Posts made in July, 2016

on Jul 21, 2016

By Tony Connelly DigitasLBi has made moves to strengthen its UK media team by promoting Adriana Matyaskova head of media and appointing Starcom Mediavest Group’s Cibelle Michepud to head of display and paid social. In her new role as head of media Matyaskova will report to chief media officer, Paul Dalton, and will lead a the UK media team of 90 employees. She will be tasked with driving forward the global marketing and technology agency’s efforts to blend media, tech, data and creative expertise to help clients gain competitive advantage. Discussing the appointment Matyaskova said she was “really excited about working with Paul Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 21, 2016

By John Glenday Airbnb has risen to the challenge presented by discrimination by appointing former attorney general Eric Holder to help combat racial bias on the short term letting portal. Citing discrimination as ‘the greatest challenge we face as a company’ Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky wrote in a blogpost that he was ‘fully conscious of the issue’ but conceded that there has sometimes been a ‘lack of urgency’ in dealing with it. Holder, as America’s first black attorney general, is well placed to tackle bias on the service having openly commented on instances of racism he endured during his rise to the top. In a statement Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 21, 2016

By Jennifer Faull Introducing a Dollar Shave Club-style subscription model to other brands in the Unilever portfolio is “undoubtedly” in the pipeline, according the company’s chief executive Paul Polman who addressed analysts for the first time since it announced the $1bn acquisition of the razor delivery service. Polman described the brand as “innovative and disruptive” with a “cult-like” following of some 3.2 million members who are now buying into products beyond razors, but also body wash and skin cream, that will in turn take Unilever further into male grooming. But, his enthusiasm for it shed light on some of the bigger reasons behind Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 21, 2016

By Rebecca Stewart Premier Foods has released its trading update for the first financial quarter of 2016, posting sales growth and saying that it expects to avoid any economic fallout from the Brexit. Overall, the group’s sales were up 1.9 per cent for the 13 weeks to 2 July. The grocery division enjoyed the same amount of growth as the inclusive figure, while the company’s sweet treats offering received a slightly higher boost of two per cent. The maker of Mr Kipling, and Loyd Grossman sauces said that while it recognised the broader implications of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, the financial Read full story › Source: The Drum...

on Jul 21, 2016

By John Glenday Elon Musk, chief of electric vehicle firm Tesla, has confirmed his intent to branch out from cars to a catchily titled ‘solar-roof-with-battery product’ as part of his latest masterplan for the business which will also see it build a new generation of buses and trucks. This electricity storage medium would be suitable for installation on the roofs of people’s homes and is intended to dovetail with the manufacturers existing fleet of electric vehicles, making them fully carbon neutral. With one eye to the future Musk also harbours ambition to launch a shared fleet when autonomous driving finally takes off, enabling vehicle owners Read full story › Source: The Drum...