The 10 Hottest Global Brands
Check out Japan's AKB48 and Majolica Majorca, China's Vancl, Brazil's Rock in Rio, the British royal family's William and Kate, and more.
Global News
Chrysler Will Relaunch in U.K. With Super Bowl Spot on Sky
The U.K. doesn't have a lot of Super Bowl fans, but Chrysler hopes to wow them on Sunday by relaunching the brand during the British broadcast of the game on Sky satellite TV.
HP Launches Creative Review for PC Division
Hewlett-Packard is on the hunt for a global creative agency to handle marketing for its personal computing division, long the marketing star of the company.
EU's 27 Countries Have 27 Interpretations of New Privacy Law
The European Union has 27 countries -- and 27 interpretations of Europe's new e-privacy rules. To make it even more complicated, the e-privacy law has been issued as a directive, a form of legislation that lets every E.U. country fashion its own domestic law.
Unilever Taps Profero for Global Tresemme Work
Unilever has tapped indie shop Profero to handle global digital duties for Tresemme shampoos and conditioners, a brand the packaged goods giant acquired as part of its $3.7 billion purchase of Alberto-Culver.
What the Year of the Water Dragon Means for Our Industry
According to feng-shui and numerology consultants, the Year of the Dragon will be a time for business growth, job creation and career change in the advertising industry. Asian soothsayers are also saying it will be an excellent time to seek a significant advancement at work.
Brazil Shop Splits With StrawberryFrog and Seeks New Partner
Fast-growing Brazilian agency PeraltaStrawberryFrog split with its international partner today and expects to close a deal with a new international network in March.
Starbucks Will Enter India in Joint Venture With Tata
Starbucks Corp. and venture partner Tata Global Beverages will open their first store in India to tap rising coffee consumption there.
Axe Anarchy Is Brand's First Fragrance to Also Target Women
The "Axe effect" is now double-strength with the launch of Axe Anarchy, a fragrance with men and women's versions, and the global "Unleash the Chaos" campaign by BBH London.
M&C Saatchi Hires Jeff Brooks to Open New York Office
M&C Saatchi will reopen in New York next month; it has hired Jeff Brooks, CEO and chief digital officer at Euro RSCG for the past year, as CEO of the office.
Government Protection Makes Marketers' Job Harder in China
China is a key market for multinationals, but it is also a challenging and confusing place to do business, especially because the Chinese government is eager to protect local companies in key areas.
Dominic Proctor Elevated to President of Group M
As part of a WPP management restructuring, Mindshare's worldwide CEO, Dominic Proctor, has been promoted to the newly created role of Group M president.
EU Proposes Tough New Data Protection Rules for 2014
The European Union is challenging big businesses to an internet-privacy showdown, with proposed data-protection laws that focus on the rights of the individual and make heavy demands on companies. The new rules will affect companies around the world, because they apply to all companies operating within the E.U., regardless of where they are based.
New Fiat Ad: Exported From Naples
Vixens in tight black skirts, Jennifer Lopez dancing her way though the Bronx; juxtapose those images with close-ups of jobless youths in one of Italy's most economically depressed cities, Naples. That's the new Fiat ad.
TBWA Hakuhodo Is Ad Age's International Agency of the Year
In a profoundly sad year for the country, TBWA Hakuhodo created memorable and effective work based on the agency's motto, "Think Happy."
F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi Is Ad Age's International Agency of the Year Runner-up
Brazil's best agencies have a talent for creating work that taps into -- and becomes part of -- the country's rich popular culture. F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi and its Nike client took it a step further by transforming the 30 million fans of Sao Paulo soccer club Corinthians into an independent nation.
Fox's 'Touch' Inks Historic Global Deal With Unilever
News Corp. will simultaneously launch Fox drama "Touch" in more than 100 countries with a global marketing effort from Unilever.
China's Spring Festival Gala Is Its Version of the Super Bowl -- But With No Ads
More than 800 million viewers will be tuning into CCTV for nearly five hours of live programming to celebrate Lunar New Year's Eve. But unlike the ad extravaganza that is the U.S.'s biggest TV event, China's has zero commercial breaks.
U.K. Bellwether Report: Marketers Are Pessimistic About 2012
Publicis Groupe said its European clients have scaled back marketing plans for 2012 as the region grapples with the prospects of a recession. That fits with what U.K. marketing executives said in the latest quarterly Bellwether report from the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising, the U.K.'s ad agency association.
Brands Like Nescafe Are Tapping Rebellious Figures in China
Brands in China are looking for more rebellious figures to create aspirational messages for their affluent young white-collar targets. The recent collaboration between Nescafe and popular writer, blogger and social critic Han Han is an interesting example of this dynamic.
U.K. Grocer Tesco Takes F&F Fashion Chain to Middle East
Britain's biggest supermarket chain, Tesco, an adventurous marketer that has already set up a retail bank, a film-production company and a mobile-phone business, is now targeting fashion. The company has declared its ambition to make its F&F clothing and accessories line "the world's leading brand of affordable fashion."
