The international element of a new print, television, online and out-of-home ad campaign for the recently formed AT&T Inc. is now running. The effort carries the theme, "Your world. Delivered," and is designed to publicize the global enterprise capabilities of the company, which was created last fall in the merger of AT&T Corp., and SBC Communications Inc. Ads are scheduled to appear for a year in more than 14 countries around the world, including Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Netherlands. Spots will focus on building the AT&T brand in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, …

Pepsi fans who can find arch villain Lex Luthor in an online game could win $1 million. It's all part of a new promotion from the soft-drink marketer tied to Warner Bros. Pictures' new movie, "Superman Returns." Starting June 5, consumers can enter 10-digit codes found on a wide range of Pepsi-Cola products online at a special Web site. When consumers enter their codes online, flash animation will appear on the interactive Web site and possibly reveal Lex Luther's whereabouts. The Pepsi code will also let consumers sample Electronic Arts' "Superman Returns" video game due in stores June 28. Participating …

Subaru of America has a new marketing boss. He's Tim Mahoney, who rejoins the automaker after serving for the past seven years as general marketing manager of Porsche Cars North America, overseeing advertising, product planning, promotions, events, research and brand merchandising. He previously worked for Subaru in the mid-1980s. He succeeds Rick Crosson, vice president-marketing, who returns to sales as general manager of the Mid-Atlantic region, said executives close to the automaker. Mr. Crosson came from the same position in Colorado when he was tapped for the marketing job in early 2003. The move is the latest in a management …

Liquor marketer Brown-Forman has cut a branded entertainment deal with the Bravo cable network's "Celebrity Poker Showdown" in which the company's Southern Comfort brand will be integrated into the content of the show. Like most marketers, Brown Forman is looking for ways to get its product message across in a television environment that is immune to the zap-proof capabilities of consumers equipped with digital video recorders. On the show, departing contestants will be interviewed in a specially branded area called the SoCo Lime Lounge immediately following their elimination. The Southern Comfort logo also will be featured prominently throughout the show, …

Fast food marketer Wendy's has had its share of problems over the past 18 months. The company has suffered from new product flops as well as the infamous finger-in-the-chili hoax that turned into a public relations nightmare. But the company is now showing signs of improvement, announcing this week that April was the first month in the past 14 with sales growth from the year-earlier month, thanks mostly to the rollout of its new Frescata deli sandwiches. "Wendy's is bruised but not broken," says Peter Oakes, senior research analyst at Piper Jaffray. The new provided a much-needed psychological boost for …

Fast-food giant McDonald's Corp., is testing new breakfast products in an effort that some observers believe might be an attempt to strengthen the marketer's position against competitors like Dunkin' Donuts and Starbuck's. The test is being conducted in a limited number of restaurants in the Northeast and includes specialty iced coffees and bakery products like muffins and scones. McDonald's said it was too early to determine whether it would expand the product tests beyond the Northeast, but early indicators show customers are responding well to the new items. "As we have said all along, we will continue to offer our …

Sara Lee is making progress in its previously announced plans to spin off its apparel unit. In a statement filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, the company revealed it plans to call the company Hanesbrands and develop it as a separate, independent and publicly traded global apparel company. Brands in the company's portfolio will include Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, Just My Size, and Wonderbra. The statement also said the company plans to support the new initiative with targeted advertising and marketing campaigns. The filing cited Hanes' "Look Who We've Got Our Hanes on Now" campaign, …

Like any other marketing option, alternative out-of-home advertising can be tricky. It can work for some advertisers better than others, and there are numerous options to any goal or budget. These range from posters in college campus laundry rooms and major health clubs to ads on hospitality carts that cruise golf courses. Such place-based advertising opportunities allow marketers to reach prospects wherever they happen to be and when they're in a receptive frame of mind. In this article, marketing expert Kim T. Gordon, author of Maximum Marketing, Minimum Dollars: The Top 50 Ways to Grow Your Small Business, presents five …

Marketers take note: the era of metrosexuality is upon us. The term surfaced a few years ago and is meant to describe heterosexual men who are keenly interested in personal grooming and shopping for clothes but don't feel that showing such an interest is contrary to manliness. At first it was a sociological concept--now it's a booming product market. "With men becoming more involved with their grooming habits and the explosive growth in the men's segment (dollar volume +49% in 2005), we saw a huge opportunity to introduce the male consumer to a new proposition in skincare," says Carol J. …

There's a new marketing boss at automaker Audi of America. He is 37-year-old Scott Keogh, who joins Audi from his post as general manager-marketing communications at Mercedes-Benz USA. The position is a new one for Audi--Stephen Berkov had previously overseen the brand's advertising as marketing director, but is moving to California next month to become the company's director of brand marketing and innovation. In his new role, Keogh will oversee all marketing strategy and lead marketing efforts to elevate the brand in the U.S. "Audi is experiencing strong growth in this market, and the strengthening of our management team is …