The National Magazine Company has split with its masthead TV
programming partner, Granada, following the latter’s decision not to use
NatMags’ programmes on the ITV network. NatMags will cease broadcasting
its Zest and Good Housekeeping shows on Granada’s satellite venture,
GSkyB, and, said Terry Mansfield, the managing director, will
’concentrate on other TV opportunities’.
Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper has axed seven creatives including the board-level
art director, Mark Riley, in the first stage of a reorganisation of its
creative department. ’In the end, the only inexcusable thing is not to
have the best possible offering,’ Mark Wnek, executive creative
director, said, adding that the agency would announce some new creative
hirings next year.
Carat is restructuring its press department after its press director,
Nigel Breckon, decided to leave the media industry to take a sabbatical.
Breckon will be replaced by his deputy, Tim Kirkman.
The National Bingo Association has shortlisted DMB&B and FCA! for its #5
million creative account, knocking Saatchi & Saatchi off the long list.
Pitches will take place next week.
David Banks, a former editor of the Daily Mirror and most recently
director of information for Mirror Group, is to co-present Talk Radio’s
breakfast show with Nick Ferrari, the director of programmes for Live
TV. The three-hour programme will discuss ’issues important to ordinary
people’.
Scottish agencies are threatening to write to the Office of Fair Trading
about Scottish Media Group’s alleged abuse of its dominance of the
television market north of the border. SMG owns STV and Grampian and,
according to Scottish agencies, the company could be offering more
favourable ad rates to its sister SMG newspapers than to rival
newspapers seeking to advertise on television.
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO is hunting for a heavyweight creative to
succeed David Abbott, acknowledged as one of the finest copywriters of
his generation, as partner for the art director, Ron Brown. Abbott
retired from the agency in October.
Doner Cardwell Hawkins has been appointed to create a campaign for the
Cats Protection League following its corporate identity change. A
campaign to increase the membership and rebrand the charity is expected
in the new year. Doner pitched against Claydon Heeley and Citigate. The
incumbent, Gotham, was not invited to repitch.
Cogent has beefed up its creative department by hiring two creative
teams. Ross Thompson, who joins from 1576, will partner the former Leo
Burnett creative group head, Gareth Pitman. The agency has also hired
Sebastian Lembke and Aaron Hulsizer.
Egg has changed the name of its Egg Instant Access account to Egg
Savings Account after talks with the Advertising Standards Authority.
The ASA said the account shouldn’t be described as instant access
because it could take three days to transfer funds.
United Broadcasting and Entertainment, which includes Meridian, Anglia,
HTV and Rapture, has confirmed that Malcolm Wall will succeed Roger
Laughton as chief executive at Easter. John Cresswell, the financial
director, will become chief operating officer.
Cadbury Schweppes has sold its soft drinks businesses outside of the US
to Coca-Cola for #1.1 billion. Cadbury will retain its Schweppes brand
in the US but it will only account for 2 per cent of group business. The
sale throws into question the future of Cadbury’s creative and media
agency roster, which includes Young & Rubicam, TBWA GGT Simons Palmer
and Zenith Media.
In last week’s Private View credits, we incorrectly stated that Tim
Yates was marketing manager of One2One. He is, of course, marketing
director.
Campaign is taking a two-week break over the festive season. The next
issue will be dated 8 January and will be widely available on Thursday,
7 January. In the meantime, we wish all our readers a very happy
Christmas.
