https://vimeo.com/34525387
Steve’s breakdown: Scottish Power is owned by Iberdrola headquartered in Spain. They also own Peñascal Wind Power Project in Texas.
GLASSGOW, Scotland: Scottish Power is reviewing its £7 million UK media planning and buying account.
The Spanish-owned energy supplier is holding the review through Creativebrief. [...]
Posts in category Industry: Comm/Util
Scottish Power turns up the juice on Media review
https://vimeo.com/34525387
Steve’s breakdown: Scottish Power is owned by Iberdrola headquartered in Spain. They also own Peñascal Wind Power Project in Texas.
GLASSGOW, Scotland: Scottish Power is reviewing its £7 million UK media planning and buying account.
The Spanish-owned energy supplier is holding the review through Creativebrief. [...]
Chesapeake Energy CEO out: What’s next?
Steve’s breakdown: There’s a lot going on over at Chesapeake Energy and we suspect a new look at PR is happening right now.
HOUSTON, TX: Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake Energy’s daring and innovative co-founder, will step down as chief executive on April 1 after months of scrutiny over how he mixed his personal finances and those [...]
Blackberry finally reviews PR
Steve’s breakdown: You’d think they would have done this back when Apple’s stock was hitting $700 but better late than never.
WATERLOO, Canada: Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIM) has shortlisted a number of agencies as part of a multimillion dollar global review to consolidate its PR, including its social medi [...]
CES 2013: After Delays, Pebble Wristwatch Will Ship Jan. 23
https://vimeo.com/40128933
Steve’s breakdown: Fresh from CES: The featured video is how they paid for the production of 85,000 Pebble watches via KickStarter.
The news is they have a great product but no proper marketing.
SILICON VALLEY, CA: Pebble, the much-hyped wristwatch designed to connect wirelessly to smartphones to display infor [...]
YouView eyes an ad review
Steve’s breakdown: “YouView is looking for a new advertising agency to handle its £10 million account after splitting with the incumbent, Adam & Eve/DDB.”
LONDON, UK: The internet TV service, which has Lord Sugar as its chairman, has contacted agencies to invite them to pitch for the business.
As the brand is not using [...]
Direct marketing projects predicted at Dish
Steve’s breakdown: While I was at the Romann Group we had the direct marketing accounts for Dish & AARP so I have a bit of insight on the new guy. And that insight is this he’s going to spread the direct work around so get in line.
BTW: The featured ad was done by Romann Group.
ENGLEWOOD, CO: DISH (NASDAQ-NMS:DISH) today annou [...]
SolarCity’s IPO raises cash for advertising
Steve’s breakdown: A successful IPO is alway good news for the market but what about marketing. Well, for a company like SolarCity who allows customers to lease solar panels by paying a monthly fee, advertising will most definitely get a piece of that IPO money. Right now, they use a in-house shop.
SAN MATEO, CA: Shares of SolarCity Co [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
An ad account is born: Dish cleared for smartphone service
Steve’s breakdown: We’ve been watching these guys slowly taking over the world. For instance, in August we reported “Dish to offer nationwide satellite Internet service“. Now this. So who’s going to handle this account? You?
ENGLEWOOD, CO: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved a proposal to letD [...]
PR Account Prediction: Sasol to put $16 to $20 billion in Louisiana
Steve’s breakdown: This is a monstrous project and we think they are going to need a PR firm to make it happen smoothly. Congrats to Louisiana!
WEST LAKE, LA: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Monday that international energy and chemicals company Sasol Ltd. will invest between $16 billion and $21 billion in a major project in Westl [...]
HTC’s new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: We got a former ad agency exec taking the marketing reins at HTC. This could be a good thing or it could mean he takes the account to old friends. Either way, members should look into it.
And as you can see, HTC does most of its advertising via their carriers like AT&T and Sprint.
TAOYUAN, Taiwan: HTC Corp. hire [...]
