Ferrero Rocher’s cult commercial, the ‘ambassador’s party’, has had a
lavish makeover. The new-look ad will spearhead a pounds 17 million
advertising push into Europe, this week began a pounds 3 million run in
the UK. New scenes include a magnificent opening shot of the
ambassador’s chateau-style residence and new guests, including an Indian
prince. One less welcome omission is John Albinieri, the actor who
played the butler, who has been axed in a total recast. The ad was
directed, without dialogue, by Brian Byfield at Brian Byfield Films.
The top production company, Rose Hackney Barber,has snapped up the star
commercials director, Anthea Breton, who split from her directing
partner, Vaughan Arnell, in August. The pair’s most prominent work
includes Levi’s ‘creek’, Smirnoff’s ‘wedding’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ for
Entenmanns Cakes.
‘Health warnings’ on financial services ads are likely to be scrapped by
a Labour government, according to Nigel Griffiths, the party’s shadow
spokesman for consumer affairs. Griffiths told an industry talk held at
the law firm, Lewis Silkin, that current regulations confused the
consumer and did not address the real issue of stopping financial
malpractice at source. Afterwards, he told Campaign: ‘Financial health
warnings seem to be ineffective. It is more likely that we would get rid
of them than keep them’.
Anheuser-Busch is understood to have shortlisted three agencies for a
review of its Michelob beer account. Strategic and creative
presentations are due next month from St Luke’s, the incumbent, BMP DDB,
and Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters.
Plans to allow bingo to be advertised on television are expected to be
rushed through Parliament before the general election. In a U-turn
announced this week, ministers pledged to abolish the ban on advertising
by bingo clubs. Proposals to allow bingo ads in the press, cinemas, on
radio and posters were made in a consultation document this spring
(Campaign, 1 March). But the Government baulked at allowing TV ads,
saying they might encourage young people to gamble excessively.
Amy Smith, the new-business director at Simons Palmer Clemmow Johnson,
is leaving the agency to join McCann-Erickson in a similar role. Smith’s
appointment is thought to be part of a larger-scale management
restructure at McCanns.
The Conservative Party has booked a pounds 4 million, five-month poster
advertising blitz from January. The Tory Party, through its poster
buying specialist, Concord, has soaked up a large number of 48- and 96-
sheet poster sites in the run-up to the election.
Zenith Media, CIA Medianetwork, Initiative Media and at least one other
European network are understood to be lining up for Visa’s pounds 30
million pan-European media planning and buying account. The agencies
have been invited to present their credentials as a prelude to a full-
blown pitch.
M&C Saatchi has completed the senior management line-up in its US office
by hiring Brent Bouchez and David Page, a senior creative team from
Ammirati Puris Lintas in New York. Bouchez, 39, a copywriter, becomes
president and Page, 40, an art director, takes over as executive
creative director. Both will have equity stakes. Mike Gold, who helped
set up the M&C Saatchi operation in the US, will return to a senior
position in the London agency.
The pounds 4.5 million BAA account is to stay at Bates Dorland following
a final shoot-out between the incumbent shop and Howell Henry Chaldecott
Lury. The review is understood to have been called partly because of
concern about last summer’s TV campaign which BAA chiefs felt did not
strike the right tone.
The Cyprus Tourist Authority has changed its mind about allowing its
agency, Summerfield Wilmot Keene, to repitch for its pounds 1.5 million
account (Campaign, last week). The agency had been excluded from the
list but will now contest the business against DMB&B, Collett Dickenson
Pearce, BMP4 and Impact FCA.
