Partners BDDH has picked up the advertising for Mercedes’ used-car
business, Signature, in addition to its existing Mercedes account. The
business was previously held by Maher Bird Associates.
BSkyB has appointed Mark Sharman as director of broadcasting. Sharman,
who joins from Channel 4 where he was the controller of sport, will have
responsibility for the output of Sky News, Sky One and the Sky Movie
channels.
JCB, the heavy machinery manufacturer that moved into fashion last year,
has been talking to agencies about an international advertising project.
The corporate marketing director, Jonathan Hearth, began contacting
agencies this week with a view to holding credentials meetings in
mid-December.
The Queen’s Speech on Wednesday included legislation to impose a pounds
20 million ceiling on the general election budget of each political
party, which will force Labour and the Tories to cut ad budgets.
Open has appointed DP&A as its lead direct marketing agency. Tequila
Payne Stracey will handle the interactive TV company’s trade marketing.
The account was resigned by Archibald Ingall Stretton last month.
JCDecaux has defeated Adshel to win the contract to supply bus shelters
to Glasgow City Council. Adshel had held the contract - the
second-largest in the country - since the early 70s. The new contract
runs for 15 years and gives Decaux a third of the 6-sheet poster
market.
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising may make a formal
complaint to the Broadcasting Standards Council about the BBC2
documentary, Getting Older Younger, on the topic of marketing to
children (Leader, p27).
DMB&B Financial has beaten three agencies to retain its pounds 5 million
John Charcol business - the UK’s biggest mortgage broker. The agency
beat Joshua, Team Saatchi and Blowfish to the task of launching the
charcolonline.co.uk e-commerce arm.
The online retailer, Premium Petcare, is looking for an advertising
agency to launch petspyjamas.com - Europe’s first online petcare portal.
The project has been backed by Chase Capital Partners. The site launched
in the UK this month targeting 6.6 million pet owners.
Hoojit, a new internet shopping service, has begun talking to ad
agencies about a campaign. Hoojit is one element of Strayduck.com, an
internet service which offers users the free use of telephones one week
in three as well as free internet access.
The GWR radio group has joined forces with Scottish Radio Holdings to
apply for a second digital radio multiplex licence to serve Greater
London. The consortium, called Score Now, is considering proposals for
formats. The closing date for applications is 11 January 2000.
Mehdi Norowzian, the commercials director, is giving up his fight for
damages against Guinness and the Arks agency for allegedly ripping off
his work for a TV campaign after the rejection of his claim by the Court
of Appeal. ’I feel I’ve done everything I can and enough is enough,’ he
said. ’This has been a huge emotional drain on me’.
The IPA Society, which organises events for members of the trade body in
their 20s and 30s, is set to become the 44 Club - the name by which it
was known more than 30 years ago.
There will be a memorial gathering next week for Peter Plumbstead, the
respected commercials producer who ran the Shooting Lodge, who died
recently. It is on 25 November at the Paparazzi Lounge, 9 Hanover
Street, W1 between 6.30pm and 9.00pm. Details from Caroline Baker on
0171-637 9990.