Ad account review prediction: T-Mobile
Steve’s breakdown: You always wonder why news like this gets held back until Friday afternoon. Stock market? Crank calls from competitors? Who knows but it’s still a new business lead. In fact this spring we knew this when we reported “Agency review prediction: T-Moblie CMO is leaving with a bad plan in place” so get [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Account review prediction: Qualcomm
Steve’s breakdown: Back in August we reported “Qualcomm bags new CMO” and said there will be big changes. Well, that’s been confirmed with this statement from the new CMO.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Qualcomm’s (NASDAQ:QCOM) new chief marketing officer said the company plans to more heavily advertise its brand, including [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: So here are the accounts won one year ago this week. The chart shows the client, [...]
Listening for New Business Leads
Steve’s breakdown: Let’s just talk about new business and where it’s going to be coming from as it concerns the federal government.
Green power technologies, manufacturing and installation.
Healthcare communication systems which we wrote about back in June with the headline: “Biggest PR account expansion ever!!“ [...]
RF Micro Devices tunes in a new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Here a BtoB client that’s in a highly lucrative category. If fact we used to have one of its competitors when I was at The Romann Group and they do spend and want to see good creative. Plus the account is global.
GREENSBORO, NC: RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture [...]
Surprise Lead: US may soon become world’s top oil producer
Steve’s breakdown: No matter what side of the energy equation you fall on, there’s one thing certain, “there’s goal in them thar hills.” And here’s another example that it doesn’t matter if we’re talking oil, gas, coal, wind, solar or geothermal. These companies all need marketing and the budget [...]
Chevron needs to sell Europe on fracking: PR in review
Steve’s breakdown: I wouldn’t touch this account with a ten-foot-pole but it’s our job to report this stuff.
ABERDEEN, Scotland: Chevron is reviewing its seven-figure European PR assignment amid opposition to its controversial plans to step up ‘fracking’ in the region.
The energy giant has initiated an online pro [...]
T-Mobile buys MetroPCS
Steve’s breakdown: Back in May we said Agency review prediction: T-Moblie CMO is leaving with a bad plan in place. And as far as we can see, there still is no CMO. Then add this little nugget of news and we are doubling down on the prediction.
And not-for-nothin’: We loved the MetroPCS ads.
BELLEVUE, WA: The parent company of T-M [...]
Vonage puts creative & media up for grabs
Steve’s breakdown: Dick Roth and his associates are running this review. Hopefully you already have your credentials over there. If not, you should probably take care of that for the next review.
HOLMDEL, NJ: Vonage is in the early stages of both media and creative agency reviews.
The company recently issued a request-for-information t [...]
Southern California Telephone & Energy buys North Energy Central
Steve’s breakdown: The company they are buying is a green energy provider and we suspect they are going to want to tout that very soon.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA: Southern California Telephone & Energy, a privately held company, has completed the purchase of North Energy Central (NEC) www.northenergycentral.com from the famed Power Plant D [...]
Dish makes another big move in Marketing
Steve’s breakdown: Normally we don’t report on the hiring of a #2 marketing person but when coupled with the news we reported last month, we think there’s something going on. Here’s last months news: Dish to offer nationwide satellite Internet service
ENGLEWOOD, CO: DISH (NASDAQ: DISH), one of the nation’s leadi [...]
FairPoint Bundle critter has a new boss: CMO hired
Steve’s breakdown: The Bundle critter is totally different but it might have run its course. You better check it out.
CHARLOTTE, NC: FairPoint Communications, Inc. today announced Barbara Dondiego has been appointed senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
Dondiego is a telecom veteran and most recently served as senior vice [...]
BT calls digital agency search
Steve’s breakdown: “BT has kicked off a pitch for the global services, consumer and business, activity around BT.com.” Pssss . . . . it’s really about the website.
LONDON, UK: The telecoms brand is looking for an agency to work on design, build and strategy for the website. BT is handling the process directly.
LBi [...]
