Posts made in January, 2016

on Jan 25, 2016

By John McCarthy Google has issued a $5.3m grant to non-profits in Germany in a philanthropic gesture intent on helping newly settled refugees connect to the web. Looking to support Project Reconnect, a program by NetHope, Google has made a substantial donation to the fund equipping non-profits working with refugees in Germany with Chromebooks. Jacquelline Fuller, director of Google.org, said: “As they make it through a dangerous journey, the first thing refugees need is to find shelter, food and access to care. “But soon enough, they have to learn the local language, acquire skills to work in a new country, and figure out a way to Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jan 25, 2016

By Sarah Vizard Speaking on a call following its Q4 results today (25 January), McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook said that so far a quarter of McDonald’s 1,200 restaurants in the UK have been converted to offer customers self-order kiosks, digital merchandising and customised order points. That number will be closer to a third by the end of the year. McDonald’s will also introduce table service, which is on currently on trial in 14 locations, to “nearly all” converted restaurants in 2016. The changes are part of Easterbrook’s plans to turn McDonald’s into a “modern and progressive” burger company as competition in the market increases. That Read full story › Source: Marketing Week...

on Jan 25, 2016

By John McCarthy The Gourmet Burger Kitchen was recently only the receiving end of a powerful social media backlash and alleged boycott from vegetarians after making light of them in an ad campaign. Following Gourmet Burger Kitchen having to pull an ad campaign and sparking the #gourmetmurderkitchen hashtag after it made fun of vegetarians, OnePulse surveyed 1,500 UK adults about the campaign, and found that more people were willing to eat there as a result of the stunt. Of the respondents, 12 per cent were vegetarian and 88 per cent were not, they were asked their opinions on the campaign which ran with a Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jan 25, 2016

By Minda Smiley Daniel Danker has left his position as Shazam’s chief product officer to take on a similar role at Facebook. He is joining the social media giant as product director and will be based in San Francisco, according to his LinkedIn profile. A Shazam spokesperson told The Drum: “We can confirm that Daniel Danker will be leaving Shazam, and we wish him all the best. We have initiated a search for his replacement.” Danker joined Shazam in 2013 where he was tasked with expanding the music-recognizing app into the TV realm. Before Shazam, he served as general manager of programmes and Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jan 25, 2016

By Doug Zanger Advertising Week Europe announced today that Rebecca Eaves has been named its first UK director. Eaves, who has more than 20 years experience in advertising and marketing, will leave her current role as commercial marketing director at Bauer Media and join the organisation, in this newly-created role, 1 March. “Advertising Week Europe has become the biggest industry event this side of the Atlantic – and it’s only going to get bigger and better,” said Eaves, who will give Advertising Week Europe year-round presence for the brand in Europe. “After working with such a fantastic team at Bauer Media, this is Read full story › Source: The Drum...