The Marshalls group has put its holding company into receivership,
dashing hopes of building an integrated marketing services operation
through joint ventures.
All eight joint venture companies under the Marshalls umbrella,
including Marshalls Advertising, its agency arm, are continuing to trade
as they are either bought out by their managements or seek new
partners.
Up to four jobs will go as a result of the group company’s demise. They
include its chairman, Mike Isaacson, the former Creative Business and
FCB creative director who joined in January 1995 with a brief to
co-ordinate the group affiliates and integrate creative work through the
line.
The group was born out of Marshalls Advertising three years ago with the
aim of capitalising on the trend towards integrated communications.
But there has been little cross-referral of business between the
affiliates, whose 50/50 joint ownership limited the amount of
co-operation.
Ann Murray Chatterton, the Marshalls Advertising chief executive, said:
’The marketing concept of the group was absolutely correct but the
system of joint venture companies was perhaps not the most
appropriate.’
She added: ’It hasn’t worked out and we thought it best that the holding
company should fold to allow the individual companies to run their own
businesses.’
Marshalls Advertising, ranked 73rd in the UK with 1996 billings of
pounds 11 million, picked up the pounds 750,000 Ruddles Best Bitter
account a year ago and was recently appointed to launch computer games
and children’s educational titles for Ocean Software and Infogrames.
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