REVIEW: Marketing and advertising news in the week’s press

Trinity Mirror has hit back at accusations by the IPA that it is

delaying compensation to advertisers following the publisher’s admission

that it posted inflated circulation figures on its Birmingham titles.

Trinity has set up an arbitration panel to investigate the claims which

the IPA has refused to join. - General release

Coca-Cola has named Douglas Daft as its president and chief operating

officer following the retirement of Douglas Ivester this week. Daft will

be the company’s first non-American chief when he takes over in April

2000. His previous role was senior vice-president in charge of Asia, the

Middle East and Africa. - General release

The departure of David Hardie from his position as managing director of

global operations at UDV has sparked a top-level rejig in the marketing

department. Ivan Menezes, global marketing director, becomes managing

director of venture markets. He will be replaced by Rob Malcolm,

formerly Scotch category director. - Marketing

National Power has shortlisted Grey and TBWA GGT Simons Palmer to pitch

for a rebranding campaign for its new domestic energy brand, ’npower’. A

result is due before the end of the year. - Marketing

The discount retailer, Matalan, has appointed CDP to its pounds 4

million advertising account. The agency pitched against the incumbent,

WARL, and McCann-Erickson Manchester. CDP will take the brand on to TV

for the first time. - General release

The ASA has ruled that the Co-operative Bank must not repeat claims made

in its advertising that PVC is responsible for low sperm counts and is a

primary source of environmental dioxins. The campaign, from Partners

BDDH, claimed that damage caused by PVC was ’frightening’ and asked ’why

are we prepared to risk our very own existence?’ by using it. - The

Telegraph

Iceland has appointed the London-based direct marketing agency, MSB&K,

to promote its home-delivery shopping service. - General release

Rupert Murdoch has announced a USdollars 1 billion investment in the

online health company, WebMD. News Corp is to pay USdollars 100 million

for a 10 per cent stake in WebMD and is to provide USdollars 700 million

of advertising and branding services over the next ten years. - The

Telegraph.

The Government may allow advertising on the BBC’s internet service, BBC

Online, despite concerns that it may be against European Union rules.

Chris Smith, the culture, media and sport secretary, raised the prospect

because so many people living abroad were using the service, none of

whom had paid a licence fee. - The Independent

TBWA has appointed Robert LePlae from its Californian agency to head its

joint venture with the Japanese shop, Hakuhodo. The alliance is to

satisfy Nissan’s desire for a global agency. - Marketing Week

William Shatner, best know as Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, is to star in a

ad for a new internet company -- priceline.com. The actor received his

payment in shares of the company, which is now worth an estimated pounds

130 million. - Daily Star.

This article was first published on Campaign