Jimmy Volt might be getting fired: Eletrosul in review
Pedro’s breakdown: Eletrosul, parto f the Brazilian state owned Power company Eletrobras, is taking bids for its 4M dollar advertising contract. Agencies must submit their proposals on October 15th at 10:00am in Florianópolis.
FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil: Eletrosul abre licitação para contratar agências de propaganda
A Eletrosul tornou públi [...]
YPF oil company spills into ad review
Pedro’s breakdown: YPF, the former Spanish oil company that was nationalized by Argentina recently, is taking bids for its advertising contract, as Ogilvy will end its run as the company´s agency of Record. YPF is changing strategies and will look to hire a smaller and local agency instead of a large multinational agency and agencies [...]
Solar consolidation: Draker & Solar Power Technologies are One
Steve’s breakdown: We know how hard agencies are trying to get green accounts and we’re here to help. Draker will be the brand going forward and we suspect they will be ramping up their advertising efforts.
BURLINGTON, VT: Draker and Solar Power Technologies, Inc. (SPTI) jointly announce that they have successfully merged, effecti [...]
Wikoda sheds light on marketing with new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Letting there be light on the north side of the house just got easier. Their new product, the sunflower, is going global and would be a great way for you to do the same thing.
WEST CONCORD, MA: Since they introduced their first product, the Sunflower Home Heliostat, six months ago, Wikoda has expanded their business [...]
Zeebox to launch in USA
Steve’s breakdown: TV’s sidekick is coming to the US of A. They have a partnership with Comcast already but don’t know who will be doing the creative. The featured ad can’t be it. Right?
LONDON, UK: Social TV start-up Zeebox is preparing to expand across the Atlantic by launching its social TV app in the US, with Comc [...]
HTC calls $157m global media review
Steve’s breakdown: This is a consolidation of the account and should be a good fight to watch if you’re not in it. If you are, it would be a good idea to call Mother to pick up some pointer. (That’s Mother the agency, not your real Mom . . . )
FYI: In May we reported HTC puts Global social media account in play
TAOYUAN, Tai [...]
Dish to offer nationwide satellite Internet service
Steve’s breakdown: They are keeping these plans under wraps which is pretty hard when you launch a satellite into space. Either way, no word on who’s handling advertising so it might be a good call to make.
ENGLEWOOD, CO: Dish Network Corp. is preparing to introduce a nationwide broadband-Internet service using a satellite from si [...]
Skype Seeks Agency Support For New Project
Steve’s breakdown: If you read our report everyday, you would have know to give these folks a call when we reported Skype calls in new marketing head.
And here ya go!
LOS ANGELES, CA: Skype is seeking agency support for a new international project.
The process is understood to focus on Skype’s efforts to build a stronger presence in ent [...]
Qualcomm bags new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Qualcomm snags marketing chief away from Intel and we suspect will be up to some big changes!
SAN DIEGO, CA: Qualcomm said this morning that it has named Anand Chandrasekher as its new Chief Marketing Officer. Chandrasekher joins the company from Intel, where he was Vice President, General Manager for that firm’ [...]
A new industry takes hold in Phili, Atlanta and Chicago
Steve’s breakdown: This program is meant to do a lot of things for the country including getting us off OPEC oil. You might be against it but, from our perspective, it will also create lots of new accounts. Start with ECOtality but keep an eye on the entire industry
SAN FRANCISCO, CA & EVERYWHERE ELSE USA: California company, infuse [...]
Trouble in Paradise? Accounts won one year ago this week
Steve’s breakdown: It’s Wednesday and that means our weekly instalment of Trouble in Paradise where we list the accounts won this week last year. The idea being most agency-client relationships will break within a year if they are meant to break.
EVERYWHERE USA: Accounts won one year ago this week. Source: Access Confidential
Triscuits creat [...]
Skype calls in new marketing head
Steve’s breakdown: Another Ex-Yahoo executive finds a new gig. This time with it’s with Skype. We expect there will be an uptick in digital media & marketing at Skype because of this hire so get in there.
