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Grey Iberia and Scholz & Friends are the two agencies who have made it into the final of the pitch for the Jazztel account, says the Spanish advertising magazine Ipmark. The pitch is to decide which agency will accompany Jazztel's entry onto the market for internet access in Spain, Ipmark says. Saatchi & Saatchi, Vitruvio Leo Burnett, TBWA and SS Fuel were among the other agencies competing. Sra. Rushmore, which currently handles advertising for Jazztel - a telecommunications company - was not able to compete as it already handles advertising for the internet portal ya.com, which it considered was conflicting business. Jazztel's communications budget for 2005, Ipmark says, will be in the region of 30 million euros. Click on the link below (left) to visit Ipmark's site and, if you like, register to read more stories like this from the world of Spanish advertising and marketing, in Spanish, online. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Jazztel's website.
12.11.04
Andreas Thomsen, CCO of Euro RSCG in Germany and Michael Röhle, head of the group's Düsseldorf agency, are to leave the network at the end of the year, says the local advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The reason given, W&V says, is different notions about business strategy and the management culture of Euro RSCG Worldwide. Since Jim Heekin was installed as global CEO in January 2004, apparently, is has been much more difficult to act entrepreneurially. "Before, Euro RSCG was an owner-managed agency with a network in the background. Now it's the other way round', an unnamed source tells the magazine. Despite long-running discussions, the various parties have been able to reach agreement. Röhle has been with Euro RSCG for six yeas, Thomsen ten. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Euro RSCG's German website.
12.11.04
Monte dei Paschi di Siena, one of Italy's leading banks and most prominent financial services advertisers, has initiated the search for an agency to handle its advertising in 2005, writes the local industry newsletter Daily Media. Previous work for Monte dei Paschi has included major TV campaigns featuring the likes of opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. That work was produced by Grey, although the account has been handled on a more subdued basis by Bates Italia for the past 3 years. The agency search, Daily Media says, will be handled by Diego Lifonti, previously managing director at the PR agency Burson Marsteller. The idea is to draw up a shortlist of leading agencies who would be immediately available to work on the account, if selected. Media is habndled by Carat. Though a budget has not yet been determined, when decided it is expected to be 'notably higher' than that which Bates had to work with this year. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the Daily Media website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Monte dei Paschi site or here to view or download (in PDF form) an older article from magazine Strategia, and again in Italian, which reviews the campaigns being run by Italy's major banks and including Pavarotti's work for the client.
12.11.04
Publicis, TBWA and McCann-Erickson are all currently pitching for the opportunity to run a global branding campaign for the technology company Siemens, writes the German advertising industry newsletter New Business. All three, the newsletter says, are already active on different parts of Siemens' business: McCann and TBWA on mobile handsets and Publicis on a range of duties. Siemens already has a branding push active in 30 countries, it adds. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the New Business website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Siemens.
12.11.04
Jens Mortier, head of the leading Belgian independent agency Duval Guillaume, has confirmed that he is leaving to start his own business, writes the local industry magazine Media Marketing. Mortier is claiming that the decision is down to his belief (and that of his three partners in the venture) that existing agencies - even independent ones - are too conservative in their approach. They, he says, plan to change all that and have thus started up Mortierbrigade. The agency will open its doors with no clients but, as Mortier tells Media Marketing, thats what it wants. "We believe that agencies are too often driven by structures and not ideas. We want to get rid of everything that can hinder communication betweeb the customer and its agency". The new agency's 'war cry', he says, is "Confuse & Conquer". To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in French, click on the link below (left) to see it on the Media Marketing website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Mortierbrigade's brave new world, on their freshly- unveiled website.
11.11.04
Ponto Verde ('Green Dot'), the non-profit private company charged with promoting and managing the recycling of household waste in Portugal, is talking to five agencies about its advertising for 2005, reports the local trade magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). McCann-Erickson, TBWA/EPG, Publicis, Bates Red Cell and Euro RSCG have all been invited to pitch, M&P says, thus proving the attractiveness of the business. Principal motive behind the pirch, says M&P, is the company's desire to have a local Portuguese agency working on its account and broaden its appeal to all social classes. Latest studies conducted by the company, it says, show that people have an 'elitist' perception of recycling. Briefings will be held next week. Ponto Verde is the Portuguese arm of Packaging Recovery Organization Europe, which has similar operations in 21 other countries including that of its origin, Germany. It claims to have increased recycling volumes in Portugal in this year alone by 26%. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, on the M&P website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Ponto Verde or here to go to the site developed for children under the name 'Aventura da Reciclagem' ('Recycling Adventure').
11.11.04
Austrian mobile telephony company One is reviewing its agency arrangements, says the local advertising industry magazine Horizont. Following a screening exercise, three agencies have now been invited to participate in a pitch. IN addition to the current incumbent agency - Freude-Hagmann & Zundel, which has handled the business for the past 6 years - Vienna-based FCB Kobza and CCP, Heye will also compete. One's head of marketing communications, Konrad Mayr-Pernek, tells Horizont that the motive for the pitch is to 'sharpen' the company's advertising and achieve a more 'precise positioning'. A decision is expected in the next 10 days. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Horizont website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of One or here to go directly to a page from where you can download and view TV advertising produced for the company in recent years.
11.11.04
Saatchi & Saatchi has developed a new campaign designed to build acceptance of Spain's gypsy communities among the general population, says the Spanish industry newsletter Marketing Directo. The work has been produced on behalf of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, a non-governmental interest group which was able to call on financing from the European Social Fund and uses the slogan "Conócelos antes de juzgarlos" ("Know them before you judge them"). Its aim is to bring to an end the prejudices that still exist in Spain against gypsies, Marketing Directo says. The agency's approach draws a parallel between this and other forms of discrimination which would appear unkust or unjustified were they to occur: for example, if a bus driver were to react to the refusal of one passenger to pay his fare by throwing all his passengers off the bus. Developed with the aid of qualitative studies among both the public and gypsies, the campaign takes in TV, radio, internet, outdoor and merchandising and will run in two waves - one now and a second to launch in spring 2005. Click on the link below (left) to read this story and see an example from the campaign for yourself, in Spanish, on the Marketing Directo website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Saatchi & Saatchi's Spanish website or - recommended - here to go to the gitanos.org website where you can see versions of the campaign prepared for the internet and examples of all the pieces ('piezas').
10.11.04
The pitch to see who will handle advertising for Grana padano, the leading Italian cheese maker, is down to a head-to-head between Young & Rubicam and Leo Burnett, says the local trade magazine AdvExpress. Originally launching its pitch in July, Grana Padano caused dismay at some within the industry by inviting nine agencies to compete. Among these were the incumbent Young & Rubicam, despite the client saying that it was perfectly happy with the work the agency was already producing (click here to see that story reported elsewhere on this page). Now Y&R will have the opportunity to defend the business against Leo Burnett ahead of a forthcoming campaign to be backed by a budget of € 34 million. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the AdvExpress website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Grana Padano, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary year, or here to see the story written up in another Italian advertising magazine, Pubblicità Italia.
10.11.04
Knauf, the German-based building materials group, has awarded its pan-European account to Springer & Jacoby, writes the German advertising industry newsletter New Business. The decision follows a pitch process in which Lowe Pirella Milan and Euro RSCG's Paris agency also competed. The account will be coordinated out of Springer & Jacoby's international head office in Amsterdam. Forthcoming work will be designed to build Knauf's presence among end users, where it competes with companies such as Lafarge and British Plasterboard. The Knauf group has over 21,000 employees and is made up of around 150 different companies. Future advertising will take in print, below-the-line and, unusually for such a client, television. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the New Business website. Alternatively, click here to see a much fuller version of the story, in German, on the pages of rival publication Werben & Verkaufen (W&V) or on the link below (right) to visit Knauf's corporate website.
10.11.04
Virtual Garden and Staal, two leading independent Norwegian agencies, are to merge, says the local advertising magazine Propaganda. The two have been in discussions since August of this year, Propaganda says. Staal's 22 staff will now move into Virtual Garden's offices in Briskeby, where 42 people currently work. The new entity will be headed up by Erlend Stefansson, head of Staal. No job losses will be incurred as a result of the merger, although Eddie Sjølie, currently head of Virtual Garden, will leave the agency. The new company will be known as Virtual Garden AS. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, on the Propaganda website. Alternatively, click here to read a separate story about Eddie Sjølie's departure or on the link below (right) to visit the current Virtual Garden website.
05.11.04
180, the Amsterdam agency staffed by an international team and set up principally to handle advertising for Adidas, has won its first Dutch client, writes the local advertising magazine Adformatie. One of the leading telecommunications companies in the Netherlands, Versatel also has operations in Belgium and Germany. 180 will now become its lead agency for the development of brand strategy and a communications concept, in addition to advertising in the Netherlands and a separate communications concept for Belgium, Adformatie says. Earlier this week, Versatel announced that it was abandoning its sub-brand, Zon. Its advertising was previously handled by Doom & Dickson. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Adformatie website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Versatel, here to visit 180 or here to visit Versatel's previous agency.
05.11.04
Leo Burnett's Vienna agency is to handle advertising for Alfa Romeo cars, writes the local trade magazine Horizont. The agency won the business by way of a pitch, Horizont says. Agency head Irene Sagmeister tells it that she is especially happy as Alfa Romeo is not a Leo Burnett network customer in other countries, where its advertising is often handled by Bates Red Cell. Asked by Horizont, Alfa Romeo declined to reveal which other agencies had pitched for the account. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Horizont website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Alfa Romeo's Austrian website.
05.11.04
A campaign to introduce the new image of the Portuguese postal service, CTT, is currently being rolled out across the company's network, writes the local advertising and media magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). First print advertising will appear on November 8th, M&P says, and run until the end of the month. TV ads will start to appear from November 10th, with GreyHome the agency responsible in both instances. The TV campaign consists of a 45-second ad using a soundtrack taken from a song by Blur. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Portuguese, on the M&P website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see the new image of CTT for yourself, by visiting the company's website. For more information on the company's image relaunch, in English and taken from elsewhere in From Europe With Love, just click here.
04.11.04
An official announcement is expected, says the French advertising magazine CB News, in the next few days, but it appears that Eric Tong Cuong is soon to be named as president of the Young & Rubicam group in France. Tong Cuong, CB News understands, will be named as the replacement for Christian Liabastre on November 15th. Most recently employed as the head of EMI France, a post which he held for almost 2 years, he is best known for having been part of the founding team behind the agency BETC Euro RSCG. Click on the link below (left) to visit the site of CB News to read this and other stories for yourself, in French. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see a profile of Mr. Tong Cuong, in English, on the occasion of his being named as head of EMI in November 2002.
04.11.04
Stefan Schmertzing, until May of this year managing director of TBWA's Vienna agency and founder of the agency Tell, which was merged into TBWA, is ending his absence from the Austrian advertising scene by founding a new agency, writes the local trade magazine Horizont. Called Schmertzing & Co., the agency will be positioned as a traditional above-the-line resource. Schmertzing's partner in the venture, Horizont says, is Christoph Wandt, who has previous experience at Saatchi & Saatchi in Hong Kong, Ogilvy in Vienna and was most recently employed at the multimedia company Telion. First client for the new agency is the Japanese cosmetics company, Shiseido. Schmertzing worked for TBWA for over 6 years before leaving of his own volition earlier this year, being replaced by Johannes Krammer and Robert Weber. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of Horizont. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the fresh, new website of Schmertzing & Co.
04.11.04
While more than one industry analyst, says the German ad industry newsletter New Business, continues to predict that BBDO is gearing up to make a bid for the global Mercedes cars account, its latest acquisition serves to strengthen its relationship with arch rival BMW. According to New Business, BBDO InterOne, which handles some BMW accounts in Germany and is headed by Olaf Göttgens, is to take over the specialist Düsseldorf agency U5 Communication, which has worked for the car giant since it was founded 11 years ago. Contracts, the newsletter understands, were drawn up last week and the deal has also received the approval of the network's New York headquarters. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of New Business. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see BBDO InterOne profiled on the group's German website.
03.11.04
Naked Up North, the Scandinavian offshoot of Naked Communications, a media and communications agency founded in London in the year 2000, has been appointed by Nokia, the mobile phone company, to develop communications strategies for the launch of a forthcoming new product, writes the Norwegian advertising industry magazine Kampanje. The initial assignment, Kampanje says, relates to a product due to be introduced next summer in selected test markets. "We will contribute insight for drawing up a strategy, but also on the strategy itself", Naked representative Eddie D'Sa tells the magazine. Further work on the campaign will then be handled by other advertising and communications agencies, consulting with Naked. Nokia's 'Mobile Enhancements' division works with range of unconventional communications partners, says Kampanje. Vasa Perala, marketing director for the division, tells the magazine that the company will be looking to Naked for 'ground-breaking' communications, thus taking advantage of the agency's media- neutral approach. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, in the pages of Kampanje. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see an earlier article from rival magazine Propaganda marking the agency's arrival in Scandinavia.
03.11.04
Leo Burnett's Stockholm agency is to have a new leadership duo with the arrival of Thomas Gibson and Lars-Göran Uddman and the departure of Lars Rystadius, writes the local advertising magazine Resumé. Gibson and Uddman have been appointed as managing director and vice-managing director, Resumé says, but will lead the agency together. The Swedish and Scandinavian markets are important for Leo Burnett, the network's European head Richard Pinder tells the magazine. While this is true, staff numbers at the Stockholm agency have fallen drastically in recent months, from over 70 to under 20, driven by account losses and, in particular, that of McDonald's. Gibson's previous post was at the local agency King, an agency he helped to found three years ago with a number of partners. Uddman's career includes four years spent at Lowe Brindfors, where he acted as global project head on the Saab account. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller verrsion of this story for yourself, in Swedish, in the pages of Resumé. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Leo Burnett Stockholm.
