Thorntons, the struggling upmarket confectionery manufacturer, is launching a mainstream product to rival Mars Celebrations and Cadbury’s Miniature Heroes. The confectionery company is developing the product and hopes to begin trials before Christmas. The initiative is part of a drive by Thorntons to create a new image for its stores through family-focused advertising. The company […]
Beleaguered car company Rover has been hit by yet another defection from its senior management team. After less than three months as managing director with responsibility for sales and marketing of Rover Cars in the UK, Paul Willis has left to join rival car company Volkswagen. As director of Volkswagen Cars, Willis has overall responsibility […]
Channel 4 is seeking a new sponsor for its entire sports programming because Volkswagen has decided not to renew the &£3m deal. The car manufacturer, which has been contracted to Channel 4 for two years, believes that the sponsorship has served its purpose. The contract comes to an end in May. Volkswagen communications manager Bernard […]
Laurence Haselhurst is retiring from his role as international media manager for petfoods at Pedigree Masterfoods. Haselhurst will be replaced by Angus McIntosh, media manager at Mars Confectionery. Haselhurst is also chairman of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers’ TV Action Group. Pedigree Masterfoods refused to comment on the moves. The announcement comes amid a […]
Volkswagen has decided to ignore public pressure to cut prices, and is scrapping its “Surprisingly ordinary prices” campaign in favour of a new strategy promising customers they will get more for their money. “More Volkswagen for your money”, replaces “Surprisingly ordinary prices,” as a retaliation to the recent public outcry over UK car pricing. Created […]
Volkswagen has appointed BMP InterAction to handle its Internet business. The appointment has forced BMP InterAction, the sister company of Volkswagen’s creative agency BMP DDB, to resign from the rival Vauxhall business which it has handled
Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]
Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]
Novartis Consumer Health has appointed Grey Advertising to launch a new functional foods brand across Europe with a &£20m campaign. Grey pitched against TBWA Worldwide for the creative account, although it is unclear if other agencies were involved. The consumer brand division of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant has also appointed CIA Medianetwork and Grey-owned Joshua […]
The local press should not be underestimated. New media trends must incorporate not ignore its influence to be effective.
The Volkswagen Group (VW) has moved its £60m UK media buying and planning account out of BBJ Media Services and into Mediacom TMB, wiping out nearly a third of BBJ’s billings. Mediacom’s victory, predicted in Marketing Week (MW June 3), puts into doubt the future of BBJ’s TV buying operation, which some observers believe may […]
The Volkswagen Group (VW) has moved its £60m UK media buying and planning account out of BBJ Media Services and into Mediacom TMB, wiping out nearly a third of BBJ’s billings. Mediacom’s victory, predicted in Marketing Week (MW June 3), puts into doubt the future of BBJ’s TV buying operation, which some observers believe may […]
When Nationwide Building Society marketing director Mike Lazenby talks about running a campaign, you would do well to check whether he is wearing trainers. Lazenby, a keen long-distance runner, has combined his hobby with his company’s sponsorship of England’s 2006 World Cup bid. Whenever he races, he makes sure the organisers allocate him the running […]
Volvo, the Ford-owned car manufacturer, has parted company with Malcolm Wade, its sales and marketing director in the UK. Wade has this week joined the Volkswagen-owned manufacturer Rolls-Royce as managing director of UK operations. Industry observers believe Wade may have left Volvo following the appointment of Dieter Laxy as the company’s head of global marketing […]
The Volkswagen Group has undergone a senior management shake-up, which has resulted in the appointment of two new UK chiefs for the VW-owned car companies Audi and Seat. Kevin Rose, the director of Seat UK, moves across to become Audi’s UK chief. He replaces Dermot Kelly, who was poached by rival Mercedes-Benz after less than […]