Communications Snafus At The Heart Of H-P's CEO Woes by Thom Forbes

The last time Hewlett Packard's board embarked on a search for a CEO, which actually was less than a year ago, "we had a joke," a company executive James B. Stewart tells The New York Times: "The code name for the search was Léo Apotheker. Because no one had heard of him." This time, the board might well have codenamed its search "Meg Whitman," because it seems to have seriously considered no one else before appointing the high profile former CEO of eBay as the next in line for a position that seems to be surrounded by metaphorical landmines. ...Read the whole story

  • retail Elmo's Tambourine Rocks Toys R Us Hot List by Sarah Mahoney

    Toys R Us has unfurled its holiday Hot List, which this year includes Sesame Street Let's Rock, Elmo from Hasbro, Air Hogs Hyper Actives from Spin Master, LEGO's Ninjago Lightning Dragon and Lalaloopsy Silly Hair dolls from MGA Entertainment. The Wayne, N.J.-based toy retailer says it is also working Facebook more prominently into its holiday marketing plans, using its page as "the ultimate hub of hot toy information for gift-givers." ...Read the whole story

  • food Food Industry Redubs FOP Labeling System by Karlene Lukovitz

    The food and beverage industry has renamed its new, voluntary front-of-package nutrition labeling system, from "Nutrition Keys" to "Facts Up Front." The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) announced the new name, as well as the launch of a website, FactsUpFront.org. The site is a first effort in a $50 million consumer awareness/education campaign that will go into full throttle next year. ...Read the whole story

  • automotive (Another) Actor Is New Voice Of Honda by Karl Greenberg

    Actor Jason Bateman, the star of "Horrible Bosses," does the voiceover in Honda's latest Accord sedan TV spot. The actor will also be in upcoming spots for the Accord and the redesigned 2012 Pilot. Automakers have, in recent years, been particularly fond of hiring A-listers to be their voices, leading to some interesting snaggles. ...Read the whole story

  • automotive Ford, Nissan Create Reality Shows For Millennials by Karl Greenberg

    This summer Ford brought racing, Millennials, and the Fiesta, Mustang and Ranger vehicles together via a marketing partnership with the X-Games around several racing categories. Nissan is doing a similar program, but the reward is different and the vehicle for getting there begins in the virtual world. ...Read the whole story

  • telecom Time Warner Cable Touts Service In TV Spot by Aaron Baar

    Time Warner Cable is looking to inject a little luxury into the television subscription space via a new ad campaign touting its nearly year-old SignatureHome packages. One spot begins with a woman dropping her robe to reveal a black silk nightgown getting into her bed with (presumably) her husband to watch some television, as onscreen text reads "Enhanced TV." ...Read the whole story

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