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Mars shuffles roles in Euro petcare rejig

Marketing Week

Mars has restructured its petcare operation so that the marketing of brands such as Whiskas and Pedigree will be managed on a pan-European basis. The shake-up, as predicted in Marketing Week (January 6), is overseen by vice-president of European petcare marketing Anne Francke. It hands marketing chiefs in the UK, France and Germany extra European […]

Mars condemns poor ITV deals

Marketing Week

Mars is being forced to alter its advertising plans for this year following poor ratings for ITV programmes in January and February. The confectionery giant’s European media manager Angus McIntosh told the TV 2000 conference in Lisbon last week: “Mars has just had to write down substantially its ratings for the year based on your […]

Thorntons takes on Mars with new product launch

Marketing Week

Thorntons, the struggling upmarket confectionery manufacturer, is launching a mainstream product to rival Mars Celebrations and Cadbury’s Miniature Heroes. The confectionery company is developing the product and hopes to begin trials before Christmas. The initiative is part of a drive by Thorntons to create a new image for its stores through family-focused advertising. The company […]

Top Rover marketer defects to rival VW

Marketing Week

Beleaguered car company Rover has been hit by yet another defection from its senior management team. After less than three months as managing director with responsibility for sales and marketing of Rover Cars in the UK, Paul Willis has left to join rival car company Volkswagen. As director of Volkswagen Cars, Willis has overall responsibility […]

C4 hunts sponsor as VW ends deal

Marketing Week

Channel 4 is seeking a new sponsor for its entire sports programming because Volkswagen has decided not to renew the &£3m deal. The car manufacturer, which has been contracted to Channel 4 for two years, believes that the sponsorship has served its purpose. The contract comes to an end in May. Volkswagen communications manager Bernard […]

Pedigree head hands reins to Mars boss

Marketing Week

Laurence Haselhurst is retiring from his role as international media manager for petfoods at Pedigree Masterfoods. Haselhurst will be replaced by Angus McIntosh, media manager at Mars Confectionery. Haselhurst is also chairman of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers’ TV Action Group. Pedigree Masterfoods refused to comment on the moves. The announcement comes amid a […]

VW trades in ‘surprisingly ordinary’ campaign for better value strategy

Marketing Week

Volkswagen has decided to ignore public pressure to cut prices, and is scrapping its “Surprisingly ordinary prices” campaign in favour of a new strategy promising customers they will get more for their money. “More Volkswagen for your money”, replaces “Surprisingly ordinary prices,” as a retaliation to the recent public outcry over UK car pricing. Created […]

VW UK boss promoted to oversee group brands

Marketing Week

Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]

VW UK boss promoted to oversee group brands

Marketing Week

Robin Woolcock, head of Volkswagen UK, is taking on overall responsibility for VW Group’s brands, including Seat, Skoda and Audi. He replaces UK managing director Richard Ide, who is to retire. Woolcock joined the group in January 1989 as head of the commercial vehicle business, which included MAN trucks. In 1991, he set up Skoda […]

Grey nets £20m Novartis’ Aviva

Marketing Week

Novartis Consumer Health has appointed Grey Advertising to launch a new functional foods brand across Europe with a &£20m campaign. Grey pitched against TBWA Worldwide for the creative account, although it is unclear if other agencies were involved. The consumer brand division of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant has also appointed CIA Medianetwork and Grey-owned Joshua […]

Mediacom £60m VW win puts BBJ future in doubt

Marketing Week

The Volkswagen Group (VW) has moved its £60m UK media buying and planning account out of BBJ Media Services and into Mediacom TMB, wiping out nearly a third of BBJ’s billings. Mediacom’s victory, predicted in Marketing Week (MW June 3), puts into doubt the future of BBJ’s TV buying operation, which some observers believe may […]