Media agency news & analysis

Initiative scoops Amazon global media business

Amazon has moved its global media account into Interpublic Group agency Initiative, after a final pitch against incumbent Mindshare and its sister Group M agency, MediaCom.

Hatch and Grant to chair Media Week Awards 2013

Steve Hatch, chief executive of MEC, and Linda Grant, managing director of DMG Media free division, will lead proceedings at the industry's biggest night of recognition as co-chairs of the Media Week Awards 2013.

Goodstuff awarded £1m Diesel TimeFrames business

Goodstuff Communications has picked up the UK media planning and buying business for Diesel TimeFrames, a joint venture between Fossil Watches and Diesel, after a pitch against incumbent Mindshare.

Blippar connects disjointed families, says MEC executive

TV ads with augmented reality technology like Blippar can bring disjointed viewers in a family together, according to Jide Sobo, MEC's head of mobile.

Creative business rankings

17 May 2013: Albion has soared to number three in the league after winning YouView.

Media business rankings

17 May 2013: No changes in the media table, with MediaCom still significantly ahead of others.

Arena wins £15m pan-European Betfair business

Arena has been awarded the £15 million consolidated European media planning and buying account for Betfair, following a pitch against Mindshare, Manning Gottlieb OMD and Starcom.

Samsung strikes placement deal with The Wanted

Samsung has struck a product placement deal with The Wanted to feature its Galaxy S4 model phone in the band's latest music video, 'Walks Like Rihanna'.

Marc Mendoza to take chairman role at Havas Media

Marc Mendoza is to stay on at Havas Media group as chairman following the promotion of Paul Frampton to chief executive of the agency.

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.

Dyson hands £120m global media to Mindshare

Dyson, the British technology company behind the bag-less vacuum cleaners, has appointed Mindshare to its £120m global media account after a competitive pitch.

Creative business rankings

9 May 2013: Grey strengthens its number-two position after scooping Gillette, while Saatchi & Saatchi, Bartle Bogle Hegarty and Dare all enter the league with one win each.

Media business rankings

9 May 2013: No changes this week in the media table, with MediaCom remaining at the top.

Mercedes plots Euro media review

Mercedes-Benz is preparing to review its European media business, currently held by Group M agencies.

MGOMD hires Carat's Mark Brennan to head up mobile

Manning Gottlieb OMD has hired Mark Brennan, the head of mobile at Carat, to the same role at the agency, replacing Mark Halliday.

Zurich hires IPG for creative, media and digital duties

Zurich Insurance Group has awarded its global integrated advertising, media and digital account to Interpublic Group after a pitch.

EDF Energy reviews European media account

EDF Energy, the energy company majority owned by the French state, is reviewing its media planning and buying account across Europe.

General Electric calls global media review

General Electric (GE), the technology and finance conglomerate, is holding a global multi-agency review of its media arrangements.

Arif Durrani: Facebook's UK advisory board creates a stir

Facebook created something of a stir last week when it unveiled its first UK advisory board, comprising senior brand and agency marketers.

The marketing spring is nigh and is running on digital

Spring seems finally to have arrived. There's blossom everywhere as I write (I am aware it could be snowing again by the time you read this!) and there is a smile on the face of Londoners who have been braced against the cold for too long so far this...