Briefs

If, the Halifax’s internet bank, which last week announced plans to

launch this summer, has confirmed that it will spend pounds 30m on

marketing the brand over 18 months. Advertising and direct marketing

activity is through Edinburgh-based The Union and its direct arm, Only

U. Halifax has also signed agreements with BT and BT Cellnet to provide

General Packet Radio Service and WAP capability for internet and mobile

phone communications.

John Smith’s, the Scottish Courage beer brand, is to sponsor

award-winning comedian Al Murray, also known as the Pub Landlord, during

his eight-week stint at the Playhouse Theatre, London. The bitter brand

will sponsor the show, And a Glass of White Wine for the Lady, and

receives branding on promotional print and press ads. The deal was

negotiated with Avalon Promotions, Murray’s management team.

David Sneesby, the former Consumers’ Association marketing director, has

resurfaced at Cannons Health and Fitness as director of marketing.

Sneesby, who has also held senior marketing positions at Boots, Marks &

Spencer and Kingfisher, left the CA in December (Marketing, December

16).

Roger King, deputy chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers

and Traders (SMMT), is leaving at the end of March. He is joining the

Road Haulage Association as chief executive. King joined the SMMT in

1992 as director of public affairs and was promoted to his current role

last year. The SMMT has not yet announced a replacement.

Waitrose is launching a new press ad campaign to draw attention to the

sources of food sold in its supermarkets. The ad, through Banks Hoggins

O’Shea/FCB, begins with a focus on farm milk, informing readers that it

can be traced back to the farm it came from. The campaign, which refers

readers to the Waitrose.com web site for further information, will break

in magazines nationally from March.

IPC SouthBank is to launch Click it! as the latest title in its Family

Circle Plus range. Click it! is a mass market technology magazine

targeted at women. The 100-page glossy title will be aimed at women aged

between 25 and 50, and is dedicated to all aspects of the internet.

Blockbuster Video has signed as a sponsor of Virgin Radio. The one-year

deal, negotiated by Booth Lockett Makin, makes Blockbuster exclusive

sponsor of film and video reviews on Virgin Radio. Virgin’s film show

will be branded as the Blockbuster Movie Update.

HJ Heinz is linking its Ketchup with McCain’s Oven Chips in a coupon

campaign to encourage cross-purchase of the brands. The promotion, which

will run through February and March, will offer discounts to people

purchasing both brands.

ADT Fire and Security, which provides household burglar and smoke

alarms, is to run its first direct response television campaign. The

security group is running the 60-second ad to raise awareness of its

monitored alarm service. The campaign, created by WWAV Rapp Collins,

will run for four months on Channel 4, Channel 5 and satellite

stations.

The Future Network, the consumer magazine and web site publisher, has

launched a portal for musicians. The portal, at www.intermusic.com,

features seven content channels comprising music upload facilities,

interviews, tutorials, user reviews and webcasts.

DMB&B Financial is changing its name to Masius from February 25. The

move follows the change in name of parent company, D’Arcy Masius Benton

Bowles, to D’Arcy last year. Existing Masius clients include Legal

&General, Ernst & Young and Credit Suisse Asset Management.

Carlton Media Sales is launching a London-based seminar, E@sy Media,

aimed at UK dotcom companies. The seminar is part of a Carlton drive to

attract dotcom companies as clients. Subjects addressed at the seminars,

on March 13 and 15, will include the basics of TV, cinema and online and

digital media markets.

Taylor Nelson Sofres Superpanel figures quoted in our news report

’Virgin Cola seeks shop for consumer research’, (Marketing, February 10)

applied only to household penetration, not market share as suggested in

the story.

This article was first published on Marketing