, and M&C will work on the Amoy brand and new products.

Ofcom junks food ads aimed at children

Marketing Week

Ofcom’s decision last week to ban junk food advertising around children’s television programmes following a protracted consultation seems only to have succeeded in outraging all sides. After proposing restrictions that cover children up to the age of 16, rather than the under-nines it consulted on, the media regulator has been accused by trade bodies, food […]

Will Murdoch stake secure ITV’s future

Marketing Week

BSkyB’s shock capture of 17.9% of the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster last week has pitted Sky chief executive James Murdoch against Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, each casting himself as ITV’s “white knight”. Yesterday (Tuesday), in a further twist, the ITV board rejected a £4.7bn bid by cable company NTL. Advertisers and agencies insist in […]

Is Sky a plus for ITV?

Marketing Week

It seems astonishing that shortly after his soggy nomans land warning about the likes of ITV2, James Murdoch should write a cheque for 940m to buy a share of ITV. Yes, he wants to keep Virgin at bay, but he also has plans that could dramatically change the TV ad market. By Dominic Dudley.

Seasonal popularity contest

Marketing Week

Christmas starts earlier, and gets more stressful, with each passing year, but sympathetic in-store messages can transform the experience – and stop the drift to online shopping. At the risk of sounding Scrooge-like, it’s that time of year again. Except that that time of year now lasts a full quarter. While shopping in Sainsbury’s in […]

Miller Brand UK loses marketing director

Marketing Week

The marketing director of Miller Brand UK Jean-Pierre van Lin has left the company. It is not known whether he has a job to go to. Staff were informed by an internal memo that van Lin had “left SABMiller to pursue other career opportunities outside the company”. Van Lin joined Miller Brewing, as it then […]

Virgin Atlantic picks top marketer in restructure

Marketing Week

Virgin Atlantic has restructured its marketing department and moved director of customer services Paul Dickinson to the new role of sales and marketing director. Dickinson, who has been with Virgin Atlantic for five years, will oversee the airline’s sales and marketing departments, as well as the Flying Club loyalty scheme and e-commerce. The reshuffle sees […]