02.11.04
Publicis and Omnicom plan to merge their media buying operations in Germany effective January 2005 under the name Merlion, says the German advertising industry newsletter New Business. With the merger in mind, the two have notified Germany's competition authorities of their intention. Combined, the two would handle a total of around € 4 billion in billings, New Business says, making them the no. 1 German media buyer. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of New Business. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit OMD, Omnicom's main media network.
01.11.04
Kuoni, the tour company, has awarded its advertising account to Wirz Werbung after a two-stage pitch, writes the Swiss advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. The award was made, Persoenlich says, after the agency presented a surprising interpretation of Kuoni's much-honoured campaign that uses the theme "Ferien, in denen Sie alles vergessen" ("Holidays that make you forget everything else"). Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of Persoenlich. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to book your next holiday at Kuoni.
01.11.04
Toys 'R' Us has selected SCPF to handle its Christmas advertising in Spain and Portugal, writes the Spanish industry newsletter Marketing Directo. The campaign will use the line: "Si existe, está en Toys 'R' Us" ("If it exists, you'll find it in Toys 'R' Us") and is set to break on November 15th on leading national and regional TV stations in both countries. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story/press release for yourself, in Spanish, in the pages of Marketing Directo. Alternatively, to see for yourself whether Toys 'R' Us looks any different in Spain to elsewhere, click on the link below (right) to visit the company's Spanish website.
01.11.04
McCann Erickson's Norwegian agency has added to a string of successes this year by adding the business of DnB NOR, Norway's leading financial services group, says the local advertising industry magazine Propaganda. Originally founded over 180 years ago, the group came about in its present form through the merger, in 2003, of DnB Holding ASA and Gjensidige NOR ASA. Among McCann's tasks will be to handle all communications for one of DnB NOR's group divisions, Postbanken, Propaganda says. The business now being placed by the company at McCann was previously handled by local agency Dinamo. At the time of the merger, it was decided that Dinamo would take responsibility for mass communications, while McCann would handle internal communications. This latest award this gives McCann complete responsibility for DnB NOR's advertising. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, in the pages of Propaganda. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit DnB NOR.
01.11.04
Geneva-based Saatchi & Saatchi Simko has been appointed to handle advertising for Twinings tea in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, writes the Swiss advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. The agency will handle both above- and below-the-line activities for Twinings, which is marketed in the region by Wander AG, a division of Associated British Foods. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of Persoenlich. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to explore the world of Twinings, internationally.
29.10.04
J. Walter Thompson has been appointed by Portugal's national tourism institute, ITP, to handle a forthcoming campaign to promote the Portugal 'brand' to encourage visitors, writes the local advertising magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). The campaign, M&P says, will be backed by € 1.5 million euros to be spent in various international markets, including Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. In addition to JWT, Euro RSCG, McCann Erickson, Y&R, Ogilvy & Mather, Strat, MKT, Miopia, Publinter and Alfonso & Botelho also competed in the pitch. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, in the pages of M&P. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the ITP's site for those considering visiting the country.
29.10.04
Advertising agencies in the Netherlands are having an increasingly tough time, according to one agency head spoken to by the local marketing website Marketeer. According to Jacques Kuyf, managing director of FHV BBDO, profit margins at the average agency sank to just 3.8% last year from fully 15.7% during 2002. This enormous decrease means that the market has 'shrunk' by 25% in the past two to three years, Marketeer says. According to Jacques Kuyf, the larger agencies have been better able to maintain their margins, reporting an average of around 12.7%. Nevertheless, the many limitations put on the advertising sector by the government continue to make agency life harder. "Just look at tobacco advertising", he says, which has had heavy restrictions placed on it. "That costs us income". The low margins, Kuyf points out, are a problem given that service businesses need a margin of between 15% and 25% in order to be able to attract and keep good people. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Marketeer. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit FHV BBDO which handles advertising for, among others, Chrysler, Douwe Egberts and TPG Post.
29.10.04
After ten years working with Tiempo BBDO, Renault Spain has moved its advertising account into Publicis, writes the Spanish trade magazine Ipmark. The decision is in line with Renault's international alignment strategy, Ipmark says. Publicis already handles the business in 35 other countries, including almost all of western Europe. Publicis will now set up a special division to handle the Renault account in Spain, with the handover due to come into effect during the first 6 months of next year. Click on the link below (left) to go to the Ipmark website to read what else the magazine has been writing about Spanish advertising. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Tiempo BBDO's home page.
29.10.04
Young & Rubicam's Portuguese agency is currently talking to top managers at other local agencies with a view to recruiting somebody to work alongside Albano Homem de Melho at CEO level, writes the ad industry magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). In the frame, M&P says, are Miguel Velhinho, currently managing director at DDB, Teresa Calçado Bastos, CEO of Publicis, and Miguel Nóbrega, MD at Euro RSCG/NRT. Contacted by M&P, Homem de Mello said that a rumour currently doing the rounds that he is to be replaced has no foundation, while Bernard Barnett, European corporate communications director for the network, also denied that Y&R was looking for a new CEO in Portugal. Nevertheless, the magazine says, it can confirm that the three people named have been contacted about working alongside de Mello. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, in the pages of M&P. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see what Y&R has been up to recently in Europe, in terms of publications.
28.10.04
Before it was rumour, now its official, says the German advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V): Springer & Jacoby and the London agency boymeetsgirl are to go their separate ways. The split, in time-honoured fashion, is said to be down to a difference of opinion over the future direction of the agency, plus disagreement over whether to remain within the S&J network or not. Kate Stanners and David Pemsel will now both leave boymeetsgirl, while Andy Law and other senior managers will buy out the stake held by Springer & Jacoby. "We will focus our London operations on our 100%-owned design division, S&J Design, which will now be renamed S&J UK", managing director Sandra Rehder tells W&V. Clients include Mercedes-Benz, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of W&V. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see Springer & Jacoby's press release for yourself, in German, as posted on the agency's website, in PDF form.
28.10.04
Camilla Wallander, head of marketing at the Scandinavian airline SAS. is to leave her post with immediate effect, writes the Swedish advertising magazine Resumé. In addition, the company and its advertising agency have agreed to part company. Wallander's duties will now be handled on a temporary basis by Linda Fredheim-Björk, the magazine says. SAS originally issued no reason for her departure, but internal conflict over recent work produced by the comany's advertising agency, Go.Garbergs, is believed to be the cause. Go.Garbergs was appointed in June after an extensive pitch process and the latest instalment of its campaign for the company was due to break in the next few days. The first wave of ads - which used the theme 'with or without' - was poorly received within the industry. In a joint statement released later in the day, SAS and Go. Garbergs said that on deciding to work together, the two had hoped that the association would be a long one. That, unfortunately, would now not be the case. SAS' lead agency in the region is Hallbye & Kaag, part of the J. Walter Thompson network and unaffected by these developments in Sweden. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Swedish, in the pages of Resumé. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to explore the world of SAS, in Swedish or English.
25.10.04
BMW Portugal is holding a pitch to decide who will handle its advertising campaigns next year, writes the local media and advertising industry magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). The pitch will take in two dimensions - creative and media - M&P says, with four agencies expected to be selected to present creative ideas although, when contacted, BMW would only confirm thay any decision would be communicated in January 2005. That, says M&P, coincides with the date on which BMW will start to be represented directly in Portugal, having previously been marketed by local distributor Baviera. This will lead to the setting up of BMW Portugal and is the reason behind the pitch. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, in the pages of Meios & Publicidade. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site currently operated by Baviera and BMW in Portugal.
25.10.04
Merloni Elettrodomestici, the Italian household appliance company due to change its name to Indesit Company at the turn of the year, has appointed local agency Colnaghi & Mancini and the German-based network Springer & Jacoby to communicate the change, reports the Italian advertising industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. The campaign to introduce Indesit Company will break in the first days of 2005, Pubblicità Italia says, principally in newspapers and magazines and aimed at stakeholders and the financial community, although a subsequent extension to mass market advertising has not been ruled out. Colnaghi & Mancini and Springer & Jacoby were selected after a pitch in which four other agencies also competed. Media will be handled by Carat. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, in the pages of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Merloni/Indesit Company website.
22.10.04
Walter Dermul, one of the four founders of Saatchi & Saatchi's representative agency in Belgium, Quattro, is to leave on January 1st 2005, writes the local advertising industry magazine Pub. From that point, a new team will assume management duties at the agency made up of CEO Marc Michils, creative director Jan Cordemans, client service director Caroline Vervaeke and co-creative director Philip Vandenberghe. "We are doing this to show that the agency has been strengthened and quality added", Marc Michils tells Pub. Quattro Saatchi & Saatchi now has five creative teams, each of three senior staff and two junior. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, in the pages of Pub. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Quattro Saatchi & Saatchi's website.
22.10.04
Three agencies are to pitch for the account of prestige watchmaker Lorenz, writes the Italian advertising industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. The agencies involved are Ogilvy, D'Adda Lorenzini Vigorelli BBDO and incumbent Marani. This year Lorenz has been a prominent advertiser in newspapers and magazines to mark its 60th anniversary. Though international, the firm distinguishes itself through the high degree of personal involvement it puts into production and service and the elevated quality standards it incorporates into its watches. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, in the pages of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Lorenz where - after a lengthy Flash intro, you can explore the company and its products in Italian or English.
22.10.04
The Art Directors Club of Europe (ADC*E) is looking to attract more members from among Europe's national creative associations and to bolster the reputation of its annual awards scheme so that it becomes established as the most 'respected' such scheme on the continent, writes the Swiss advertising magazine Persoenlich. At its recent board meeting in Slovenia, Persoenlich says, the association resolved to ensure it lives up to its claim of being the 'Best of the Best' in European advertising and design by making its membership base as complete as possible. From now on, it has been decided, even agencies and associations which are not ADC*E members will be able to enter work for its annual awards. As before, national gold, silver and bronze winners will automatically be entered. The move could be seen as some as a challenge to Cannes, for many years now the most prominent international advertising festival and taken over by the British-based publising and conference company Emap, in August 2004 for just over 52 million UK pounds. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of Persoenlich. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the ADC*E site.
21.10.04
Interpublic and Hamburg-based Springer & Jacoby are to relinquish their stakes in the London agency boymeetsgirl by selling them to founder Andy Law, writes the German ad industry magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Echoing reports in the London trade press, W&V says that Law will enter into a management buy-out of the agency in conjunction with Chris Chalk. Although it has been presenting itself as boymeetsgirl/Springer & Jacoby (S&J), the association with one of Germany's leading agencies has failed to attract many clients. S&J has operations in five countries outside Germany and recently set up its international headquarters in Amsterdam. Management was unwilling to comment on the current situation at boymeetsgirl when contacted by W&V. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, in the pages of W&V. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit boymeetsgirl which, clearly, may soon have to change its web address.
21.10.04
After weeks of speculation, it was confirmed this week that one-time head of Saatchi & Saatchi's operations in Germany, Hubertus von Lobenstein and who recently enjoyed a brief spell in charge of BBDO Germany, is to move to head up operations at TBWA. Von Lobenstein will form part of a management team that also includes Kurt-Georg Diekert and Stefan Schmidt with ex-head Perry Valkenburg set to concentrate on international duties, says the local advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Both TBWA and BBDO are part of Omnicom. Von Lobenstein was named as head of BBDO in 2003 but never officially took up the post and left in April of this year. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit TBWA's German site or here to download and view a PDF of the press release, posted on the TBWA site to announce von Lobenstein's arrival.
21.10.04
The pitch process to decide who will handle advertising for one of Scandinavia's leading banks, Föreningssparbanken, has moved to its next stage with the narrowing down of the list of contenders to three, writes the Swedish advertising magazine Resumé. Föreningssparbanken has over 4 million customers in Sweden and a similar number in the Baltic States. It also operates Sweden's leading internet and telephone banking services. 6 agencies were originally in the running, Resumé says, but with the decision to eject SWE, Storåkers McCann and another local agency, just three remain in the running. Forsman & Bodenfors, Saatchi & Saatchi Stockholm and Stenström/Red Cell will now battle it out to see who replaces Lowe Brindfors on the account. A decision, Resumé says, is expected within 2 to 3 weeks. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the Resumé website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Föreningssparbanken site where you can choose whether to find out about the bank in Swedish or English.
20.10.04
Roland Berger, one of the country's leading management consultants and head of the consultancy of the same name, has been lined up by Publicis-head Maurice Lévy as the man to lend board-level support to the agency's German operations. According to Werben & Verkaufen magazine (W&V), Berger, 66, will soon take up the position of non-executive chairman alongside Manfred Schüller, who it was recently revealed is to leave Springer & Jacoby after a long career to take the reins as CEO at Publicis (click here to see that story on this page). Details of the agreement reached between Lévy and Berger, who are said to have struck up a friendship, were announced at a press conference on Friday in Frankfurt, W&V says. Aside from the announcement about Berger, the conference was notable for the absence of Manfred Schüller, for legal reasons, believed to be existing commitments to Springer & Jacoby. Given these, it is unclear when the new duo will be installed and it may be that Schüller cannot join before the middle of next year. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click here to visit the Roland Berger website or on the link below (right) to visit Publicis Germany.
