Why the NBA Didn’t Block Kobe Bryant’s Gun-Toting ‘Call of Duty’ Ad Lakers star Kobe Bryant upset some people last year when he appeared in a violent “Call of Duty” commercial last year, but the NBA decided not to intervene, commissioner David Stern explained. “There’s a lot we do that can be viewed as intrusive to protect our brand,” he said. This was a chance not to intrude.
CMOs More Optimistic About Economy, Plan to Hire More
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Things are looking up for CMOs — or so they say in results of a survey from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and the American Marketing Association.
Normandy Madden Joins Thoughtful Media Group in China
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Normandy Madden, Ad Age’s Asia editor, is joining U.S. branded-entertainment company Thoughtful Media Group this month in the new role of senior VP-content development for Asia-Pacific. Backed by venture capital, Thoughtful Media started in March 2010 and is currently setting up a Shanghai office, the company’s third in addition to Los Angeles and Tokyo.
WPP to Roll Up Digital Agencies Into New Unit NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — WPP will roll up multiple digital agencies into a new agency, Possible Worldwide, with headquarters in New York and 17 other offices across the world, the company announced in a statement. Clients at launch will include AT&T, Dell, General Mills, Microsoft, Nokia and Procter & Gamble.
Unilever Turkey’s Cornetto Ice Cream Wins Global Mobile Awards It may not be the Academy Awards, but today I am eagerly awaiting the results of the GSMA Global Mobile Awards. I was a member of the jury that determined the best mobile-marketing campaign in the world in 2010. Here’s what I learned when suddenly thrust into the global (i.e., not U.S.-centric) world of mobile marketing.
Lisa Torres to Head Multicultural at ZenithOptimedia ZenithOptimedia has appointed Lisa Torres president of its multicultural unit. Other new hires this week include Israel Diaz at Y&R, Toronto, and Darren Foot at Digitas, Boston.
Apple’s Steve Jobs Finally Makes iPad Subscription Offer to Wary Publishers NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — Apple announced Tuesday that it would enable iPad subscriptions, a key business model for all types of media, including magazines, newspapers, music services, video and games. In some regards the plan appears to meet many publishers’ key demands, but in other ways this is far from the solution that most publishers wanted.
On the Border Taps Barkley as Agency of Record CHICAGO (AdAge.com) — Independent agency Barkley was named agency of record for casual-dining restaurant On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina after a review. Other agencies in the hunt included Minneapolis-based Olson and independent agency FKM. Energy BBDO, Chicago, previously handled On the Border’s creative duties on a project basis, but opted not to participate.
