Aviva enlists Ringo Starr and Alice Cooper for Norwich Union name change campaign

by Staff, marketingmagazine.co.uk 22-Dec-08, 10:15

LONDON - Aviva, the international savings, investments and insurance group, will launch a major advertising campaign on Boxing Day to communicate that the UK's largest insurance company, Norwich Union, is changing its name to Aviva.

The first TV commercial in the campaign features celebrities who have changed their names, before becoming internationally recognised for their talent, including Bruce Willis, Elle Macpherson, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper and Dame Edna Everage.

The multi-million pound campaign, created by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO, will launch on 26 December across national broadcast, print, outdoor and online media, and will run for six months.

The advert cuts between earlier footage in which celebrities observing their younger selves. For example, Bruce Willis talks from the passenger seat of a car chase scene from the movie Die Hard, whilst his younger self is driving the car.

The company already trades as Aviva in more than 20 markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and the change of name in the UK marks the final phase of the company's move to a worldwide brand. Norwich Union will change its name in June 2009.

Amanda Mackenzie, chief marketing officer at Aviva says: ‘We are very proud that Norwich Union started over 200 years ago, selling protection against fire and highway robbery; as Aviva we are now the fifth largest insurer in the world. As our business becomes increasingly global, we need one name customers can recognise, wherever they are. One name means a unified company, allowing us to share our knowledge and expertise with customers around the world.'

The celebrities and their original names.

Bruce Willis - Walter Bruce Willis
Elle Macpherson - Eleanor Gow
Ringo Starr - Richard Starkey
Alice Cooper - Vincent Damon Furnier
Dame Edna Everage - John Barry Humphries

Comments

spikegullsrule - 22/12/2008

Slick ad, especially the Bruce Willis bit, but are we really supposed to believe that Norwich Union has "always wanted to be" Aviva? Sorry Ringo - peace and love, peace and love.