Author's Profile

Jo Hagger joins The Lighthouse Company

- Jo Hagger, the European vice-president of marketing at SapientNitro, is joining headhunting firm The Lighthouse Company as the head of technology and content search.

Sage by Heston Blumenthal hires MBA

- Sage by Heston Blumenthal, a new range of appliances from the celebrity chef, has appointed MBA to handle its UK advertising account.

Now picks up Freesat advertising business

- Freesat, the satellite TV service, has appointed Now to handle its ad account.

When it comes to pitches, agencies aren't asking for love - they want honesty

- Peter Bogdanovich tells a story, recently cited in The New Yorker, about receiving a phone call from Cary Grant. The actor chastises his protégé for banging on about his relationship with Cybill Shepherd.

DigitasLBi and Razorfish appoint international leaders

- DigitasLBi and Razorfish, the Publicis-owned digital networks, have appointed international leaders.

Just Eat rival calls European ad pitch

- Delivery Hero, the company that owns a network of food delivery websites, is looking for an ad agency to work on its brands in Europe.

Creatives can still win war with number-crunchers

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National Express hires Isobel for summer campaign

- National Express has appointed Isobel to handle a summer advertising campaign, after a four-way pitch handled by AAR.

Foreign exchange Fairfx.com selects MBA and PHD

- Fairfx.com, the online foreign exchange service, has appointed MBA and PHD to handle its creative and media accounts as it seeks to compete with rivals like Travelex.

Slendertone talks to creative shops

- Slendertone, the muscle-toning brand, is talking to ad agencies about an international brief.

Famous storytellers to speak at SapientNitro event

- SapientNitro has secured presenters including director James Cameron, designer Vivienne Westwood and chef Heston Blumenthal for its third annual Ideas Exchange event.

Bombay Sapphire launches online film contest

- Bombay Sapphire has launched its second Imagination film competition by signing the actor Adrien Brody as a judge for the contest.

Sony takes first steps in ad overhaul

- Sony is shaking up its global agency relationships, with reviews of the mobile and electronics media accounts coinciding with the appointment of Adam & Eve/DDB to handle global advertising for Sony Mobile.

ASA expresses concern over increase in 'misleading' ads

- Gocompare.com headed the Advertising Standards Authority's list of shame of the most-complained-about ads in 2012, with two spots chalking up close to 2,000 protests. However, the body rejected claims that the ads were offensive or harmful.

Saatchi & Saatchi captures Richmond business

- Kerry Foods has appointed Saatchi & Saatchi London to handle the advertising and digital accounts for its Richmond brand.

A warning for those plotting a digital shopping spree

- LBi London's office was transformed last week into a mini conference suite populated by sharp-elbowed suits. Publicis Groupe was showing off its recent acquisition of Shoreditch geek chic by using its Brick Lane basement as a venue for an investor day.

Sainsbury's calls digital advertising review

- Sainsbury's has kicked-off a review of its digital advertising account as it looks to build a roster of agencies.

ZenithOptimedia forecasts global ad spend to rise 3.9% in 2013

- Global advertising spend will rise by 3.9 per cent to reach $518 billion during 2013, according to the latest forecast by ZenithOptimedia.

Havas Media acquires insight agency SCB Partners

- Havas Media Group has acquired the marketing insight consultancy SCB Partners.

Danone calls £200m media review

- Danone has launched a review of its estimated £200 million global media planning and buying account.