Original thought February 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Adam & Eve’s Jon Forsyth about the importance of agility COMMUNICATIONS agency Adam & Eve shook assumptions about the demise of traditional media when it created the 2011 John Lewis Christmas advert (one of five it has now done for the store). The agency was launched in 2008 and merged with [...]
The week in brief February 23, 2014 Coca-Cola to reinvest $1bn in marketing after fall in sales The soft drinks company – one of many struggling to deal with declining demand – plans to make an extra $1bn (£600m) in productivity savings by 2016, most of which will then be reinvested back into marketing. Earlier this month, it announced a drop in [...]
The week in brief February 16, 2014 Samsung launches brand marketing platform The electronics company has launched a brand marketing platform, “Launching People”, that will create a TV series where stars (including Idris Elba, Paloma Faith, Gizzi Erskine, and Rankin), will mentor undiscovered talent. Samsung hopes it will help the brand become the “most loved” in Britain. Mini seeks new creative agency [...]
Data driven February 9, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Havas Media’s Paul Frampton UNUSUALLY for the media world, Paul Frampton, chief executive of Havas Media, has only worked at one group over the course of his career. He talks to City A.M. about the cultural and leadership changes his industry must make to prepare for a fast-changing media landscape. How [...]
The week in brief February 9, 2014 McVitie’s in “family of brands” £12m relaunch United Biscuits has announced a relaunch of its McVitie’s brand, unveiling a £12m multi-media advertising campaign as part of its efforts to accelerate growth for its sweet biscuits category. The food group will introduce updated packaging as part of the campaign, which begun last week with the broadcast [...]
24 Carat Ambition February 2, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks trends with Tracy De Groose CARAT, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, is the UK’s second biggest media agency. Over the course of her career, chief executive Tracy De Groose has worked in marketing and communications on both the client and agency side. She talks to City A.M. about 2014’s big challenges [...]
The week in brief February 2, 2014 Jamie Oliver launches ad production business Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is launching a production house that will specialise in the creation of commercials, Campaign reported last week. The business, Fat Lemon Productions, will be led by executive producer Jane Bolton, formerly at Picasso Pictures and Nexus Network, and producer Cabell Hopkins, previously a producer M&C [...]
Partnerships may be the big trend in 2014 January 26, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to MediaCom’s Karen Blackett WHEN Karen Blackett, UK chief executive of MediaCom, got her first big break in 1993, it was over a year before Wired magazine launched the first ever ad on the World Wide Web. She talks to City A.M. about her career, adapting to a rapidly-changing industry, and the [...]
The week in brief January 26, 2014 Telefonica plans £200m media planning pitch The Spanish telecoms company is preparing to launch a media planning and buying review across its European business, according to Campaign. The review, thought to be statutory, is expected to start in April and will be run from Madrid. It includes Telefonica’s £50m account for O2, whose UK media [...]
The Woodford effect: How to get active value December 10, 2013 But investing in a cheaper passive vehicle may make more sense in more efficient markets CLOSE to £2bn has been withdrawn from Neil Woodford’s flagship funds, Invesco Perpetual High Income and Invesco Perpetual Income, in the two months since the fund manager announced that he will step down in April 2014. Despite experts advising against [...]