20.10.04
Agencies pitching for Danone's massive media account in Italy were given a suprise 'test' this week, writes the Italian advertising industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. With the first consultation phase of the pitch concluded (click here to see an earlier story on this page about the pitch), contenders were each given 24 hours to put together a proposal as to how the suggested plan might be optimised should certain TV stations suddenly become unavailable. Following this unexpected challenge, Carat, Media Planning Group, Omd, Mindshare and Bandiera Barone Scarpelli will now finalise their proposed media strategies, Pubblicità Italia says, together with their remuneration structures, before a decisive phase scheduled for November 5th, in which each team will meet the Danone marketing staff to discuss possible modifications. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Pubblicità Italia website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Danone's Italian site.
20.10.04
Palmers, the lingerie band whose erotic poster and print advertising hs made it a legend of the Austrian advertising scene, has moved its account from Springer & Jacoby and into local rival Demner, Merlicek & Bergmann, writes the local advertising magazine Extradienst. Palmers' recent past has been turbulent, with management upheaval leading to a change of ownership. For over two decades, on the other hand, its advertising was handled by Lowe Vienna, which adopted the advertising approach still in use to this day and only recently relinquished the business to Springer & Jacoby. The award was made without a formal pitch process by Thomas Weber, new head of the board at Palmers. Agency head Mariusz Jan Demner tells Extradienst not to expect 'more of the same' and that new work for the brand will evidence a new direction. That work is set to appear at the end of November, for when Demner is promising a 'big surprise'. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer, much more self-congratulatory version (in terms fo quotes from the winning agency, that is) of this story for yourself, in German, on the Extradienst website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Palmers website or here to see a slideshow of Palmers advertising over the past 10 years, courtesy of the Austrian newspaper, Der Standard.
20.10.04
It's official, says the Franch advertising magazine CB News. Jacques Bouey, head of BBDO Paris since July 2003 when he succeeded Christophe Lambert, who left the agency to join Publicis, it to himself be replaced by Jean-Michel Carlo. Carlo's job title will, in fact, be CEO of BBDO France. Bouey, CB News says, will remain within BBDO France to handle questions of integration in conjunction with the network's international management. Jean-Michel Carlo's appointment at BBDO marks the fulfilment of his promise to return to advertising, having spent two years as managing director of Ipsos Europe. Most of his career, however, has been spent at top-flight advertising agencies including Young & Rubicam, BDDP PAris and Euro RSCG France. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of CB News. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see contact details for all BBDO's operations in France on the global BBDO website.
20.10.04
Johan Kramer is to leave the agency he founded in 1996 with Erik Kessels, KesselsKramer, with effect from 1 January 2005, writes the Dutch advertising magazine Adformatie. Kramer, Adformatie says, is to set himself up as an independent director - a decision the agency says is a "logical consequence of Kramer's development and ambition, given that he hs devoted increasing amounts of time to directing within KesselsKramer in recent years". That Kramer should be making this career move is undoubtedly a blow for what is a successful agency, Adformatie says, but it comes as no surprise. Kramer had already given up his role as creative director in 2001. Both the agency and Johan Kramer say they expect to work together on certain projects in the future. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the website of Adformatie. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit KesselsKramer, one of the most prominent agencies in the Netherlands but one with one of the wierdest websites I've come across.. just click on the link to see why.
20.10.04
Ogilvy & Mather Austria has won the prized Österreichische Nationalbank (ÖNB) account, after a pitch in which Demner Merlicek & Bergmann and maxxx communications also competed, writes the local ad industry magazine Horizont. Michael Kapfer-Giuliani, Client Services Director at the agency, describes the new customer - Austria's national bank - as "one of the most important institutions in the republic". The work presented by Ogilvy for the ÖNB showcases its core values and the importance of the euro for Austrians. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Horizont. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the ÖNB website.
15.10.04
Minipreço, the discount grocery retail chain operated by France's Carrefour in Portugal, has invited five agencies to pitch for its advertising account, writes the local trade magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). According to M&P, Bates Red Cell, Lowe, TBWA/EPG, Leo Burnett and Strat have all been invited to present their ideas in the first week of November, Speaking to M&P, Minipreço's marketing director Pedro Barboso Viana, says that the pitch forms part of the company's policy to regularly open up its communications assignments to the agency market. In question, he adds, is not only the brand's communications plan for 2005 but also "the starting point for a stable relationship". Minipreço's advertising account has been handled for the past 5 years by Bates or - most recently - Bates Red Cell, and a decision is expected, M&P says, in the last week of November. Media will continue to be handled by Media Insight. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, on the website of M&P. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Minipreço website - it's unlikely that you want to shop there... but you never know.
15.10.04
Sociedade Central de Cervejas, the leading Portuguese brewer, is to invest €1.1 million in a new campaign behind its star brand Sagres Preta, writes the local advertising and media magazine Meios & Publicidade (M&P). The campaign, set to break this week, has been produced by Young & Rubicam and resorts to dark humour to present Sagres Preta as a different, alternative beer. TV, press and outdoor will be the principal media used. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, on the website of M&P. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to see how people rate Sagres Preta beer on ratebeer.com, a site on which people - well - rate beer they have drink. Naturally, their judgement may be a little clouded... .
12.10.04
Swedish agency Storåkers is to handle all Scandinavian advertising for the car maker Opel, writes Dagens Media. The award, which may include local TV work, is to the detriment of Storåkers' network colleagues at McCann in Malmo. Kenneth Holmgren, head of communications for Opel in the region, explains the move by telling Dagens Media that his company is concentrating all its marketing in Stockholm. Given that, it no longer makes sense to have the Opel's advertising handled by 3 different offices. Opel TV work running in Scandinavia is currently taken from the international McCann network, while ads produced locally are mainly for newspapers. Opel's Holmgren tells Dagens Media that he hopes the brief for Storåkers - which is part of the McCann network and whose full name is Storåkers McCann AB - may be extended to TV work. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the website of Dagens Media. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Storåkers McCann.
08.10.04
Following the departure of Alberto De Martini, who is to join Red Cell in November, the Italian agency he founded, Ata De Martini, is to be renamed Arnold Worldwide Italy, says the Italian trade newsletter Daily Media. Arnold Worldwide is part of the Havas network, also owner of Euro RSCG. In an interview with Daily Media, Arnold chairman and CEO Ed Eskandarian says that while he is sorry to see De Martini go, three years after his agency was acquired by the network, work has already been undertaken to 'renovate' the agency. He is currently, he says, looking for a new president and preparing to rename as Arnold Worldwide, in line with other offices operating in the United States, Canada, Spain, Australia and China. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Italian, on the website of Daily Media. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Ata De Martini site.
07.10.04
VVL BBDO, BBDO's Belgian agency group, has launched a new division, says the local trade magazine Media Marketing. Called 'think I BBDO', it will specialise in giving strategic brand advice to companies and organisations. Heading the new venture will be Fons Van Dyck, ex-director of strategic planning at the main agency, and Barbara Verhaegen, who will be in charge of consumer surveys, competitor analysis and market reviews, Media Marketing says. The aim is to appeal to clients who may or may not need the services of a traditional advertising agency. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of Media Marketing. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit VVL BBDO.
07.10.04
Ron Vrijmoet, currently in charge of operations in Scandinavia and Germany for J. Walter Thompson, has been named as Chief Operating Officer for the entire European region, writes the Swedish advertising magazine Resumé. In his new role, Resumé says, he will be working
closely with Michael Maedel, head of JWT Worldwide, and the heads of the leading J. Walter
Thompson agencies in Europe. Vrijmoet
will continue with his current duties in addition to his new role.
07.10.04
Granarolo's decision making process as to who will handle its advertising goes on and on, says the Italian newsletter Pubblicità Italia. The company, one of Italy's leading dairy groups and apparently healthier than rival Parmalat, was initially expected to decide at the beginning of the month, Pubblicità Italia says, but is not now expected to appoint an agency to handle advertising for its Alta Qualità brand before the end of October. Despite the delay, Giorgio Ciani, head of communications at the company, says he still expects to have a new campaign ready in time for Christmas. The pitch was called in May after Granarolo parted company with its previous agency, Ogilvy. Five agencies were initially invited to compete, of which three remain: Armando Testa, Lowe Pirella and Leo Burnett. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the website of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Granarolo.
04.10.04
Retailer Coop has unveiled what will form the basis of its strategy for a forthcoming pan-Scandinavian campaign, writes the Swedish media industry newsletter Dagens Media. The campaign - Coop's first taking in more than one country - will focus on the line "Mitt nya Coop" (in Sweden, at least, meaning "my new Coop"), Dagens Media says, and break on October 25th. It will also be used to introduce the company's new 'masterbrand' which, imaginatively, bears the name 'Coop'. All media types will be incorprated into the campaign, including extensive use of in-store promotional material and internal communications for the company's 60,000 staff. Set to run in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, the campaign
has been developed in conjunction with the agency Futurelab, while Coop generally uses
Lowe Brindfors for its communications in Sweden.
04.10.04
Leo Burnett creative Andreas Pauli has been installed as new Executive Creative Director of the Frankfurt agency, writes the German advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Pauli succeeds Christoph Barth, who left earlier this year, W&V says, and will head up creative activities at the agency in conjunction with Ward Graham, in charge of creative worldwide on the Philip Morris accounts handled by the agency. With experience at GPP in Stuttgart, Pauli has been working in Frankfurt since 1998, first at Lowe & Partners, before moving to Leo Burnett the following year. His current areas of responsibility include the Landliebe and Focus accounts. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Leo Burnett's German website and read about this appointment and other recent developments at the agency for yourself, again in German.
01.10.04
The confectionery division of Nestlé Italia is to spend €25 million on advertising this year, 65% of which will be spent to promote the flagship Perugina chocolate brand, writes the local industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia The amount was disclosed this week by managing director Andrea Zambelli at a press conference given to introduce the company's 'Scuola del Cioccolato' ('School of Chocolate') to a public audience. In addition to Perugina, new campaigns, developed by JWT Italia, will break in the near future for Kit Kat and Lion, Zambelli revealed. Advertising for Baci Perugina, on the other hand, is created by Armando Testa while that of Motta is in the hands of Publicis. Both will be heavily promoted this Christmas. Advertising for the 'school of chocolate' has been entrusted to Lowe Pirella. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the Pubblicità Italia website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Perugina - and, specifically, the opening page introducing the new 'Scuola del cioccolato' - or here to read a longer story on this website about Nestlé's new 'school of chocolate'.
01.10.04
Ikea has awarded its advertising account in Belgium to the local agency Germaine, writes the local trade magazine Media Marketing. The decision follows a pitch in which Duval Guillaume Antwerp and Cathedral also competed. Previous agency on the account was LDV, now part of the Red Cell network. Ikea has four stores in Belgium, at Zaventem, Wilrijk, Ternat and Hognoul. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, in the pages of Media Marketing. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Ikea in Belgium.
30.09.04
Anna Qvennerstedt, one of Sweden's top copywriters, is leaving TBWA' s Stockholm agency in search of more balance in her life, writes the local advertising magazine Resumé. It's a personal decision, Qvennerstedt - one of the agency's founders - tells Resumé. Her partner at the agency until now, Patrik Sehstedt, says it's also a sad one and one that has shocked other agency staff. Qvennerstedt, 32, started TBWA in 1997 but will now leave in October. Who will succeed her has yet to be decided. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Swedish. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit TBWA Sweden's funky website.
04.10.04
One of the most award-winning creative teams in the Netherlands is to leave its current agency, TBWA\Neboko Campaign in order to set up independently, writes the local advertising industry magazine Adformatie. Diederick Hillenius and Poppe van Pelt will leave effective January 1st next year, Adformatie says, and rumours suggest they may team up with two senior creatives who recently left DDB - Michael Jansen and Bas Korsten. Both Hillenius and Van Pelt have worked at TBWA in Amsterdam for the past 13 years and played a key part in the successful merger two-and-a-half years ago of TBWA\Campaign Company and Neboko. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Dutch, on the Adformatie website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit TBWA's local site in the Netherlands.
23.09.04
Six agencies may be in the running to pitch for the corporate account of the French postal service, La Poste, says the local advertising magazine CB News. According to sources, agencies currently shortlisted include BETC Euro RSCG, Saatchi & Saatchi, Young & Rubicam, TBWA France, DDB Paris and Australie. The present incumbent is BDDP & Fils. Agencies are expected to receive a brief in the coming weeks, CB News says, with the pitch process picking up now La Poste has announced the arrival of a new brand director, Jérôme Lefèvre, previously head of FCB Paris. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of CB News and read this and other stories from the world of French advertising for yourself, in French. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the La Poste site.
24.09.04
Munich-based independent agency Eiler & Riemel is to be added to the McCann Erickson network, its managing director Feico Derschow has confirmed to the German advertising magazine Horizont. Founded in 1973 by Frank Eiler and Fred Riemel, it will henceforth be known as McCann Erickson München, the magazine says. Both still remain on the board. The agency's key clients include Microsoft. Click on the link below (right) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the pages of Horizont. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to be taken to the Eiler & Riemel site.