PALO ALTO, CA: Skype, a division of Microsoft, today announced it is adding Elisa Steele to its senior management team as [...]
Nokia calls in PR review
Steve’s breakdown: Never get into bed with any one named Micro or Soft. (Sorry, that had to happen some day) Anyway, this PR push looks substantial so get out the big guns.
BTW: Our last Nokia stary was last month when we reported Nokia throws the Hail Mary with leadership shake-up
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Nokia is seeking increased public r [...]
Avaya connects with new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: It looks as if Avaya is tilting towards the west lately which could mean they’re getting ready for something big soon. Keep an eye on this guy.
BASKING RIDGE, NJ & SANTA CLARA, CA: Today, Avaya announced the appointment of Mark Wilson as Chief Marketing Officer based in the company’s growing Santa Clar [...]
Huawei communications giant calls for global pitch
Steve’s breakdown: The Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has kicked off a global pitch for a corporate brand strategy brief.
HONG KONG, China: Huawei Group has invited networks to pitch to create a campaign to build its corporate brand in key markets including the UK, China, Japan, Europe and North America. The pitch is being led out of Chi [...]
NYC Payphones turned to WiFi hotspots!
Steve’s breakdown: Here’s a great idea that they are testing. We predict it works and they go city wide, which means they’ll have to tell the world. Are you the agency to make that happen?
NEW YORK, NY: Payphones, those relics of the pre-cellphone era, may just get a new lease on life in New York. The city is testing a pilot [...]
UPDATE: Duke + Progress = Largest Utility account
Steve’s breakdown: Last month we reported about this merger. Now the CEO quits. We smell Blood-in-the-Water and maybe an even easier path to this account.
From last month: Power utility accounts tend to be a little sticky because the government gets involved with messaging but the money is good. Start sniffing around these guys to find [...]
Eon Electric turns on $3.5 million creative pitch
Steve’s breakdown: Their “Energising Smiles” campaign has to go and this review is the perfect plan to do just that.
NOIDA, India: Eon Electric is on the lookout for a creative agency. The multi-agency pitch is currently on in the National Capital Region (NCR). The size of the business is estimated at Rs 15-20 crore.
A senio [...]
Vonage calls in new CMO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W99yDgzos9k
Steve’s breakdown: The current campaign seems to be getting the message across but they obviously needed to make a change. It makes one wonder what’s next.
HOLMDEL, NJ: Vonage Holdings Corp. VG +2.56% , a leading provider of communications services connecting individuals through cloud-c [...]
U.S. Cellular calls in new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Looks like a little bit of a shake up over at US Cellular. You might want to check that out to see what’s going on.
CHICAGO, IL: United States Cellular Corp. (USM) announced changes to its executive leadership structure. The company said it created three new leadership positions and, as a result of these change [...]
Ducsa gets pumped up for ad review
Pedro’s breakdown: Ducsa, Uruguay´s largest private gasoline distributor, is looking for a new agency and receiving proposals this month. JWT, Cámara/TBWA and other major agencies are reportedly bidding for the account. The company has worked with agency Nucleo for the past few years and is looking to go a different direction. The dead [...]
ADT catches CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Here’s a new CMO at a company that wants to look like it’s out from under its owner, Tyco, that is tasked with putting “some rigor in place around how we’re going-to-market and generating leads to drive new growth.” Now there’s a simple BtoB account to break into. BTW: I use ADT at my hou [...]
Orange & T-Mobile owner puts PR in review
Steve’s breakdown: They’re saying the company has contacted a number of agencies to pitch but stops before mentioning the is a finals list. Check it out!
LONDON, UK: Everything Everywhere, the telco giant that owns Orange and T-Mobile, is searching for corporate PR support, less than a year after consolidating its comms business w [...]
Nokia throws the Hail Mary with leadership shake-up
Steve’s breakdown: With all these changes, there has got to be an ad account somewhere to pitch. Especially after the “Smartphone Beta Test is Over” campaign.
