JOHN DEERE WORLDWIDE: Cary, NC, tapped Malone Advertising, Akron, OH, to handle media planning and buying for the dealer network of Deere’s Consumer and Commercial Equipment division. Malone will create an ad plan that can be customized for Deere dealers selling lawnmowers and ATVs. Malone has handled advertising for some Midwestern markets since 2003.
EASTWEST CREATIVE: New York, has promoted Rod Gonzalez, Simon Haddad and Christopher Kammerer from group creative directors to VP-group creative directors.
BACARDI SILVER: is now offering Bacardi Silver Low Carb Black Cherry, a blend of sweet and tangy black cherries with a hit of vanilla making a flavored malt beverage. The spirit hit store shelves June 1.
PAPA JOHN’S: will feature country superstar LeAnn Rimes in a behind-the-scenes DVD in a future promotion as part of its entertainment marketing initiative. Filming is currently in production and footage was taped at last week’s Country Music Association Music Festival in Nashville, TN. Papa John’s may distribute the DVD with its pizzas. The company is currently distributing three movie DVDs with the purchase of a large or extra large pizza at regular menu price.
KODAK: is offering a new promotion in conjunction with Walt Disney World that runs now through July. Consumers will be offered a chance to win a Walt Disney World Magical Gatherings Vacation for 12 on participating Kodak products including Kodak Max Versatility 400-speed film, Kodak Max flash one-time use camera, Kodak Perfect Touch processing and Kodak inkjet paper. The program will be supported by point-of-sale, a national FSI, print ad, film and packaging call outs. The Atlanta of Eric Mower and Associates handles.
E! NETWORKS: is expanding its licensing efforts with a collection of E! and The Style Network franchises for licensing and branded consumer merchandise. The brands include The E! True Hollywood Story, Live From the Red Carpet, The Brini Maxwell Show, How Do I Look, Clean House and Whose Wedding is it Anyway? Product categories include fashion apparel, games, calendars, greeting cards, barware, house wares and stationary. Los Angeles-based Brand Central LLC handles.
DISNEY CHANNEL: has named Matthew Palmer senior VP. He will be responsible for managing the creative direction of on-channel promotion, online content and off-channel marketing for Disney Channel and its learning-based programming block for preschoolers, Playhouse Disney, plus The Walt Disney Company’s JETIX kids action/adventure programming blocks. Palmer joins ABC Cable Networks Group after two years at Discovery Communications, Inc., where he most recently served as VP-strategic marketing.
CITIZEN WATCH COMPANY: named Robert M. Avena as VP-marketing, a newly created position. Avena will report to president Laurence Grunstein, and will direct all brand development activities including strategy/positioning, advertising, promotion and public relations. Most recently, Avena was brand director at Unilever, working on the Caress business.
FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO: is launching its Fill Up with Foxwoods giveaway July 1 through Aug. 31 to help with those high summer gas prices. All patrons with a Wampum Rewards Card can swipe their card once daily at any Wampum Rewards kiosk and eligible patrons can win $25, $50 or $100 gas cards instantly.
CONCORD CAMERA CORP.: Hollywood, FL has hired Jefrey R. Mandell to fill the newly created position of VP-global marketing. In this role, he will oversee new product planning and lifecycle management, market planning and research, and all demand generation activities that support the growth of the business.
TV GUIDE CHANNEL: has partnered with NBC Universal to be the official on-air viewing guide to the Olympics. TV Guide Channel and TV Guide’s interactive program guide will provide viewers with round-the-clock tune-in information for all Olympic coverage through TV Guide Channel Specials, TV Guide Channel’s What’s On…The Olympics and TV Guide Interactive Olympics Icon. NBC will also run “Tune In to TV Guide Channel” promos during its coverage on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, USA, Telemundo, Bravo and NBC’s HDTV channel.
BANDAI: launches the next generation of Tamagotchi digital pets on eBay to build buzz around the new interactive toys. Bandai America Inc. is launching the Tamagotchi Connection in the U.S. this August following successful launches in Japan and Europe. The egg-shaped toy simulates the life cycle of a pet.
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