23.09.04
Gruppo Danone has added to the list of agencies pitching for its €80 million Italian media account, writes the local industry newsletter Daily Media. Earlier this month, the comany said that Carat Italia, Media Planning Group, and Optimum Media Direction were all confirmed competitors, while the fourth would be chosen from among Muraglia Calzolari & Asociati, Mindshare and Bandera Barone Scarpelli. In fact, both these last two agencies are to be included in the pitch, Danone Italia's media group director, Marcella Bergamini, confirms to Daily Media. Both of the new agencies form part of the WPP group. All participants have now received a brief outlining Danone's planned TV and radio promotion, while another is under preparation covering media strategy. Presentations will take place at the end of October and beginning of November, together with working sessions to gauge the compatibility of the proposed teams. Danone, Daily Media says, will be working together with Media Audits in making its choice, which should be announced in early November. Click on the link below (left) to read this story on the website of Daily Media. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Danone's website in Italy which - although it is currently under construction - gives a preview of exactly what its new logo - soon to be introduced globally - will look like.
23.09.04
The consortium representing producers of Parmigiano Reggiano parmesan cheese has entrusted Max Information, which serves as the Bologna office of the Armando Testa operation, to produce a new, €14 million campaign, writes the Italian ad industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. Previous work dated from 2001. That will now be updated, Daily Media says, with three new ads stressing the product's high standards and craftsmanship and featuring, once more, the central character of the cow, 'Intrusa', to get the message across. The campaign will air on Rai, Mediaset and satellite channels from September 26th, said Marco Testa at a press conference, adding that: "for us, Parmigiano Reggiano is a legendary brand and we are proud to have been re-appointed to handle its communications for the period 2004 to 2006". This new campaign breaks as Grana Padano, Italy's most famous individual brand of parmesan cheese, is holding a pitch to find a new agency. Although at least one major contender, J. Walter Thompson, will not be competing because it doesn't like the way the client is going about the process (click here to read that story), others - such as Y&R and D'ALV BBDO - are. To see the full list of competing agencies, as published in Pubblicità Italia, simply click here. Otherwise, click on the link below (left) to read about the Parmigiano Reggiano campaign for yourself, in Italian, on the website of Pubblicità Italia or here to see an alternative English- language report about the new campaign on the website of the news agency, AGI. Click on the link below (right) to visit the official Parmigiano Reggiano website and where, as the consortium proudly reminds visitors, you will learn how the cheese is 'made', not 'manufactured'.
19.09.04
Norwegian, the low-cost airline formed in 2002, has moved its advertising account from the agency which handled its launch, Ludens, to DDB, writes the local advertising magazine Propaganda. The decision comes after a pitch involving four agencies, Propaganda says, and marks Norwegian's desire to market itself more offensively against the likes of rivals SAS and Braathens. Despite its relative youth, Norwegian has been able to capture a market share of 13% in Norway. To strengthen and enhance its position, it now intends to multiply the amount of promotion it undertakes. After a test using three films this summer, that may now include making more use of TV. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, on the Propaganda website. Alternatively, to find out more about Norwegian - whose international destinations include London, Berlin and Budapest - just click on the link below (right).
17.09.04
International account alignments come and go and, unless you're directly affected, can be no more than just another article in the trade press. Kraft's recent decision to align all its advertising into one agency, Ogilvy, however, will have significant ramifications for certain local agencies around the world, among them Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt, writes the German advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). It was in autumn 1971 that Y&R creatives Uwe Ortstein, Sandor Szabo and Ilse Theisen came up with one of the advertising world's brightest ideas - to paint the Milka cow lilac. Now, however, the agency headed by Norbert Lindhof will see the account head for Ogilvy & Mather, in Düsseldorf, along with all Kraft's other confectionery brands worldwide. "It got away from us", Lindhof tells W&V, "because, of all the WPP agencies, Y&R did the least business with Kraft". This, however, after the agency had been able to trumpet its success by snatching lead-agency status on the Milka account away from Y&R's Paris office, he adds. "It's a real blow for us". There is talk that WPP may compensate Y&R for the loss internally, says W&V, although exactly how that would work is unclear. Around 10 of the 100 people employed at the Frankfurt agency will be affected by the decision and it is likely some of these will lose their jobs. 2004 performance, Lindhof says, will not be affected, however, with the first effects of the loss likely to be visible in 2005. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. And if you haven't lived the Milka experience before now, why not try it by following the link below (right) which takes you to the brand's website.
16.09.04
ING, the Dutch-based bank, has unveiled a new corporate campaign in Belgium, writes the local advertising magazine Pub. The campaign, which has been produced by Euro RSCG, which was awarded the account in July, uses the slogan "voir clair, c'est déjà avancer" (which translates into English, roughly, as "knowing where you stand is a step ahead in itself"), expressing, Pub says, ING's desire to be a professional partner offering creative solutions. The campaign will run on large-format posters, in magazines and on TV, with print work making extensive use of word plays. The TV work, on the other hand, translates the campaign concept by showing how people's vision becomes clearer as clouds disappear. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in French, on the website of Pub. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit ING's Belgian website which, for convenience, welcomes you in English.
Portuguese agency TBWA/EPG, the local office of the TBWA network, has set up its very own blog page, writes the local advertising and marketing magazine Meios & Publicidade. While it's common for agencies - like other businesses - to have a website these days, TBWA/EPG, which handles clients such as a Caixa, TMN, IKEA, Renascença, Volvo and Beiersdorf, has decided to create a contemporary feel to its contacts with the outside world by using a 'blog' format, the type of site many people use to express their thoughts on issues of interest to like-minded individuals. More than an online diary, however, TBWA/EPG intends its site to allow for the "permanent updating of new and creativity". TBlogWA is positioned as an open forum of ideas where visitors, in addition to gaining an insight into the everyday business of the agency, can post opinions and comments. Click on the link below (left) to see this story for yourself, in Portuguese, in the pages of the local advertising magazine, Meios & Publicidade. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go directly to 'TBlogWA' where, at the time of writing, you can view work for Absolut vodka, IKEA and RFM among others, and which appears to be generating a reasonable level of comments (in Portuguese, naturally).
15.09.04
Spain's ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce is investing €16 million to get Spaniards to join up to the information society, writes the local advertising magazine Ipmark. €6 million of the total will be directed towards an advertising campaign to be handled by Grey & Trace, Ipmark says, with the remaining €10 million channeled into promotion and awareness activities which will be handled by McCann-Erickson, in conjunction with Alegria Activity, an events agency. Promoted by the government agency red.es, Ipmark says, the campaign will take place over the next 16 months and is aimed particularly at young people, students, housewives, older people, immigrants, the disabled and other groups who do not currently use the internet. 25 mobile classrooms will hit the road, visiting 3,250 locations across Spain to reach an intended 'live' audience of a million and a half. The campaign created by Grey, the paper says, centres on the fictional Alcántara family from the popular series 'Cuéntame cómo pasó' ('Tell me what happened'). The choice of the Alcántaras was based on their popularity and the degree to which the target audience identifies with the family, says Ipmark. The campaign will take in TV, radio and press work, in two waves. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of the magazine that published this story, Ipmark. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to the website Grey Iberia, Grey's Spanish holding company of which Grey & Trace is a part. If you like, you can also click here to see this story written up on the website of rival Spanish publication, Anuncios, or here to go directly to a web page allowing you to download and view the 3 spots from the campaign.
14.09.04
The city council, or 'Ayuntamiento', of the capital of Spain, Madrid, has issued a tender inviting agencies to apply for the task of creating a brand to promote the city both within the nation's borders and beyond them, writes the Spanish marketing magazine Marketing Directo. A slogan and logo, the magazine says, may help the city in its efforts to secure the 2012 Olympic Games, for which Paris and London are currently considered favourites. The objective behind promoting Madrid, however, has wider aims too, in particular to encourage tourism and inward investment. Nevertheless, should Madrid's Olympic bid prove successful, the brand will receive worldwide exposure. Many agencies are said to have applied to submit ideas, among them Cato Berro, Interbrand, Landor and Saatchi & Saatchi, which has already worked with the cities of Sydney and Athens in a similar capacity. Other cities to actively consider promoting themselves more strongly in recent weeks include Amsterdam... click here to be taken to a story about that development here, in English, on the pages of From Europe With Love. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Spanish, in the pages of Marketing Directo. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to the website of the 'Ayuntamiento'
13.09.04
On the pitch, the team may have made little impression at the recent Euro 2004 football championships in Portugal, but so successful does beer company Carlsberg consider its promotional activity during the tournament that it has signed a sponsorship deal with the Swiss national selection and is running a national advertising campaign, through Saatchi & Saatchi Simko, to publicise the fact, writes the local marketing magazine Persoenlich. This is the first time that the national team has appeared in an advertising campaign to support an individual brand, Persoenlich says, and given the scarce availability of 'star' players such as Murat Yakin and Johann Vogel, all TV and print/outdoor work had to be shot over the course of just one day. All ads wil feature players alongside the international signature of "Alleine geniessen unmöglich" ("Impossible to enjoy alone"). Click on the link below (right) to visit the Persoenlich website, where you can read a longer version of this story, for yourself, in German. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Swiss version of Carlsberg's website - available, naturally, in French or German
10.09.04
Spadel, the Belgian drinking water and soft drinks company, has narrowed the shortlist as to who will handle advertising for its Bru table water brand to DDB and TBWA, writes the local advertising and media magazine Marketing Media. The incumbent agency, Kadratura, will not be pitching. Bru is a sparkling table water that last year celebrated its 100th anniversary. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Media Marketing website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Bru's.
07.09.04
Merloni, the famous Italian maker of household electrical and white goods, is to change its name to Indesit Company from the beginning of next year, writes the local advertising and marketing magazine Daily Media, and will run an international campaign to introduce the new identity. The decision was announced, Daily Media says, at Merloni's annual general meeting this week. The new name has been chosen in order to ensure the company's communications are more 'immediate and effective' and is the result of a strategic review conducted in conjunction with the branding agency, Enterprise Ig. In addition, Daily Media says, Indesit was selected as it is the group's most international brand and the one that best expresses the values Merloni wants to project: youthfulness, simplicity of use, dynamism and reliability. Indesit was the first major acquisition by Merloni when it embarked on its expansion drive in 1987, after which further purchases followed, such as Stinol in Russia and Hotpoint in the UK. Enterprise Ig is still working on the group's new positioning, Daily Media reports, before moving on to address the question of an advertising campaign in October/November, the agency for which has yet to be selected. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story, in Italian, on the website of Daily Media. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Merloni website, where the group's traditional identity remains, for the moment, intact but where you will also see - in the countdown clock displayed on the home page - that just 142 days remain until the new name is applied. If you want to read the company's own, English-language press release, just click here.
07.09.04
Back in July, Grana Padano, the leading Italian cheese maker, said it was postponing any new advertising until January 2005. This led to speculation that, by then, its agency of record, Young & Rubicam, may no longer be in charge of the €34 million account (click here to see that earlier story on this page). Now the company has announced a pitch process but one leading contender, J. Walter Thompson, has said it doesn't agree with the way Grana Padano is going about things and that it will decline to pitch. In an open letter sent to Italy's leading advertising publications, Pietro Dotti, head of JWT's Italian agency since July, says that: "We will not be participating in the Grana Padano pitch because it is senseless to put nine agencies up against each other in a pitch which is not reimbursed. It is also unacceptable for a client to say that it is happy with its current agency, but that it just wants to take a look around". Young & Rubicam, of course, Grana Padano's current agency, is a fellow WPP-group company (well, frankly who isn't these days). But Dotti tells the advertising industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia that he hopes all 'serious' agencies will follow his lead. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the website of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to Procter & Gamble's global information site for Athe site run by the consortium responsible for marketing Grana Padano cheese.
07.09.04
Ariel, the Procter & Gamble-owned detergent product, has unveiled new advertising in France that employs a 'common language', developed by the manufacturer in conjunction with its agency Saatchi & Saatchi, over the course of the past 3 years, says the local advertising magzine CB News. The new work is designed to strengthen the bond between existing Ariel users and the product range (which in addition to the core detergent, also includes Ariel Style, Ariel Apline and others), CB News says, and has been airing on cable and terrestrial channels since September 1st in the form of one, 30-second spot, to be followed by four to five others between now and September 2005. Each of the ads, CB News says, associates a domestic 'problem' with a product benefit (classic P&G, don't you agree), while also taking into account the season in which it is designed to air. Unlike traditional Ariel advertising, however, the film does not revolve around a product demonstration. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of CB News, where you can read this story and others relating to Ariel and similar products for yourself, in French. Click on the link below (right) to go to Procter & Gamble's global information site for Ariel - French section - where you can read all about the range of products available locally. Alternatively, if you are a P&G junkie and would like to browse the company's product websites from across the world, just click here to go to a page on the company's website which displays an extensive set of links.
03.09.04
After a pitch involving three agencies, including the outgoing incumbent Lowe, Unilever Belgium has decided to award advertising responsibilities for its Effi brand of low calorie spreads and dressings to LG&F, writes the local trade magazine Media Marketing. According to Marc Fauconnier, head of the agency, it is a significant new business win given that it is the first time Unilever has chosen a local agency in Belgium to handle the repositioning and communications of what is one of the company's 'jewels' in that country. "A Belgian agency", Fauconnier tells Media Marketing, "rarely has the opportunity to work on such an important food account." LG&F's work on Effi will, in the first instance, be restricted to strategic input, with an in-depth analysis of the brand judged essential before moving on to the production of new creative. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of Media Marketing. Click on the link below (right) to visit the Effi website, where you can choose - as is generally the case in Belgium - whether to view the site in French or Dutch.
