Kellogg has appointed the Martin Agency in the US to launch a
top-secret new product range, dubbed Essentials. The US agency becomes
the fourth agency on Kellogg’s dollars 400 million roster after pitching
against Ammirati Puris Lintas and the incumbents, J. Walter Thompson,
Leo Burnett and Burrell Communications. - CampaignLive
Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO has created a pounds 5 million TV campaign for
Yellow Pages in a bid to make the brand more modern. The two 50-second
TV ads break this week and show situations where Yellow Pages has come
in handy. - General release
Dixons faces an inquiry by the Office Fair Trading into its pricing of
personal computers, following an accusation by Craig Barrett, chief
executive of Intel, the world’s largest microchip manufacturer, that the
electrical retailer is damaging personal computer sales in the UK by
charging high prices. A letter has been sent to the OFT by Peter
Mandelson, the trade and industry secretary, voicing concerns about
Dixons’ pricing. - Marketing Week
Adidas’s head of communications, Andy Towne, has quit the sports company
to join the former Adidas UK managing director, Bob McCulloch, at the
outdoor clothing brand, Helly Hansen. A replacement is being sought for
Towne, who held the job for three years. - CampaignLive
Michael Quilty, managing director of MindShare Europe, has left the
company. Quilty, who was previously international media director at
Coca-Cola, joined the company in 1996 when it was still called the
Network - Marketing
The Manchester-based direct mail order company, JD Williams, is
splitting its pounds 10 million media planning and buying account
between the MacManus-owned Media Vision in Manchester and the Media
Business North. The account was held by Carat Direct Manchester. -
CampaignLive
Janet Jackson is starring in a new ad campaign for Pepsi while she is on
tour in South Africa. The soft drinks company dropped her brother,
Michael, as a spokesman in the early 90s. - Daily Star
French Connection has signed an estimated pounds 1.5 million sponsorship
deal with the world heavyweight boxing champion, Lennox Lewis, in the
run-up to his title unification world championship clash with Evander
Holyfield. The sponsorship involves the boxer wearing the ’fcuk’ brand
in training as well as on his shorts during the fight, which takes place
in New York next March. The deal was negotiated by French Connection’s
agency, TBWA GGT Simons Palmer. - Marketing Week
Euro RSCG Wnek Gosper’s TV ad for the Citroen Xsara in which Claudia
Schiffer strips as she gets into the car has been criticised by the
Broadcasting Standards Commission. The commission upheld complaints that
the ad ’denigrated women’ and ’contained unacceptable nudity for
broadcast pre-watershed’ just months after the Independent Television
Commission rejected similar complaints. - Daily Telegraph
Jim Beam Brands Worldwide has begun a search for a global advertising
agency to handle creative and media for its flagship brand, Jim Beam
bourbon. Jim Beam last month parted company with its agency of record,
Fallon McElligott, which had held the account for ten years. -
CampaignLive
Asda is to drop the post of marketing director following the departure
of Steven Cain to become chief executive of Carlton Communications
Marketing strategy will officially become the responsibility of the
supermarket’s chief executive, Allan Leighton. - Marketing
Carlton Communications has announced pre-tax profits of pounds 340
million, excluding investment in digital television, a rise of 7 per
cent on 1997. Turnover before digital television increased by 5 per cent
to pounds 1,835.4 million from pounds 1,749.7 million. - General release
