In-depth features, interviews and insights into marketing’s biggest issues.
Firstplus, a division of Barclays, has called a review of its digital business. Incumbent E3 has been invited to repitch alongside a number of undisclosed agencies. Internet strategy development director Nicola Hinds confirms the review, saying the business is looking for a strategic digital partner to deliver its “ambitious online vision”. A bank spokesman refuses […]
Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony is understood to be talking to agencies about a global campaign to unite the different parts of its business. The company is thought to have approached several agency networks to pitch for a project based around the concept of convergence. It is understood that it is being driven by senior […]
NTL:Telewest is understood to be plotting a major Valentine’s Day relaunch using the Virgin name, according to industry sources. An insider at the newly merged cable giant says the NTL and Telewest brands will be ditched in favour of Virgin Media on February 14 next year. The announcement will follow the integration of the Virgin […]
Edwin Mutton, director-general of the Institute of Sales Promotion (ISP), has accused the UK’s biggest grocers of costing suppliers up to £60m a year by accepting money-off coupons without selling their products. Launching a stinging attack on retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s – currently ranked first and third in terms of UK market share […]
Former Toyota GB commercial director Mike Moran is setting up a motoring consultancy called The Automotive Partnership (TAP). Moran has teamed up with former motoring journalist John Blauth to launch TAP on October 2. The consultancy will offer marketing services, public relations, media planning and buying, financial and strategic consultancy, and communications material. It has […]
It has been a while since Coca-Cola launched a product that did not draw any criticism or scepticism from the soft drinks and retail industries. Coke Zero looked like changing that. The Atlanta-based giant’s biggest launch since Diet Coke two decades ago was widely acknowledged by industry experts as living up to Coke’s own hype. […]
Computer processing giant Intel is launching a global branding campaign to support the new Intel Core 2 Duo. The “Multiply” campaign is Intel’s biggest marketing push since the 3m launch of Intel Centrino mobile technology in 2004…
Waterstone’s, the HMV-owned book chain, has appointed Neil Jewsbury to the new role of commercial director. He joins from online retailer Ocado. Jewsbury will oversee the marketing, internet and product teams at the bookseller, which recently acquired rival Ottakar’s. He was head of trading and marketing at online grocery outlet Ocado, which operates deliveries for […]
Five has announced a 4m marketing drive to support the launch of its two new digital channels Five Life and Five US. It is the channel’s biggest advertising push to date.
GCap Media, the owner of London’s Capital Radio, is launching a national jazz music station on DAB digital radio. It will be launched before the end of the year. The station, which will target ABC1 listeners over 35 years old, will be a sister station to Classic FM, which will be used to cross-promote the […]
Yahoo! has signed Sainsbury’s as the first sponsor of its recently launched Yahoo! Answers service. The supermarket chain is to sponsor the “food and drink” section of the site from now until the end of the year. As part of the deal, Sainsbury’s will add daily questions, covering topics such as healthy eating to simple […]
PepsiCo has appointed John Compton to the new role of chief executive for North American operations, in a bid to improve coordination between its divisions. Compton, who is currently president and chief executive of its Quaker Tropicana Gatorade division, will take over the role immediately. Chuck Maniscalco, president of Gatorade and Propel, will take […]
Royal Mail has started a review of its 40m media planning and buying account, which will be overseen by the company’s marketing director, Alex Batchelor. It is also looking for an agency to handle communications planning as part of the process
Speaking at the Royal Television Society’s 2006 conference, Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan has predicted swingeing cuts to TV advertising budgets next year.
The Conservative Party is ditching its famous “freedom torch” logo after almost 30 years and replacing it with an oak tree.