The week in brief
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 Saatchi. Hopkins has worked on accounts including NatWest and Kronenbourg 1664. Fat Lemon will be a sister shop to Oliver’s TV production company Fresh One which was created in 2000.
SMEs advised to invest in advertising
According to a report published last week by Deloitte on behalf of the Advertising Association, SMEs need to increase their investment in advertising. Sustained economic recovery will depend on the health of our SMEs, it says, but these businesses underinvest in advertising, limiting their growth domestically and overseas. The report, Advertising Pays: How Advertising Fuels The UK Economy, has found that UK SMEs represent 40 per cent of UK turnover, but only 18 per cent of ad spend. Using advertising to help raise UK SME exports to the EU average would add £40bn to the economy, it concludes.
Sir Chris swaps two wheels for four in Nissan ad
Nissan has kickstarted its Unite and Excite campaign with a high-octane cinematic ad, set in the velodrome and featuring brand ambassador Sir Chris Hoy. TBWALondon created the campaign. The film, which draws on the winning combination of innovation and determination, was directed by Juriaan Booij through RSA Films.
ZenithOptimedia hires MediaCom’s Bardega
ZenithOptimedia has poached Stefan Bardega, MediaCom UK’s head of digital and managing partner. He joins the ROI agency as global chief digital officer. Bardega launched MediaCom Beyond Advertising, the network’s content division, in 2009. He has previously worked at All Response Media and Outrider.
Cadbury revives Egg ‘n’ Spoon product with new ad
Cadbury has brought back its Egg ‘n’ Spoon product for Easter, and released a new ad to herald the start of the campaign, Drum reported last week. Fallon created the work, part of a £3m integrated campaign. The ad shows a father and daughter wordlessly performing a choreographed ritual to unwrap and tuck into the Easter treat.
Appointments
■ Simon Allan has joined Absolute as creative director. He was most recently design director at Origin Creative, working with clients including the BBC, Henri-Lloyd and Manchester United.
■ KPMG has appointed Clare Lucraft as UK head of corporate communications. Lucraft previously worked in internal communications at Cadbury Schweppes.