Month: June 2008

Radical reorganisation on agenda for Sport England

Marketing Week

The Government is making major reforms to Sport England as part of its strategy to capitalise on the London 2012 Olympic Games and pull Britons out of their increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham revealed that Sport England would be subject to a radical reorganisation, making it “leaner […]

Staaf to head own-brand marketing for O2

Marketing Week

O2 has appointed Erik Staaf to the new role of head of own-brand marketing. He joined from mobile phone headset maker Jabra late last month. Staaf will be responsible for the launch of own-branded mobile phones and other devices, as well as overseeing Apple’s iPhone. He will report to the brand’s marketing director Sally Cowdry. […]

Virgin Money drops green card for mobile payments

Marketing Week

Virgin Money has shelved plans for a biodegradable credit card in favour of “greener” systems, such as payment over mobile phones. The financial services company says the green card, which was announced in April last year (MW April 26, 2007), is unlikely to launch soon. Instead, it is focusing on opportunities such as launching a […]

Can John Lewis chief Inglis defy the credit crunch and grow the brand?

Marketing Week

Only three months into his role as head of brand communications at John Lewis, and Craig Inglis is already talking about his ambition of giving the retail brand a “bit more of a face and a personality”. In his first exclusive interview, the former Virgin Trains marketing chief who left the train operator last November […]

CIM survey reveals optimism about marketing prospects

Marketing Week

Marketers remain “surprisingly” bullish about their own organisations’ prospects despite becoming increasingly gloomy about the UK economy, according to the latest research from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. The report, published in today’s Marketing Week, reveals that more than a third of marketers believe the UK will be in recession in 2008. The number of […]

Jordans leaves its independent roots to go global with ABF

Marketing Week

Jordans, the cereal maker, is the latest “eccentric” start-up that has sold itself to a major corporation after decades of being resolutely independent. It joins Green & Black’s, now part of Cadbury, and Ben & Jerry’s, owned by Unilever, as an independent that punched above its weight but sold out in the name of increasing […]

Numico brings Euro RSCG into the fold

Marketing Week

Euro RSCG has won a place on the roster for baby food company Numico, despite losing out in a competitive pitch against Leo Burnett last year. The company has started with working with Euros since it was taken over by Danone last year. The acquisition happened in the middle of the review of the company’s […]

WARL wins Mates account

Marketing Week

WARL, the integrated agency, has won the Mates Condoms business without a pitch. It is not clear if there was an incumbent agency. WARL is working on the condom maker’s strategic development, which is expected to include a campaign to differentiate it from rival Durex. It is not known if it is planning new products. […]

Google looks for UK DM agency

Marketing Week

Google is seeking a direct marketing agency for the first time to handle its UK business-to-business work. It has already started to talking to a “closed list” of agencies. The internet company is seeking an agency that can provide advice and act quickly as Google’s direct marketing requirements become more sophisticated. The search is being […]

The Black Hole and Elmwood join William Hill roster

Marketing Week

William Hill has appointed The Black Hole and Elmwood to its below-the-line roster. It comes just weeks after it appointed Billington Cartmell to work on its retail division’s below-the-line work. The latest appointments follow a series of pitches, led by the bookmaker’s marketing director, Adam Harris. Leeds-based brand response agency The Black Hole has scooped […]