J. Walter Thompson New York is restructuring its management
following the unexpected resignation last week of its chief executive,
Susan Gianinno, who announced her departure after disagreements with
JWT’s chief executive, Chris Jones. Advertising Age
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group looks set to take on Whitbread’s David
Lloyd sports centre empire with a range of upmarket health clubs. The
first centre in Preston, Lancashire, will have the latest sport and gym
facilities as well as creches, home working rooms and restaurants. The
Mail on Sunday
The Guinness chairman, Tony Greener, has apologised to John Robb, his
counterpart at British Energy, the nuclear power generator, over a
Guinness poster that appears to malign the nuclear industry. Greener has
promised that the poster, which features the line, ’nuclear power is
completely safe, with no environmental problems’ next to a two-headed
fish, will not run again. The Scotsman
The Chelsea Football Club manager, Ruud Gullit, is starring in ads
wearing body-hugging black underwear to promote his range of men’s
clothing. The ads are to be placed on the back of London buses to
coincide with the launch of the clothing line next month. Daily Star
McVitie’s has signed GMTV’s fitness guru, Mr Motivator, to replace Jane
Asher as the face of its Go-Ahead brand. Mr Motivator, whose real name
is Derrick Evans, will feature in a pounds 5 million campaign through
Leo Burnett for the McVitie’s low-fat brand in the new year. The Sun
Daihatsu is to launch a full range of banking services including current
accounts and mortgages. It hopes to offer home, motor and travel
insurance, as well as credit cards by 1999 in conjunction with the Bank
of Scotland subsidiary, Capital Bank. Marketing
United Biscuits has appointed St Ivel’s head of strategic planning, Neil
Robinson, as marketing controller of its KP Foods crisp division.
Robinson, who will be responsible for an advertising budget of around
pounds 7 million, takes over from Andrew Christophers who is leaving to
become director of the marketing consultancy, Brand Genetics.
Marketing
National Savings has asked M&C Saatchi and at least one other agency to
advise on repositioning the brand ahead of an advertising pitch next
year. Four communications companies are helping with the project and
their findings will form the basis of the brief for the pitch. The
National Savings business was previously with HHCL & Partners but was
awarded last month on a caretaker basis to Walsh Trott Chick Smith.
General release
The organisers of the 1998 World Cup have sent out 200 letters to
advertising and promotion agencies threatening legal action if they
carry out ’parasite marketing’ campaigns during the competition. Legal
action will only be possible if a company uses a brand, logo or
competition mascot without authority. Marketing Week
London International Group, the manufacturer of Durex condoms, has
appointed Patrick Legrand, the Tambrands vice-president of sales and
marketing, to oversee global marketing of the Durex brand. Legrand will
spearhead the company’s new centralised global marketing strategy and
will control a budget of around pounds 25 million. Marketing Week
Christine Walker, the Walker Media chief executive, has agreed to abide
by the terms of her contract with her former employer, Zenith Media,
after both sides settled their legal action. The agreement means Walker
will be prevented from approaching former clients and staff for the next
12 months although a list of clients and ex-clients has been drawn up by
Zenith that will not be covered by any restrictions. General
release.
