THIS WEEK: STOP PRESS

Baby milk manufacturers have hit out at media coverage of the latest

health scare after news that government tests had found potentially

harmful phthalate chemicals in some milks. A statement from Heinz, maker

of Farley’s, attacked ‘misleading and alarmist media coverage which is

fuelling unnecessary concerns among mothers’. (See comment, page 3)

Procter & Gamble has created the new position of managing director,

strategy planning, cosmetics and male toiletries across Europe. It will

be filled by Germany country manager John Hardy.

Bank of Scotland has appointed The Leith Agency to handle its pounds

2.5m advertising account. The bank has worked with a variety of

agencies; the most recent was Marr Associates.

The Lloyds/TSB group has announced the next tranche of appointments to

its combined marketing department. Seven managers will work within the

groups’ product marketing units. These include: card services, lending,

current accounts, business banking, savings and investment, life

insurance and pensions and general insurance. A spokeswoman for

Lloyds/TSB refused to comment on how many redundancies the shake-up

would produce.

Nationwide has secured the three-year sponsorship of the Football League

for pounds 6m this week, after out-bidding Endsleigh Insurance.

American Express has appointed John Crewe as president of international

consumer marketing and product development following a review of the

company’s international co-branding and consumer marketing strategy.

Telecoms firm Energis is launching a pounds 5m brand awareness campaign

from M&C Saatchi targeting business users. The ads will run in quality

papers and specialist press.

United Artists Programming, the programme management arm of Flextech, is

to become Flextech Television from July 1.

The Family Channel, to be relaunched in the autumn, has shortlisted

agencies Bartle Bogle Hegarty, M&C Saatchi, WCRS and TBWA. A decision is

expected in mid-June.

VNU’s Personal Computer Magazine and Business Age have closed following

poor sales. Business Age was bought from Tom Rubython for pounds 3m.

Staff were told last week and offered jobs within the company.

Sainsbury’s is reinstating its food-oriented quality press ads after an

absence of two years. The retailer has decided to recall the ads as it

strives to recapture its image of offering high quality food at

competitive prices.

The Body Shop is running its first brand advertising campaign in the UK.

The campaign, featuring seasonal products, is on the back covers of The

Big Issue magazine and is being supported by in-store material.

Habitat has appointed a new marketing director for its 40 UK stores.

Richard Millar, a board director at PR firm Hill & Knowlton, joins on

July 1.

RJ Reynolds is dropping its trade mark camel for a new advertisement for

Camel Lights. The campaign, through McCann-Erickson, is part of a pounds

1.5m push.

This article was first published on Marketing