Magazine publisher Highbury House has been put up for sale, following the resignation of its chairman Kelvin MacKenzie last month, who departed after defeat by a “mountain of debt.” The company, which commands control of several high-profile titles including Front and Hotdog, is “highly unlikely” to deliver much return for shareholders following the sale of… Continue reading Highbury Up For Sale After Defeat By Debt

BBC One’s Sweeney Todd outperformed all rivals last night, slaughtering competition from ITV’s Teenage Tourettes Camp and the return of Shameless to Channel 4.The grizzly crime drama netted BBC One an average of 6.2 million adult viewers, while ITV’s obscenity-ridden Tourettes documentary drew 3.5 million in the same time slot.Channel 4’s evening was topped by… Continue reading Sweeney Todd Slaughters Competition For BBC

Havas has this morning denied a report by the Daily Telegraph which claimed Fernando Rodes Vila, head of the company’s Media Planning Group, is being groomed as its next group chief executive.The French media firm moved to quash speculation over the report, which claimed closer links between Havas and Aegis Group would be forged by… Continue reading Havas Denies Reports Of Management Change

Vincent Bollore, chairman of French advertising giant Havas, has outlined plans to appoint the company’s Fernando Rodes Vila, currently head of Havas’s media planning arm, as the next group chief executive, potentially forging closer ties with Aegis.According to a report in today’s Telegraph, Bollore, who also holds a 25% stake in Aegis, has already asked… Continue reading Havas Mulls Aegis Links Through Management Reshuffle

Mobile phone giant Orange has signed as the sponsor of Virgin Radio’s new Christian O’Connell Breakfast Show, marking the firm’s biggest-ever radio sponsorship deal, and the largest on-air and online brand marketing deal in the Virgin Breakfast’s history.The scale of the deal, Virgin claims, is testament to the appeal of Sony Award winning O’Connell, who… Continue reading Virgin Signs Largest Ever Breakfast Sponsorship

IPC Advertising has appointed Caroline McDevitt as its new managing director with immediate effect, seeing the media boss take a seat on the IPC Media Board.McDevitt joined IPC last May as director of group advertising (see IPC Picks McDevitt For Group Ad Director Role), and will now chair the IPC Advertising Executive, leading the company’s… Continue reading IPC Advertising Appoints McDevitt As New MD

Global advertising firm, WPP, has announced the purchase of Polish market research company, Pentor Instytut Badania Opinii i Rynku S.A, integrating the business into its global market research network, Research International. Pentor has been affiliated to Research International since its beginning in 1991, with its clients including Frito-Lay, Polska Telekom, PKN Orlen, Dr Oetker Polska… Continue reading WPP Extends Reach In Poland

News Corporation has announced the promotion of Jeremy Philips to the position of executive vice president, office of the chairman. The role will see Philips assume responsibility for the company’s internet investments as well as focusing on acquisitions and strategy. He will continue to report to Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation’s chairman and chief executive officer.… Continue reading News Corp Promotes Philips To Executive Vice President

Didier Suberbielle, managing director of magazine publisher Les Publications Conde Nast, has announced that he will be leaving the position to take up the role of chief executive officer at Europe’s leader in dietetic foods, Nutrition & Sante. Commenting on his decision, Suberbielle said: “Conde Nast is an extraordinary company with unique brands. In the… Continue reading Conde Nast MD Announces Departure

US online shopping spend reached $30.1 billion during this year’s holiday season, with new figures showing the sector to have risen by 30% compared to the same time last year. According to the new Holiday eSpending Report from Goldman Sachs, Nielsen//NetRatings and Harris Interactive, 2005 holiday online sales were at the high end of expectations,… Continue reading US E-Commerce Passes $30 Million For 2005 Holiday Season