Burger King's burgers may still be 'bigger' and 'better', but the company no longer wants to place that claim at the centre of its advertising in Germany, writes the newspaper Der Standard. Just one year after McDonald's - apparently successful - introduction of the line 'I'm lovin' it' worldwide, Der Standard says, Burger King's 'Bigger. Better. Burger King.' line is to be dropped in favour - in Germany at least - of 'Feel the Fire'. The new strategy comes from the Munich-based agency Smart, the paper says, and also entails new menu items, uniforms and store openings. It also includes a new website, devoted to the new positioning. Just how much of an improvement the new sign-off represents, of course, is debatable, with the only comment posted in relation to this story on Der Standard's website suggesting that 'Feel the fat' would have been more appropriate. The new claim, however, takes as its basis the fact that Burger King's burgers have been grilled over flame since the chain came into existence, in 1954. New advertising for the brand pays reference to this heritage by taking the viewer through a 'guided tour' of the past 50 years. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Der Standard. Click here to read a longer version, again in German, on the website of the advertising industry newsletter, Extradienst. Click on the link below (right) to visit the website showcasing Burger King's offer in Germany.
24.08.04
Lufthansa, Germany's leading national airline, breaks a new campaign on August 26th, writes the online advertising magazine Persoenlich, which it hopes will give it a stronger qualitative profile allowing it to achieve a positioning as that of being 'the airline of trust'. The campaign, Persoenlich says, is built around the central claim of: 'Alles für diesen Moment' (which, in English, will run as "All for this one moment"). The campaign focuses on the themes of quality, innovation and trust, says Persoenlich, and has been produced by the Berlin ad agency MECH The Communications House, a division of McCann Erickson, which will manage the campaign internationally. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, and to see images taken from the new campaign on the website of Persoenlich (which, in fact, is a Swiss magazine). Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to read a fuller version of this story elsewhere on this website, in English, on the 'Germany' page.
25..08.04
Their success has been built on the basis of not stocking familiar brands, keeping costs to a minimum and promotion to in-store posters and locally-distributed leaflets. Yet still the 'hard discount' grocery chains have become a dominant force in German retailing and, in recent years, exported that success internationally. Now, however, it seems that the second-largest of them, Lidl, is considering advertising its stores on TV, in what would be a historic first, writes the German advertising magazine Horizont. Until now, Horizont says, only the 'soft' discounter Plus has ventured onto television. According to industry insiders, however, Lidl is currently in 'intensive' discussions with all TV advertising sales houses. Lidl certainly has the resources to extend its promotional activity onto TV, Horizont says, having increased expenditure by 28% in the year to date to 187 million euros. Should it be successful, it is sure to be followed by its larger rival Aldi which would not want to lose its perceived price leadership position to its upstart competitor. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Horizont. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Lidl's German home page.
09.08.04
McCann Erickson was the ad agency handling the largest amount of billings in Spain during the first 6 months of 2004, according to the online Spanish marketing industry newsletter Marketing Directo. The agency added €31 million in billings over the period, Marketing Directo says, thanks to the arrival of nine new clients. Basing its report on a survey conducted by the specialist consultancy Grupo Consultores, Marketing Directo says that Publicis ranked second, with €26.7 million, just ahead of Ruiz Nicoli Lineas, with €26 million. Publicis added three new accounts between January and June and Ruiz Nicoli eight, the newsletter says, although it also lost Ferrovial and Don Piso over the period. The ranking, it continues, reflects the solid performance of the leading Spanish agencies in the first half of the year. All the leading ten gained business, with only three reporting that they had lost clients. The remainder of the new business top 10 is taken up by Sra. Rushmore, DDB, Cayenne, Contrapunto, Creativos de Publicidad, Zapping, The Farm and Saatchi & Saatchi, in that order. This is the first ranking produced by Grupo Consultores based on billings, Marketing Directo says, having previously limited itself to accounts won and lost. The three agencies losing clients, the consultancy says, all count among the top 5 in the ranking. Click on the link below (left) to read more of this story, in Spanish, on the website of Marketing Directo. Click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Grupo Consultores, specialists in the ad agency market.
09.08.04
After four years at BBDO and more than 20 in the advertising industry, Hannes Sonnberger, head of BBDO's Austrian advertising agency, is to step down at the end of August, writes the newspaper Der Standard. When Sonnberger joined, he was given a brief which involved restructuring the agency, Der Standard says, and encourage greater creativity. Since then, BBDO has appeared in ranking's of Austria's leading creative agencies for the first time. "My mission is achieved", Sonnberger tells Der Standard. "Markus Enzi and I had the task of building a new type of agency here. We have more than done that - in addition to our creative positioning, we have acquired twelve new clients. I'd now like to fulfill by long-held wish to practice personal, vocational consultancy". Sonnberger will rest for a few months before setting up as a business coach early in 2005, Der Standard says. To read what else the paper writes about this development and what Fred Koblinger, head of BBDO's Austrian holding company, has to say about it, in German, click on the link below (left) to be taken to the story on Der Standard's website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit BBDO's Austrian website.
04.08.04
EDP, Portugal's leading energy company, has awarded its corporate account to the local agency of Euro RSCG, writes the Portuguese advertising and media magazine, Meios & Publicidade (M&P). Euro RSCG's brief will be to communicate the company's new corporate identity, M&P says, and to handle all corporate advertising over the next year. According to Vasco Perestrelo, chief marketing officer of Euro RSCG, the decision was taken on creative grounds. A first campaign will apear in September, M&P says. In addition to Euro RSCG, Strat, FCB and Ogilvy also competed for the account. To read this story in Portugese, click on the link below (left) to be taken to M&P's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the recently-redesigned and - considering it's Portuguese and internet presentation in that country is often not so good - rather good website of EDP.
31.07.04
Amsterdam, capital city of the Netherlands, is to launch a new campaign to promote itself, writes the Dutch advertising and marketing magazine Adformatie. The campaign, Adformatie says, will run under the title 'I AMsterdam' and has been thought up by local ad agency KesselsKramer, among whose other clients are Diesel, the jeans brand. Frits Huffnagel, responsible for the campaign at the city's authorities, Amsterdam Partners, says that it is a "strong international concept that serves as a logo and slogan combined." Amsterdam Partners' remit involves making the city attractive to tourists, inhabitants and companies alike, Adformatie says. Previous attempts to 'sell' it have included the use of the slogan 'Amsterdam heeft het' ('Amsterdam's got it) in the 1980s. Clearly, 'I AMsterdam' offers more opportunity internationally. Huffnagel says the campaign is set to launch in September. The logo is still under development, but a clue to its design lies in the fact that Huffnagel freely admits to having been inspired by the 'I love New York' campaign that began in the 1970s and still resonates today. The slogan 'I AMsterdam' will appear on all letters, posters and informational materials issued by the city's authorities, says Adformatie. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Dutch, as reported by Adformatie. Click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Amsterdam Partners which, conveniently, is in English and contains plenty of information about Dutch capital city.
28.07.04
Wrangler, the VF-owned jeans brand, is to distance itself from its cowboy roots says the German advertising magazine Horizont. A new campaign set to break in September, Horizont says, will use as its theme the concept of 'wanted'. Wrangler's core colours of yellow and blue will remain a thread running through the entire campaign, Horizont says, as will the core Wrangler philosophy: up-to-date fashion wear, independence, straight-forwardness, authenticity and energy. These values will be transmitted through print and poster, online and PR measures across 11 European countries in a campaign designed by the Dutch agency bsur, Horizont says. To read this for yourself, in German, click on the link below (left) to see it as published on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit a Wrangler site selected at random (in this case, in the Netherlands, and featuring Wrangler footwear).
Diesel is opening the door to a world of mystery, adventure and imagination in its new 'Dreams' campaign, produced by the Dutch agency KesselsKramer, writes the Italian ad industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. Designed to showcase the Italian clothing brand's autumn/winter collection, the new campaign will break in Italy in August and September, newspapers and magazines, Pubblicità Italia says. The work takes in around 30 different treatments, each of which also serves as the inspiration for a three-minute film short, Diesel Italia marketing director Antonella Rossi tells Pubblicità Italia. These, she continues, have been produced by 30 different film makers selected by Diesel's media department and will be made available via Diesel's global website. The media mix, Pubblicità
Italia says, does not as yet include TV, although that possibility has not been expressly
ruled out. As regards investment, Rossi tells Pubblicità Italia that Dielse will be
increasing its communications budget by a 'double-digit' percentage during 2004, in line
with sales. These, during 2003, amounted to more than €700 million.
22.07.04
cosmic, a small, Berne-based agency, has been awarded the advertising account of the compact smart car, made and marketed by DaimlerChrysler, reports the local advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. The winner beat out competition from three larger, Zurich-based rivals, Persoenlich says. The four agencies shortlisted were asked to show creative proposals aimed at achieving specific sales and marketing objectives, including for the recently-launched, "forfour" version of the car. To read what else Persoenlich writes about this story, in German, click on the link below (left) to see it on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the website showcasing Smart, in German, to Swiss buyers.
Edmund Petri, 'doyen' of the Austrian advertising scene, is to leave his position as creative head of the local agency Grill & Thompson at the end of the year for personal reasons, says the local advertising magazine Extradienst. Until then, the magazine says, Petri will continue to work on the Merkur account and on selected international clients of J. Walter Thompson, majority owner of the agency. According to head Alois Grill, Petri has had an extraordinarily successful spell at Grill & Thompson. "With JWT Experimental, he also made his mark internationally. He has chosen a good moment", he adds. To read what else Extradienst writes about this story and other recent Austrian ad industry developments, in German, click on the link below (left) to visit the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to go straight to the Grill & Thompson website.
19.07.04
Ogilvy Brussels has developed a new promotional concept for Ford which it says is the first of its kind in Europe. The campaign, designed to run across Europe, involves the use of outdoor posters including an interactive element, says the Belgian advertising and marketing magazine Media Marketing. It is designed to promote the client's Fiesta model and will run, in the first instance, between July 19th and 26th on the Boulevard Général Jacques in Brussels. Passers-by will be able to participate in an interactive game, CB News says, simply by following instructions placed next to the poster. In order to play, they will first have to send an SMS message specifying their first name. This name will then appear on the poster, accompanied by a message encouraging them to continue. They will then receive an SMS message from Ford/Ogilvy. If they respond 'correctly', the poster will instantly display an 'extraball', allowing them to form part of the list from which the ultimate winner of the promotion will be chosen, on August 24th. For the winner? A Ford Fiesta. If, on the other hand, they give a wrong response, the poster will display the word 'tilt'. Three people, Media Marketing says, can play at the same time and the number of attempts is unlimited. The campaign ties in with TV and cinema work which launched in June and extensive internet promotion, all based around the concept of pinball. In addition to Brussels, Ogilvy plans to extend the poster campaign to other Belgian cities such as Antwerp, Lieges and Charleroi. To read this story for yourself, in French, click on the link below (left) to see it on the website of Media Marketing (MM). Click on the link below (right) to go to the site of Ogilvy Belgium which - for good or bad - looks just like any other Ogilvy site, or click here to visit the Belgian website of Ford which, when we last looked, was featuring the Fiesta as its main product.
Erick Bilinski, until recently assistant managing director at the Euro RSCG Worldwide group in Spain, has been named as executive chairman of J. Walter Thompson, writes the Spanish advertising magazine IPMark. The chairmanship of JWT España had been vacant since the death of Angel Falquina some months ago, IPMark says. Bilinski will take over his new post at the end of August, with responsibility over the Madrid and Barcelona offices of the agency. Bilinski's career has included
studies at the University of Hartford, followed by various marketing posts at Renault.
He joined Euro RSCG in 1995 as client services director, before becoming managing
director of the Madrid agency between 1998 and November last year. In addition to his
duties in that position, Bilinski was global coordinator at Euro RSCG on the Peugeot
account.
McCain, market leader in Austria in pre-prepared potato products, has awarded its account to Konzett Wien after a pitch involving several rounds, writes the local advertising newsletter Extradienst. Ten agencies were originally
screened, Extradienst says, with four subsequently being invited to pitch. Two made it
through to the final, with campaigns then put into testing. New work from Konzett, the
chosen agency, will now air this autumn, primarily on TV. The account will be headed up at
the agency by Florian Thalheimer, with Hans Cepko taking creative responsibilities.
Edgar C. Britschgi, chairman at the Swiss ad agency Advico Young & Rubicam, has also been asked to act as chairman of Y&R Holding, writes the Swiss advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. Britschgi arrived at Advico
Y&R in autumn 2002, writes Persoenlich. He had previously been a partner at Accenture,
working in the areas of brand stewardship and change navigation, and also counts a spell
at the Swiss bank, UBS, among his experience and where he was client of Young &
Rubicam for a number of years.
Ogilvy has named its new management team for Belgium, reports the local advertising and marketing magazine Media Marketing (MM). From now on, CEO and President will be Philip Greenfield, Jan van Aken will occupy the role of Vice-President of Ogilvy Belgium and President of Ogilvy One and Phil Van Duynen will assume the role of Group Creative Director, MM says. Commenting on the changes, Philip Greenfield tells MM that: "We want to be market leaders and we believe that we have everything in place for that to be the case. We are in a position to offer our clients a unique combination of direct marketing know-how, interactive communications and mass media communications. Thanks to this multi-disciplinary expertise, Ogilvy has to be the only communications group to have a complete vision of the way people consume media today and the way in which they will do so tomorrow. By putting Phil Van Duynen in charge of the group's creative output, we are clearly showing our desire to create strong ideas that will reach consumers whatever the medium." From Europe With Love doesn't like just repeating press releases verbatim, and this is essentially a press release. If you would like to read more about what Ogilvy says in relation to how it will change the world of Belgian communications, by all means do so. Just click on the link below (left) to see the story on the MM website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to explore the world of Ogilvy Belgium by visiting its website.
