Samantha Smith, the former Burger King marketing director whose post was
axed three months ago, is joining Demon Internet as its marketing
director. Smith will overhaul marketing and customer service at Demon,
which faces a threat from the recently launched VirginNet. She replaces
Martin Lester, whose future role with Demon is unconfirmed. Marketing
Autoglass has replaced its marketing and planning director, Alistair
Clark, with Nicola Potts, who joins from its parent company, Belron.
Clark left last month after a dispute with the managing director, Gary
Luber. Potts will review Autoglass’s marketing operations, including the
pounds 3 million advertising account currently held by BMP DDB.
Marketing
Britvic has run into controversy over trying to use Paul Gascoigne’s
alleged wife-beating to promote its energy drink, Red Card. Britvic has
used a picture of a crushed Red Card can with the strapline: ‘You can’t
beat a Red Card, Gazza.’ Gascoigne’s lawyers have contacted Britvic to
demand damages, an immediate end to the campaign and a promise that it
will not use the word ‘Gazza’ in future commercials. Sunday
Telegraph
TBWA Direct and Payne Stracey have merged to create a new company, which
will retain the name TBWA Direct and will have combined billings of
pounds 33 million. Payne Stracey has a share of BT business and TBWA is
a roster agency with BT Business in Spain and Holland. Both companies
work for Nissan. Marketing
The Credit Suisse Group banking corporation has appointed Euro RSCG Wnek
Gosper to create a pounds 5 million global corporate campaign to unite
the sections of the company: its Credit Suisse operation based in
Switzerland; its US division, Credit Suisse First Boston; and its asset
management and private banking interests. Euro RSCG’s win came after a
three-way pitch involving TBWA and McCann-Erickson. Marketing Week
ITV’s Blind Date is to be sponsored for the first time by the holiday
company, Going Places. Going Places wants to reposition itself as ‘the
holiday matchmaker’ and is expected to use this theme in its
advertising. The company will feature in the opening and closing credits
although exposure will be restricted should contestants win holidays
abroad. Marketing
Safeway is to launch a debit card in conjunction with Abbey National in
spring 1997. The ABC Bonus card will be accepted at more than 70,000
outlets which accept the Visa Electron card and can also be used in
other retail chains such as Toys ‘R’ Us, W. H. Smith, Granada, Virgin
and C&A. Financial Times
British Gas is searching for its first group marketing director in an
attempt to rid itself of its negative image. The position will carry a
basic salary of up to pounds 200,000. The move follows a restructure by
the British Gas executive director, Roy Gardner. Marketing
Todd Martin, vice-president for marketing for PepsiCo Restaurants
International, is moving to the company’s Dallas offices to handle a
global branding and advertising campaign for Pizza Hut. Martin was
responsible for launching the stuffed-crust pizza in Europe and the
Middle East and also for its move to pan-European advertising.
Marketing
Andrew Williams, account director at Saatchi and Saatchi and part of the
team that created the ‘kerching’ campaign for Visa Delta, has been
appointed by Prudential to head its advertising when the company moves
into banking next year. Williams will report to Peter Stevens, marketing
director of Prudential’s banking division, and Mike Tildersley,
recently promoted from marketing communications director to marketing
director for assurance. The hirings finalise Prudential’s marketing
line-up after its split into separate assurance and banking divisions.
Marketing