FYI: We’ve been watching the fall of this company for a while now. Last year we reported Has Stephen Elop doomed Nokia? and then we posted Nokia, Wieden & K [...]
Virgin Mobile & FRiENDi hook-up in Africa & Middle East
Steve’s breakdown: Say what you want about Sir Richard Branson, the guy is truely global so if you get in good graces with his company, an opportunity will come. Here’s another one.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa & DUBAI, UAE: Virgin DGroup and FRiENDi GROUP have announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement for the M [...]
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam is taking calls for their account
Steve’s breakdown: Deadline to apply is June 22, size of the biz is $4.5 million, eligibility criteria for this account is in italics below. Good luck
MUMBAI, India: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) Mumbai has called advertising agencies for empanelment for the next two years. Last date for application for the empanelment is Jun [...]
Huawei puts UK PR in Review
Steve’s breakdown: This review hit the ground running so if you are interested, move fast.
BASINGSTOKE, UK & SHENZHEN, China: Chinese networking giant Huawei is reviewing its UK PR account, as it steps up ambitious growth plans in the country.
The telecommunications company, often viewed as one of the few Chinese companies with real [...]
Motorola Mobility now in the Google house
Steve’s breakdown: Not too many years ago, Motorola Mobility was a 8 figure advertising account. Now that Google has it, who knows. Google doesn’t know the first thing about advertising beyond selling it. Maybe that’s why you should pitch it.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA: Google has completed its $12.5 billion purchase of device maker [...]
National Wireless Internet Service: The future ad account
Steve’s breakdown: It’s not a matter of if but when we will all be able to connect to the internet from everywhere USA. It will be a major coup for whomever gets it so you might as well get started on that now.
EVERYWHERE, USA: Five of the nation’s largest cable companies — Comcast Corp., Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Cox Co [...]
$258 million Sky account broadcasts an ad agency review
Steve’s breakdown: Sky had a great idea with the “Fairytale” campaign with the line “Believe in Better.” But they strayed and now is preparing to expand its creative agency roster.
LONDON, UK: The broadcaster and internet service provider, which spends £163 million on its advertising, has already approached non- [...]
WVT gets new CMO
Steve’s breakdown: Here’s another Broadband company. This is a very lucrative category and with Warwick, you’ll be under the radar.
WARWICK, NY: Warwick Valley Telephone Company (NASDAQ: WWVY), referred to as WVT Communications Group, the parent company of leading cloud communications pioneers, today announced the addition o [...]
New CMO & COO at RIM
Steve’s breakdown: This has been a longtime coming but I’m not too sure about their choices. But no matter; they have a lot of work to do and a new ad agency would certainly help.
WATERLOO, Canada: Research in Motion Ltd. has appointed two new executives, it said Tuesday.
Frank Boulben will take on the job of chief marketing offic [...]
Agency review prediction: T-Moblie CMO is leaving with a bad plan in place
Steve’s breakdown: So here’s the plan: revamp marketing to emphasize the value of its data and voice plans, make-over the pink-clad model spokeswoman to project a tougher image and increase its media spending to ensure that the company has strong-selling handsets that aren’t the iPhone.
And none of it will work! This accoun [...]
HTC puts Global social media account in play
Steve’s breakdown: This pitch is going through ISBA, Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, so if you don’t have your credential over there, the time is now if you’re interested in participating.
TAOYUAN CITY, Taiwan: The appointed agency will be expected to handle HTC’s social media output across platforms such as Facebook and T [...]
Wallace & Gromit get fired by npower: Creative & Media in Review
Steve’s breakdown: Lots of news from the UK this morning. Sometimes I think they hold the news back and then BAM! Anyway, Debbie Britton is handling this $13.5 million pitch and it seems they are going to move to a more project based system. But with both creative & media in review, that might not be so bad.
SWINDON, UK: npower, th [...]