29.06.04
Jorge Teixeira is leaving Euro RSCG to team up with Miguel Velhinho at DDB Lisbon, writes the Portuguese advertising magazine Meios & Publicidade. Their relationship, the magazine says, dates back 15 years to when they worked together at Lowe Lintas and then Young & Rubicam. Teixeira says that he decided to leave Euro RSCG MRT because of a meeting of minds with Miguel Velhinho. They have always, he says, been in contact and thought that one day, they might team up again. Teixeira says he had just reached a point where he wanted to do something different and that coincided with Velhinho confiding that he also wanted to try different things at DDB in Lisbon. Could these two different things have something in common? To read what they tell Meios & Publicidade about their past experience and future plans at DDB in Portuguese, click on the link below (left) to be transported to the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to see selected extracts, in English, prepared by From Europe With Love.
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20.10.04
Anniken Bjørnstad Schjøtt, head of marketing for Freia Marabou in Norway, is to leave her post and move to the local McCann-Erickson office as a consultant, writes the local advertising magazine Propaganda. According to a press release issued by McCann and published by Propaganda, Schjøtt will take up a central role at the agency, concentrating especially on the integration of advertising and design, something she says she has extensive experience of having worked at Freia Marabou, a confectionery company owned by Kraft. Schjøtt is a bachelor in marketing which she gained in the United States, at Loyola University. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, on the website of Propaganda. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Kraft Foods Nordic website or here to go directly to the page devoted to Freia.
20.10.04
After a pitch against four other agencies, Blaupunkt, the in-car entertainment manufacturer, has awarded its €1 million+ account to Jung von Matt/Elbe, writes the German advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The agency's first work for Blaupunkt, which is part of Bosch, will appear at the beginning of 2005, W&V says. In addition to above-the-line, Hamburg-based Jung von Matt's brief also takes in below-the-line promotions and sales literature. The agency already handles promotional duties for Bosch tools. According to the company's own data, Blaupunkt is European leader in car radios, in-car navigation systems and car multimedia. It hopes to strengthen its position internationally through the new campaign, which will focus on new target groups. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of W&V. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Jung von Matt where, in addition to exploring the agency and its work, you can also see its interpretation of the typical German home and family (to go directly to that, just click here).
15.10.04
September was a terrific month for advertising spending in Sweden, writes the local trade magazine Resumé. Star performer, it says, was the evening press, but TV also showed strong growth. According to Resumé, citing figures from the media monitor Mediatrender and Research International's local agency, Sifo - and not taking into account any discounts offered on space sold - evening newspapers sold 69% more advertising space this year than they had in the previous year. TV performed less well but no less creditably, up 37% year on year. Daily newspapers posted an increase of 20%. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the website of Resumé. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit one of Sweden's leading newspapers, Svenska Dagbladet (SD).
12.10.04
Manfred Schüller, described as a Springer & Jacoby man 'through and through' is to leave the agency after 17 years to head up Publicis' German operations, writes the German adevrtising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). "Schüller will serve out a long notice period, then leave the agency", Springer & Jacoby admits, without adding where he is heading. His exit may have been in part prompted, W&V says, by the agency's loss last week of the account of Bahlsen, the biscuit and snack maker. The agency and client ended their 2-year relationship last week due to (the time-honoured excuse of) 'differences over strategic direction'. Schüller had been in charge of the Bahlsen account. According to rumours, W&V says, he is now bound for Publicis, although Marcus Starke, currently in charge of that agency's Frankfurt office, limits himself to saying that he expects Maurice Lévy to name a new Publicis Germany CEO 'relatively quickly' but that no official announcement is imminent. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of W&V. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Springer & Jacoby or here to go to Publicis Deutschland.
12.10.04
Eastpak, the preferred bag brand for thousands of teenagers across Europe, has moved its advertising account from Cathedral to a new agency, Satisfaction, writes the Belgian trade magazine Media Marketing. Eastpak's account first went to Cathedral in December 2002, after a pitch in which FCB, Dentsu, LG&F and Ogilvy also competed. Since then a number of high-profile campaigns have been produced, Media Marketing says, including 'John El Paco', which was shortlisted at Cannes in 2003. Why, then, this latest move? John Israël, the freelance creative behind those campaigns has just started a new agency, Satisfaction, and Gilles Laumonier, European vice-president of marketing for Eastpak, wants to follow him in his adventure. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of Media Marketing. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Eastpak site.
08.10.04
Young & Rubicam's Swiss office is to be merged operationally with local agency Guye Benker, writes the local advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. The Zurich-based shop was already acquired by the Y&R network in February 2003, Persoenlich says. Now, its staff will move into Y&R's offices, including CEO Christophe Guye, who will simultaneously be working on new projects not related to advertising in the capacity of 'business incubator'. "I first made myself independent from Advico Young & Rubicam", Guye tells the magazine, "and now we are to be integrated back into the agency I once worked for. That's a successful conclusion". Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Persoenlich, or here to go to an interview, translated into English and on this page, with Christoph Guye himself. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Guye Benker's website or here to visit the homepage of Advico Young & Rubicam.
07.10.04
Ahead of its forthcoming name change to Indesit Company (click here to see an earlier story about that), Merloni, the Italian household electrical goods manufacturer, is seeking an agency to handle a print campaign that will communicate the change to stakeholders and the financial community, says the Itaian ad industy newsletter Pubblicità Italia. The campaign, set to break in January 2005, may yet be extended to consumers, the newsletter says. A pitch process is currently underway involving five agencies, headed up by Simona Georgetti, head of communications for Merloni for Italy, and Alfonso Patrullo, who holds global responsibility for the same area. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Italian, on the website of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Merloni, where there are now just 113 days until the switch to Indesit.
07.10.04
Panasonic, the electronic goods
brand, is looking for a new advertising agency in France, reports the local trade magazine
CB News. Until now, the agency has worked with Alliance. Its account is currently worth in
the region of 3 million euros, CB News says.
07.10.04
Nordea, the Norwegian bank, is currently pulling in customers in its home country and neighbouring Sweden with the slogan "Gör det möjligt" ("Make it possible") writes the magazine Dagens Media. That's fine, it seems, with most people except the communications team at the engineering group Sandvik, whose corporate slogan reads "Vi gör det möjligt" ("We make it possible"). Sandvik has contacted Nordea to contest its use of the claim, Dagens Media says. Sandvik's advertising agency, Ehrenstråhle, came up with the slogan in 1993. According to the magazine, when Ogilvy, Nordea's Swedish ad agency, called Ehrenstråhle to ask if it would be OK to use a similar slogan for its banking client, it was told 'no', but either heard or subsequently acted as if it had received a 'yes'. Nordea, on the other hand, claims it has been using its current slogan since the year 2000 and says it took all legal safeguards before introducing it.
04.10.04
Fisher, the Brazilian-based agency long rumoured to be interested in starting operations in Portugal, has appointed Grupo Consultores - the specialist ad agency consulting group - to seek out possible targets for acquisition in the country, write the local trade magazine Meios & Publicidade. The aim of Eduardo Fisher, head of the agency group, is to use Portugal as a way of setting up in Europe. Fisher already used the same tactic to establish a presence in Colombia and Venezuela, Meios & Publicidade says. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Portuguese, on the Meios & Publicidade website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to read an old (year 2000) article from Latin CEO magazine in which Fisher outlines his expansion plans.
01.10.04
José María Lapeña and Maribel Muñoz, creative directors at Bassat Ogilvy, one of Spain's leading agencies, are to leave after 7 years, writes the Spanish marketing industry newsletter Marketing Directo. Speaking to the newsletter, the agency said it wants to "embark on a new phase, with a new team" and that this is the reason behind the duo's departure. The split, it added, is amicable, although general opinion is that Lapeña was fired. A new team is currently being sought to cover the gap, until which time Bassat Ogilvy is not expected to issue a statement, Marketing Directo says. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Spanish, on the Marketing Directo website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Bassat Ogilvy website.
01.10.04
McCann Erickson Europe has been named as Agency of the Year at the EACA Effie Awards, the ceremony for which was held yesterday in the Plaza Hotel Theatre in Brussels, writes the Belgian trade magazine Media Marketing. In all, McCann won three Effies (awarded by the EACA for campaigns that can be demonstrated to have been effective): a Silver for its work for Coca Cola and Bronze for campaigns for Magnum and Mastercard. Gold Effies were won this year by Leo Burnet London, for Daz, Y&R New York, for Accenture, and DDB Berlin, for the VW Polo. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Media Marketing website. Or click on the link below (right) to see the full list of finalists for this year's Effie awards, on the website of the EACA (European Association of Communications Agencies).
01.10.04
Edizioni San Paolo, publisher of the weekly magazine Famiglia Cristiana, is said to be reviewing its creative strategy, reports the Italian media industry newsletter Mediaforum. Although no confirmation was forthcoming from the company, Mediaforum believes Euro RSCG MCM - which currently handles the account - Grey Worldwide, Aldo Biasi Comunicazione, hi! and Tequila Italia to be in the running. In addition to Famiglia Cristiana, the review extends to other titles published by San Paolo, such as Club 3. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Italian, in the pages of Mediaforum. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Edizioni San Paolo.
30.09.04
Ikea has selected the Finnish agency Hasan & Partners to handle a new international TV campaign, writes the Swedish magazine Resumé. The decision was made after a pitch and the subsequent work will air in the majority of European markets where the company maintains a presence. "In terms of visuals and sound", Hasan & Partners creative Magnus Olsson tells Resumé, "the ad has a kind of Hitchcock feel to it", also praising his customer, Niclas Anderek of Ikea, for being the first to appreciate the approach adopted. Predictably, the idea behind the campaign is to convey that Ikea offers a wide range of products at great prices. It will be focused around 3 key areas of the home - namely the bedroom, kitchen and living room. The endline used will be, in English: "Frighteningly wide range. Frighteningly low prices", Resumé says. The film was shot in Bucharest, with post-production work done in London. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the Resumé website. You may want to head off to visit your own country's Ikea site, but if you want to visit 'head office' in Sweden, just click on the link below (right). At the time of writing, they are running a rather novel product recall in the centre of their home page.
30.09.04
TBWA has named Sven H. Becker as the new head of strategy at its above-the-line agencies in Germany, writes the local advertising magazine, Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Becker, the magazine says, was the chosen candidate of Perry Valkenburg, head of TBWA Central Europe and will take over his new post on January 1st next year. He has studies in business and marketing gained in London and Glasgow, holding both a Masters degree and a PhD in communications-related subjects. His previous professional experience includes spells at Red Spider, BMP DDB London and DDB Germany, W&V says, before moving to Springer & Jacoby in 1998 to take responsibility for strategic planning. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site showcasing the agency's operations in that country.
23.09.04
Adidas has sprung a surprise in Germany by rejecting the proposals of four other agencies and awarding the advertising for its Adidas Outdoor brand of outdoor clothing to the Munich-based agency Richter, writes the local advertising magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). Admittedly, W&V says, the account is not yet a major one, amounting to less than €1 million, but in choosing Richter, Adidas turned down the ideas advanced by TBWA, which acts as lead agency on the Adidas account worldwide. That account size may be set to grow as Adidas gears up for a major promotional push next spring to increase the competitive pressure on brands such as Jack Wolfskin. The claim to be used in the advertising, W&V says, will be 'Life is outside', a theme driven home by showing images of the famous three stripes in a natural, outdoor environment. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the W&V website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Adidas. You decide: originals or performance but not, as yet, 'outdoor'.
23.09.04
Wasabrod, the leading Swedish crispbread brand, is leaving Young & Rubicam to move its account to Forsman & Bodenfors, writes the local advertising magazine Resumé. The decision involves the company's advertising both in Sweden and internationally. Wasabrod initially moved its account to HCYR, Young & Rubicam's local office, as a result of parent company Barilla's global relationship with that agency. Y&R has since changed its partner in Sweden to Tank, prompting Wasabrod to review its arrangements, company marketing director Karin Brynell tells Resumé, as Tank does not have the necessary experience. Wasabrod, the world's largest producer of crispbread, was acquired by Barilla in 1999. In making its decision, it drew up a shortlist of 4 agencies including the winner and Storåkers McCann. The most important thing, Brynell tells Resumé, was that the chosen agency had to have international experience. In addition to Scandinavia, key target markets for future campaigns will include Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and the United States. The account will be handled out of Forsman & Bodenfors' Stockholm office by a team headed by Stefan Rudels. Click on the link below (right) to read this story for yourself, in Swedish, in the pages of Resumé. Alternatively, click on either the link below (right) to be taken to Wasabrod's Swedish website, or here, to be taken to the English-language, global world of crispbread.
22.09.04
Deutsche Post is to cut back on its advertising activity in Germany, writes the local advertising magazine Horizont, with press reports suggesting the company has already drawn up plans not to air a number of TV ads and print campaigns currently in preparation. The company is taking its action, Horizont says, in order to divert the funds to boosting awareness of its products and services in the United States and in particular those of DHL, its courier division. Deutsche Post's US market share, it adds, is currently just 9%. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the Horizont website. Or, if you like, you can click on the link below (right) to visit the Deutsche Post website.
