What you need to know before the open March 24, 2014 Fears over what’ll be Russia’s next move in Crimea are expected to prompt markets to open lower in Europe. Moreover, weaker Chinese data – the HSBC purchasing managers’ index has fallen to an unexpected eight-month low – is anticipated to affect sentiment. Russian troops have taken control of a Crimean naval base at Feodosia, Ukrainian [...]
WPP snaps up leading digital tech consultancy March 24, 2014 British advertising giant WPP has agreed to acquire a majority stake in UK based digital technology consultancy Cognifide Limited. Cognifide founded in 2005, specialises in content management and digital asset management technology and employs over 200 people. The company boasts clients such as Allianz, Direct Line Group, Investec and Shell among many others. Cognifide will continue [...]
All about talent March 23, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to OgilvyOne’s EMEA chief executive Annette King WHEN WPP launched its “X-Factor” coaching programme for senior female executives across its European agencies, Annette King was an obvious contributor. She has worked at WPP media agency OgilvyOne for a decade, rising through the ranks to become EMEA chief executive, and was promoted both [...]
Trade Secrets March 16, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks fashion, funding and family business with Nish and Sach Kukadia, co-founders of the flash sales website and private members club Secretsales.com DEAL of the day, or flash sales sites, were brought into the post-dotcom bubble world with the launch of Woot.com in 2004. It gave customers a 24 hour window each day [...]
The week in brief March 16, 2014 Reebok unveils new logo In the second overhaul of the sportswear company’s logo in its 121-year history, Reebok has unveiled a new design to reflect its focus on fitness. Chief marketing officer Matt O’Toole said: “The new brand mark signals a clear purpose for our brand.. It is a symbol of change – an invitation [...]
Pancake fever: I can’t believe it’s not batter March 3, 2014 DUST off your sieves and practice your frying pan skills, it’s Pancake Tuesday. Whether you’re getting ready for Lent or you’re just a fan of pancakes (like us) – today is the day to get “battered”. Last year Sainsbury’s alone sold 1.731m lemons in the run up to Shrove Tuesday and it plans on a [...]
Troubled Serco strengthens its board with three new directors March 3, 2014 SCANDAL-TAINTED outsourcing giant Serco yesterday unveiled the appointment of three new eminent non-executive directors, after hiring a new chief executive at the end of last week. The FTSE 100 firm has hired Rachel Lomax, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, Mike Clasper, former chief executive of BAA and Tamara Ingram, executive vice president [...]
Serco bags 3 leading lights as non-execs March 3, 2014 After announcing at the end of last week that it’s appointed a new chief executive – in the form of current Aggreko chief Rupert Soames – government contractor Serco has said this morning that its drafted in three impressive new non-executives. Rachel Lomax, former deputy Bank of England governor, Mike Clasper, ex-BAA chief and chairman [...]
Human touch March 2, 2014 Annabel Palmer talks to Lindsay Pattison, UK chief executive at Maxus Global SIR Martin Sorrell decided in 2008 that there was room in the world for another global media network. In October that year, Maxus was born. Current UK chief executive and global chief strategy officer Lindsay Pattison has been credited with humanising and realigning [...]
Blurred lines: What the rise of branded content means for marketers March 2, 2014 @LiamWardProud WHEN is an ad not an ad? Last year, Channel 4 aired a daytime cookery show called What’s Cooking? It featured celebrity chefs including Jean-Christophe Novelli, and often drew an audience in excess of 200,000 according to Kantar Media. But there was something different about this programme: the food featured was mostly Sainsbury’s own-label [...]