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Bass is hoping to revitalise the alcopops sector by launching a

low-calorie version of its Hooch brand. Hooch Light launches at the end

of July, with a heavyweight consumer PR and press advertising campaign.

The advertising will be handled through Euro Wnek Gosper RSCG. Bass is

still talking to PR agencies. Hooch Light will have the same taste and

alcoholic strength as the original version, but 50% fewer calories.

Virgin Cola has appointed Swag Mukerji as its new managing director, as

the brand embarks on its biggest advertising campaign to date.

Mukerji joins from United Biscuits, where he was business integration

director for McVitie’s International. Former managing director Nick

Kirkbride has left the company.

The Mobile Phone Store has appointed a new managing director as the

chain aims to double in size. Nigel Knight joins from BT Cellnet ,where

he held the post of general manager and director of call

connections.

Baxters Foods has handed its pounds 1m media planning and buying account

to Feather Brooksbank. The business was formerly handled by BBJ Media

Services.

Littlewoods’ retail division has restructured its marketing department

and appointed the former vice-president of marketing for Avon Cosmetics,

Gillian Wilmot, as director of direct catalogues. Phil Anderson, head of

marketing at Thorntons, joins as director of world-class marketing. Both

report to Littlewoods’ group marketing director, Susan Murray.

Virgin Radio has signed a pounds 200,000 sponsorship deal with Wembley

Arena.

Under the agreement, Virgin Radio will have branded sites in and around

the arena, and Virgin Radio will be played during event days and as

guests enter for concerts.

Scottish Radio Holdings has confirmed it has bought Vision, the

Birmingham-based poster contractor, for pounds 15.7m. The two partners

in the business, Gerry Bew and John O’Hara, are to stay on and run the

company (Analysis, page 16).

Virgin Holidays is looking for an advertising agency to handle its

pounds 3m business. The account is currently handled by several design

agencies, but marketing director Kathryn Street plans to appoint an ad

agency to develop and implement a campaign to combine its long-haul and

short-haul holidays.

Department store Allders is seeking a new agency for its press

advertising account, worth pounds 5m. The move leaves the incumbent,

Bates UK, with Allders’ broadcast and poster advertising, which the

agency handles on a project basis. Five agencies have been

shortlisted.

Virgin Entertainment has appointed Kerry Lee to the new position of

retail marketing manager, reporting to marketing director Andy Kendrick.

Lee joins from HMV, where she was advertising manager.

Jewson’s incumbent agency, J Walter Thompson, will handle the creative

brief for the Jewson side of the Dundee store, which it plans to open as

a joint venture with Homebase. It is still talking to agencies regarding

direct marketing.

Johnson & Johnson is to sponsor a new government-backed charity, Safe

Kids UK. Set up to fight accidental child death and injury, it is a

British version of a multi-million-dollar charity established in the US

by Johnson &Johnson 11 years ago.

Lloyds TSB is planning to launch a car-leasing and home-shopping service

to its 600,000 Gold Service current account holders. The car-leasing

service is being offered through its Black Horse Vehicle Management

subsidiary, and the home-shopping service will be available through the

internet or phone. A direct mail drive will be launched next week

through WWAV Rapp Collins.

WH Smith has created a new division called WH Smith Direct, which will

incorporate WH Smith Online, The Internet Bookshop and Helicon

Publishing, as well as the company’s interests in digital interactive

television through Open.

This article was first published on Marketing