20.09.04
Eight 'départements' from Paris and its surroundings have joined together to commission a € 1.1 million campaign to demonstrate and build support for the city's bid to stage the 2012 Olympic Games, writes the French advertising magazine, CB News. Under the leadership of Jean-Paul Huchon, President of the Ile-de-France region, the eight have called on the ad agency Ogilvy to produce a campaign which will "allow Franciliens (as inhabitants of the area are called) to take on the challenge of organising the 2012 Games".
To read this story for yourself, in French, on the website of CB News, click on the link below (left). Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to the official site of the Paris 2012 candidature and, in particular, to the site outlining the campaign and allowing you to see a sample visual from it (these also appear in the CB News article).
17.09.04
Two weeks ago, Unilever turned to local agency LG&F to handle advertising for its Effie brand in Belgium (click here to see that story). Now, says the local magazine Media Marketing, it has dropped Lowe from its Iglo account and handed all responsibility to McCann Erickson. Iglo, the company's frozen food brand, had previously been shared between Lowe, which handled prepared meals, and McCann, which handled vegetables and other frozen products. Now it has taken advantage of the fact that it is introducing a logo redesign across its range and updating its positioning to gain the maximum synergies between its activities by putting all advertising into one agency, Media Marketing says. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in French, on the Media Marketing website. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Iglo's Belgian website.
17.09.04
Mercedes-Benz has moved its French advertising account from Springer & Jacoby Paris to CLM/BBDO, writes the local advertising magazine CB News. The decision follows a 7-month pitch process and sees an end to the relationship that was instrumental in Springer & Jacoby's decision to set up in the French capital in 2001. In addition to these 2 agencies, FCB also competed on the pitch. CLM/BBDO's task will cover Mercedes-Benz cars only. Mercedes, CB News says, seems to have opted for an integrated communications approach, having awarded its direct/relationship marketing account to Proximity/BBDO last October. "Our choice comes as we prepare to launch a new brand offensive which will see the introduction of nine new products in the next three years", a spokesman for the company tells CB News. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of CB News, the magazine that published this story. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit Merdeces-Benz's French website.
16.09.04
ONCE, Spain's national charity for the blind and operator of some of the country's leading lottery games, has selected Delvico Red Cell to handle advertising for the launch of its first interactive game, writes the business newspaper Cinco Días. El Combo, as the game is to be called, goes 'live' on October 23rd, its launch be backed by a 6 million euro promotional campaign for which Delvico Red Cell was chosen after a pitch between all ONCE's roster agencies which, in addition to the winner, include McCann Erickson, Bassat Ogilvy and DDB. The campaign will run on TV, radio and posters and will also include a number of promotions. In addition to handling advertising, Delvico Red Cell has been entrusted with the creation of the El Combo logo and graphics scheme, Cinco Días says. In all, the introduction of the game is set to cost ONCE 40 million euros. Click on the link below (left) to read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in Spanish, on the website of Cinco Días. Or, click on the link below (right) to visit ONCE's website. Alternatively, click here to see an extensive write-up in the Spanish magazine Control Publicidad of Delvico Red Cell's latest institutional camapign for the same client, from this week's issue.
The pitch to decide who will handle advertising for Römerquelle, Austria's leading home-grown mineral water brand, has finally been decided, writes the newspaper Der Standard. A decision on who had won the business was originally scheduled for the end of August, but was then put back at least until September 9th, during which time the two agencies still in the running - Young & Rubicam and Jung von Matt/Donau - were asked by the client to do further work on their proposed concepts. Now, it seems, and a little later than planned, Römerquelle has finally opted for Jung von Matt. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Der Standard. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the Flash-laden experience that is the Römerquelle website (click on 'Eintreten' to enter) and decide for yourself whether it really does 'die Sinne beleben' ('awaken the senses').
15.09.04
Michael Conrad & Leo Burnett, the German arm of the Leo Burnett network, is officially to drop the reference to its original founder, Michael Conrad, as part of a renaming exercise, writes the local advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The Frankfurt agency is to be known henceforth simply as Leo Burnett GmbH, W&V says, following discussion with Conrad, who in fact left the company in June 2001, leaving the Leo Burnett network just over a year later, where he had acted as vice-chairman and creative head of Leo Burnett Worldwide. Conrad, 60, nevertheless continues to act as a consultant at European level. Leo Burnett's original presence in Germany derived from the merger, in 1980, of its local operation with Lürzer, Conrad. The name was changed to Michael Conrad & Leo Burnett in 1986 and has gone on to become one of the most emblematic names of the German agency landscape. Its major clients include Philip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Fiat, Heinz, Kellogg and Campina. Click on the link below (left) to see this story for yourself, in German, in the pages W&V. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Leo Burnett in Germany.
15.09.04
Average income at Norwegian advertising agencies fell, on average, by 4.9% during 2003 compared to the previous year, according to figures compiled by the local association Kreativt Forum. The average figure masks much larger decreases at some agencies, such as 16% at the country's largest independent firm, Dinamo, and 20% at Leo Burnett. Among those bucking the trend were McCann Erickson and BBDO, up 5%, and DDB, which increased income by almost 10%. Among the absolute top performers was the local independent Try, which saw income grow by 110%. Despite continuing tough conditions, however, many of the falls observed were lower than had been recorded during 2002 and many of Kreativt Forum's members say they are looking at even better performance during 2004. The top 10 agencies, it says, accounted for 80% of Norwegian advertisers expenditure during 2003, a figure that remained stable year on year. Two out of three agencies admitted to letting staff go last year and, according to Kreativt Forum, one in three jobs in the Norwegian advertising industry has disappeared since the year 2000. Among those cutting most jobs during 2003 were Leo Burnett, where staff numbers fell from 149 to 140. Across the industry, the average decrease was 7%. Click on the link below (left) to see a much fuller version of this story for yourself, in Norwegian, in the pages of the local advertising magazine, Propaganda, and including a full ranking of the 2002/03 income of Kreativt Forum's member agencies. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to the rather understated website of the largest agency among Kreativt Forum's members, Dinamo, or here to see an article saying which agencies cut jobs and showing a ranking of agencies, by staff numbers, also from Propaganda.
15.09.04
Ogilvy & Mather's Düsseldorf agency has produced a new campaign for the Unilever-owned soap and skincare brand, Dove, writes the online advertising magazines Persoenlich, that uses the line "Jede Haut ist schön" ('Every skin is beautiful'). The ads - like those for Dove in other countries - show everyday women in place of models, displaying body features such as scars, freckles and tattoos that typically don't make it into other beauty product advertising. The campaign is designed to highlight the fact that, according to a survey conducted by Dove, 64% of German women have some such feature yet feel perfectly at home 'within their skin'. The women shown in the ads were selected by way of street casting sessions, similar to those carried out across Europe earlier this year. O&M will be running the campaign across all German-speaking countries (i.e. Germany, Switzerland and Austria) to accompany the relaunch of Dove body care products from this month, taking in TV and outdoor. Click on the link below (left) to see this story for yourself, in German, and an example of the work forming part of this campaign, in the pages of Persoenlich. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to Dove's German website or here to go directly to the part of the site featuring the new models and campaign. Now those really are freckles!
15.09.04
Gancia, Italy's leading maker of sparkling wines, has unveiled a print campaign designed to run between now and Christmas, writes the Italian advertising newsletter Pubblicità Italia. The campaign has been produced by Burnett Bgs, which takes over from In Adv on the account following a pitch. Extension onto TV and radio is currently under consideration, Pubblicità Italia says, although Gancia management is not releasing full details of its plans. "We are not making public the amount we are spending on the campaign", says President Lambert Vallerino Gancia. "All we will say is that it it is consistent with what is needed and, for us, point of sale is an important area of brand promotion". This, in 2005, will continue to include Gancia's 'Nice to meet you tour', which has been introducing Italians aged between 18 and 35 years old to Cantine Gancia, the brand sold through restaurant and bar channels, for the past 2 years. Gancia, Pubblicità Italia says, is present in 60 countries around the world and recorded turnover of 100 millio euros in 2003, 20% of which came from abroad. Click on the link below (left) to see a longer version of this story for yourself, in Italian, in the pages of Pubblicità Italia. Alternatively, click on the link below (right) to go to Gancia's corporate website or here to go visit the website of the agency that has produced the new work, Burnett Bgs.
07.09.04
Süddeutsche Zeitung, the leading newspaper for/from southern Germany, is on the look out for a new lead advertising agency, writes the local advertising and marketing magazine Werben & Verkaufen (W&V). The account, W&V says, moved to Scholz & Friends, Berlin, in autumn 2001 before running a brand-building campaign featuring the central signature "Entdecker gesucht" ("Wanted: explorers). In recent months, however, Scholz & Friends has only been called upon for project work. "We have enjoyed a successful period working with the agency", Rudolf Spindler, in charge of strategic marketing for the paper, tells W&V. Not successful enough, however, for Spindler to confirm that he is looking to appoint a new lead agency by the end of the year. Briefings will be sent out in November, W&V says, asking agencies to work on concepts that will "communicate and build on Süddeutsche Zeitung's market leadership". A new campaign is set to run after the pitch, at the beginning of 2005. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of W&V, where you can read this story for yourself, in German. Alternatively, take in the day's headlines in German from the website of Süddeutsche Zeitung itself.. just click on the link below (right).
07.09.04
Advertising expenditure in Denmark continues to rise and could reach the same level this year as during 1999 and 2000, according to figures released by the country's advertisers association, Dansk Annoncørforening to the newspaper Berlingske Tidende. "Figures reported by media agencies for the first 6 months of the year show an increase of seven per cent and it seems likely that the full year will show a rise of 3 to 5 per cent", Herman Haraldsson, of the media agency OMD, tells the paper. His optimistic view of the market is shared by Henrik Abraham of Carat. The rate of increase, however, is not uniform across all media, with newspaper advertising expenditure rising by 2.4%, compared to investment through commercial TV channels, which is up by 8%, the paper says.. Click on the link below (left) to read a longer version of this story, in Danish, on the website of Berlingske Tidende. Click on the link below (right) to visit the website of the advertisers' trade association, Dansk Annoncørforening.
07.09.04
In what is an unusual move for a German advertiser, many of whom seek to associate their brand with modernity and an international state of mind by using English in their advertising, Douglas, the perfumery and cosmetics chain, is to drop its English-language brand signature in favour of a German phrase, writes the local advertising magazine Horizont. Since 2000, Horizont says, ads for Douglas have featured the claim "Come in and find out". From now on, however, and under the creative guidance of the company's ad agency, Select, Douglas will use the line "Douglas macht das Leben schöner" ("Douglas makes life more beautiful"). "Come in and find out", Horizont notes, has long served in case studies as a prime example of how incomprehensible anglicisms pepper German advertising. Other examples which spring to mind include Beck's beer, which invites German drinkers to "get the Beck's experience". To quote from an article on the Adslogans website, says one German copywriter: "When I'm stuck for a headline I simply string together some words in English and that normally does the trick." Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of Horizont, where you can read this story for yourself, in German. Click on the link below (right) to go to Douglas' German website where you can shop online to your heart's content. Alternatively, click here to "Get the Beck's experience" or here to go to the Adslogans website, where you can read an excellent article on the question of language and English-language use in German advertising, by Jack Willhoft, and including a description of the quandaries faced by translators and copywriters when it comes to working between the two languages.
07.09.04
Telekom Austria, Austria's largest telecommunications company, has awarded its direct marketing account to OgilvyOne, writes the local ad industry newsletter Extradienst. "Direct marketing", Tanja Sourek, head of communications at Telekom Austria tells Extradienst, "is playing an ever more important role in our communications mix, allowing us to achieve better targeting. In addition to sound analytical thinking, OgilvyOne has also developed a strong creative idea". The awarded follows a pitch process taking in 5 agencies, says Extradienst, including the ex-incumbent agency More Sales. Presentations took place at the end of August with OgilvyOne, apparently, emerging the clear winner. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of Extradienst, where you can read a fuller version of this story for yourself, in German. At the time of writing, Ogilvy's Austrian website is not available, but click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Telekom Austria and where, if you like, you can read the company's own press release confirming the choice of OgilvyOne.
03.09.04
Gruppo Danone has announced a pitch for €80 million-worth of media buying in Italy, writes the local ad industry newsletter AdvExpress, and invited four agencies to pitch. Carat Italia, Media Planning Group (Danone's partner in Spain) and Optimum Media Direction (the company's partner in France for chilled and dairy products) are all confirmed competitors, while the fourth will be chosen from among Mindshare, Muraglia Calzolari & Asociati and Bandera Barone Scarpelli, once credentials have been examined, AdvExpress says. The pitch will be headed by Danone Italia's media group director, Marcella Bergamini. Click on the link below (left) to visit the website of AdvExpress, which published this story, or here to see a much fuller article from rival magazine Media Forum, in Italian. Alternatively, click here to see another recent story on From Europe With Love about Danone, which suggests that the company is to streamline its logo design worldwide. Click on the link below (right) to visit Danone's website in Italy which - although it is currently under construction - gives a preview of exactly what the new logo will look like.
02.09.04
H&M, the clothing chain, is moving its Swedish media account from Mediaedge CIA to Initiative Universal, writes the local advertising magazine Dagens Media. The decision follows a review of all the company's media relationships, Dagens Media says. H&M Sweden's marketing head, Sofia Jegerborn, praises Initiative's 'dynamic' approach, which will now be applied to a budget in the region of 146 million kronor. The decision will become effective at the beginning of next year. After Unilever, H&M will be Initiative Universal's next-biggest client. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in Swedish, on the website of Dagens Media. Although it's a decidedly international company, click on the link below (right) to see what H&M looks like, in Swedish.
02.09.04
Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett will be chewing over new strategies for advertising for the Swiss chocolate company Lindt & Sprüngli, after winning the account in a pitch this week, says the local advertising and marketing magazine Persoenlich. According to Lindt marketing director Stefan Jost: "SFLB convinced us through producing the best solution to the task we set them, a good understanding of the Lindt brand and a clear path for its future development." First work, Persoenlich adds, should appear before the end of this year. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Persoenlich. Click on the link below (right) to visit Lindt's international homepage, from which you can choose your language, country and that soft centre you like.
01.09.04
The decision by telecoms client Sunrise to switch its account from local flagship independent agency Wirz to Young & Rubicam could mean trouble for the loser, says the local advertising magazine Persoenlich. The decision, confirmed on Tuesday, covers Sunrise's entire brand communications, Persoenlich says, and follows the business account, which took the same route 18 months ago. "Obviously, the decision isn't a good one for us", Geri Aebi, CEO of Wirz tells Persoenlich. The loss of this SFr. 4 million account could lead to revenues dropping at the agency by fully 25%. Certainly, the standalone business unit that Wirz had set up to handle Sunrise will now be dismantled. Aebi, however, remains optimistic, saying that the agency's ability to service its remaining client base will not be affected. Also, he says, the blow comes at a time when the agency is performing fairly well in terms of new business and, indeed, expects to announce the arrival of a major Swiss client in the very near future. On the other hand, while the decision was handled correctly by the client, Wirz was given extremely short notice, Aebi says. At worse, he says, he had been expected to be invited to re-pitch for the business. That opportunity, however, was not to come, with the client citing "financial reasons" for its decision. Y&R, the winning agency, doesn't want to discuss how his agency was able to be more financially attractive than Wirz and maintains that his compmany's offer was not based around "price dumping". To read a longer version of this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Persoenlich, just click on the link below (left). Click on the link below (right) to visit the Sunrise website (their motto is "always a smile", a sentiment with which Wirz probably doesn't agree), here to visit Wirz or here to visit Advico Young & Rubicam, which has its new client splashed all across its home page at the time of writing.
For the third time in nine years, says the French ad magazine CB News, France has been selected as the lead country for a forthcoming global launch campaign for the German car maker Audi. The car in question on this
occasion, CB News says, is the Audi A3 Sportback, which will be unveiled at the Paris
Motor Show on September 23rd. The work presented jointly by DDB Paris and Audi France was
selected from among ideas presented by other members of the 'AAN' (Audi Agency Network),
which include Bartle Bogle Hegarty of the UK, DDB Barcelona, Almap BBDO (Brazil) and
Saatchi & Saatchi's Frankfurt office. The campaign will include a central film, says
CB News, plus six print ads.
25.08.04
Coca Cola Germany has invited four agencies to pitch for the national advertising account of its Fanta soft drink, writes the local advertising magzine Horizont. Altohugh not confirmed by the client, Horizont says that the likely competitors on the pitch are Brand Lounge, which currently holds the business, McCann Erickson which, like the incumbent, is based in Düsseldorf and already works for Coca Cola, plus the two Hamburg agencies Jung von Matt and Scholz & Friends. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, on the website of Horizont. Click on the link below (right) to visit Fanta in Germany whose product signature is 'Spass ist, was Ihr drauss macht' ('Fun is what you make it')..
11.08.04
Morten Polmar, ex-head of Leo Burnett Nordic, has ended deliberation about his next move and decided to join the local agency Try as a consultant, writes the Norwegian ad industry magazine Propaganda. One of Norway's most prominent industry professionals, Polmar will now be applying his 25 years-worth of experience in new surroundings, Propaganda says. Polmar left his previous post in December, having previously spent many years heading up Leo Burnett's Norwegian agency and has used the past 6 months to reflect on his future. Try was voted Norway's best agency in a poll conducted by rival publication Kampanje in April 2004, beating out previous winners such as DDB and Dinamo. The agency is named after founder, Kjetil Try. Kampanje's poll, which was conducted for the magazine by TNS Gallup, reflected the opinion of 135 of the country's top advertising and marketing clients. Click on the link below (left) to read more about Morten Polmar's move to Try, in Norwegian, on the website of Propaganda. Click on the link below (right) to see the earlier story about it being voted Norway's best agency, or here to visit Try's website which, at the time of writing, features its new man 'centre-stage' on the home page.
02.08.04
Konzett, which has offices in Vienna and Bregenz, has declared itself insolvent, writes the Austrian ad industry newsletter Horizont. A solution is 'feverishly' being sought for both employees and clients of Konzett, Horizont says, and an announcement is expected over the next few days. The reasons for the bankruptcy of one of Austria's best-known independent agencies, founded by Heinz Konzett in 1967, lie in the turbulence that blew up after its founder's death, Horizont says. In addition, some poorly thought-out strategic decisions were made. Despite recent successes in the Effie awards, Konzett has found itself increasingly unsuccessful on pitches. To read this story for yourself, in German, click on the link below (left) to see it as published on Horizont's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit Konzett's rather impressive website which, unfortunately, claims on its home page that the agency is open 365 days per year, 24 hours a day, neither of which is currently true.
Müller, the German dairy company, is considering putting all its advertising into one agency, writes the local advertising industry magazine Horizont. A pitch is scheduled for the autumn, Horizont says. Agencies currently working for Müller include Wensauer & Partner (which handles advertising for Müllermilch, Buttermilch and Milchreis), Heye & Partner (responsible for 'corner' yoghurts, Crema and Müller drinks) and London Project (which handles Froop and the Nestlé LC1 brand). "We are not necessarily looking for a new partner", Jens-Oliver Hauck, Müller's marketing head, tells Horizont, confirming that the incumbent agencies will be involved in the review, which is designed to ensure optimum marketing of individual brands and the strengthening of the umbrella Müller brand. In addition, an agency has yet to be assigned to the dessert brands Müller recently acquired from Nestlé. A decision, Horizont says, is expected before the end of the year. Müller is one of Germany's leading advertisers, spending around €58 million on all media during 2003. To read what else Horizont writes about this story, in German, click on the link below (left) to see it on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the Müller German website which, after a rather boring start, becomes more entertaining if you click on the logo.
Markus Zauner und Thomas Schmidbauer, owners of the Austrian agency For Sale, are making something of a comeback by teaming up with the local J. Walter Thompson network shop Grill & Thompson, writes the national newspaper Der Standard. Zauner and Schmidbauer are taking their team and clients to Grill & Thompson's Muthgasse offices, Der Standard says, to form a new agency, called LZS/Grill/Thompson, in which both will take leading management roles alongside Alois Grill (CEO) and Hans Hermann (CFO). The move, Der Standard says, is in line with the J. Walter Thompson network's new international strategy of getting more out of its creative potential. Michael Mädel, head of the agency's European operations, says he is delighted to welcome back the two 'lost sons'. The restructuring follows similar recent changes in Germany, he says. Click on the link below (left) to read this story for yourself, in German, as reported by Der Standard. Click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Grill & Thompson, as currently configured. Click here to see a story reported on this page in the past few days datailing further changes at Grill & Thompson.
27.07.04
Carlo Maffei has been named as the new CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of J. Walter Thompson's Italian operations, says the local newsletter ADV. Maffei, 43, is leaving the post of Chairman at Bates to take up his new position, ADV says. In addition to Bates, Maffei's recent past also takes in spells at Selecta and Inferentia, where he was in charge of finances when the company floated in 2002, and Mediaedge Cia. Maffei's appointment follows hot on the heels of that of Pietro Dotti as the agency group's new chairman in Italy, as reported by Pubblicità Italia on July 19th. Dotti, the magazine says, succeeds Daniele Tranchini, who has left JWT Italia after 22 years to take over global sales and marketing responsibilities for Gruppo Natuzzi. A native of Turin, Dotti was previously a partner in his own agency, Marini Dotti & Associati, Pubblicità Italia says, having started his career at Armando Testa in 1978, where he stayed until 1983. Subsequent spells at Cinzano and AssoComunicazione followed. To read the story about Carlo Maffei for yourself, in Italian, click on the link below (left) to see it as published on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the website of Pubblicità Italia where you can read a fuller version of the story about Pietro Dotti.
Initially expected to appear this autumn, new advertising for Grana Padano, the Italian cheese making and marketing collective, will not now air before January 2005, says the Italian advertising newsletter Pubblicità Italia. And between now and then, Pubblicità Italia says, current incumbent agency Young & Rubicam may find it has been taken off the case. "The spot proposed by our agency of reference", consortium spokesman Stefano Berni tells Pubblicità Italia, "is good, but the board prefers to evaluate other ideas. But I would like to add that, should campaigns produced by Y&R and another agency be equally good, we prefer to stay with our agency, because we really work well with them." Grana Padano left Leo Burnett 4 years ago to move its account to Young & Rubicam, Pubblicità Italia says, in similar circumstances. Three or four agencies will now be asked to respond to a two-part brief issued by the consortium, one half of which will be equivalent to that worked on by Y&R, the other devoted to a new assignment and on which Y&R will also be invited to contribute ideas. Despite the postponed TV work, Grana Padano will continue to maintain a presence on radio and in print, Pubblicità Italia says, before returning to TV in December with a Christmas version of its well-known 'Il Coltellino' ad. The budget, says Pubblicità Italia, remains at €33 to €34 million for 2004-2005. To read what else Pubblicità Italia writes about this story, in Italian, click on the link below (left) to see the story on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the Grana Padano consortium's website (which is available in a variety of languages) and/or here to go directly to the page that allows you to select and view Grana Padano TV advertising, past and present.
Rumours have been running the rounds for some time that Poste Italiane, the Italian postal service, was set to re-award its €40 million media account to Carat, writes the ad industry newsletter Pubblicità Italia. Now the news has been confirmed. The client has appointed Carat to continue to handle the business until 2007, says Pubblicità Italia, having seen off competition from MindShare, Starcom and ZenithOptimedia. To see this story for yourself, in Italian, click on the link below (left) to see it on Pubblicità Italia's website. Click on the link below (right) to visit the Poste Italiane website.
McCann Erickson and Grupo Siro, the food company, have agreed to bring their relationship to an end, just 6 months after the agency won a pitch to handle advertising for Siro's Ardilla, La Familia, Dora, Reglero, Rio and Veg's brands, writes the Spanish advertising newsletter IPMark. Grupo Siro held its pitch in the run-up to Christmas 2003, IPMark says, however differences in opinion as to how the brands should be handled started to appear from day one, leading to the decision to terminate the contract. To read what else IPMark is reporting about recent developments in the advertising and marketing world in Spain, in Spanish, click on the link below (left) to visit the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to explore the world of Grupo Siro, whose specialities include potato chips, pasta and biscuits.
19.07.04
Gothenburg-based agency Forsman & Bodenfors has reported turnover down by 17 million kroner in 2003, reports the Swedish online media newsletter Dagens Media. F&B achieved sales of 184 million kroner in 2003, says Dagens Media, compared to 201 million kroner in 2002. Despite the lower turnover, the agency's focus on existing clients helped it to maintain a positive cashflow and even boost net profits during 2003, despite the expense of opening a new agency in Stockholm, Sweden's capital. To read this story for yourself, in Swedish, click on the link below (left) to see it on the website of Dagens Media. If you can take a multimedia experience, click on the link below (right) to visit the site of Forsmann & Bodenfors.
French agency Publicis Conseil is to be pulled before a Paris court, reports the local ad industry magazine CB News, for unfair competition. The accusation comes from local rival TBWA, which accuses Publicis Conseil of having "systematically, and in a premeditated manner, approached TBWA employees and, in particular, those of [its division] BDDP & Fils". The case is expected to be heard in mid-September, CB News says. To read what else CB News writes about this story, in French, click on the link below (left) to see it on the magazine's website. Click on the link below (right) to go to the site of BDDP & Fils (although, frankly, I wouldn't bother, because only the home page is available to outside visitors, and even that isn't very attractive).
A shortlist of two "clusters", each containing four agencies, has been drawn up in the pitch process to decide who will handle advertising and branding for Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, writes the Dutch advertising trade magazine Adformatie. Cluster 1, which corresponds to the airport's future branding activities, contains the British design agency Fitch, alongside local agencies FHV BBDO, PPGH JWT and Publicis. Cluster 2, which covers advertising, contains these same local agencies, plus Young & Rubicam, Adformatie says. The pitch, which is being held
under EU tender rules, attracted a large number of entrants. Ivo Brautigam, head of
consumer marketing for Schiphol, tells Adformatie that he opted for a two-cluster approach
because branding is such an important activity for the airport. "The possibility
exists that a single agency might work on both areas", he says, "but a
combination approach is also eminently possible. There are lots of possible ways to work
and that in itself can be refreshing." A decision is expected in mid-August,
Adformatie says.
Barclays, the banking company, has appointed CP Comunicación Proximity Madrid to handle its direct and relationship marketing acitivities in Spain, writes the local advertising and marketing newsletter IPMark. The agency was chosen, IPMark says, after a pitch in
which Young & Rubicam, Grupo K and Shackleton also competed. First work to be
undertaken is a campaign to launch Barclays' 'profiled funds'.
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