Detroit Bureau
Infiniti has a new global boss, a German executive with "an accomplished track record" in the luxury car market. Roland Kruger will replace the recently departed Johan de Nysschen, who took a job as the head of General Motors' struggling Cadillac. The transition at Infiniti headquarters in Hong Kong comes at a crucial time for the brand, the luxury arm of Nissan, as it prepares to launch a wave of new products.
Automotive News
Sales aren't everything. Especially for a company like Ferrari, whose super-car reputation depends on winning a few races here and there. Luca di Montezemelo, the storied automaker's chief for the last 23 years, is leaving right when the brand is about to celebrate its 60th anniversary in the U.S. market, its largest. He gets a $34.78 million severance. Sergio Marchionne, head of Fiat Chrysler, takes over as chairman. One issue is the company's poor race performance at F1.
The New York Times
The Trojan condom brand and the MTV cable channel are extending a partnership with a campaign created by MTV. The campaign, to run on digital and on MTV and its Viacom siblings, encourages (Millennial) couples who see each other regularly to use condoms.
NYSportsJournalism.com
Procter and Gamble is set to be official partner of the NHL in Canada. P&G Canada said it would use the alliance to promote its Oral Care division throughout the 2014-15 NHL season. Activations include co-branded TV, digital vignettes, social media and on-site activations at NHL events. In addition, P&G Canada has signed NHL veteran Martin St. Louis as the official spokesperson for its new product, Crest Sensi-Relief.
Chicago Tribune
Olive Garden is doing its first-ever "Never Ending Pasta Pass." For $100, one gets the right to eat as much pasta, salad, bread and Coca-Cola soft drinks as humanly possible for seven weeks. The company is only giving 1,000 passes via the Olive Garden website. The pass is good from Sept. 22 to Nov. 9.
Adweek
Interpublic Group has has eliminated the Cadillac-dedicated Rogue unit established last year. The IPG team replaced Publicis Groupe's Fallon. For Rogue, Hill Holliday led creative development; Campbell Ewald did oversight of account management; and Lowe overseas ad distribution. Hill Holliday is no longer working on the business. The holding company said Lowe Campbell Ewald, in New York, will now lead Cadillac's creative efforts.
Cincinnati Enquirer
Procter & Gamble, which has been beefing up its business in BRIC markets over the past four years, is getting better retail sales in Brazil and Russia than in Europe, per industry numbers. The U.S. market remains No. 1 generating 35.4% of company sales. "Emerging markets are where the middle class is growing and where additional consumers can be brought aboard," said Morningstar analyst Erin Lash. "P&G is realizing growth from its investment."
Drug Store News
Busch is doing a package redesign as well as a chance to win a hunting getaway. The 2014 Busch Hunting can has silhouettes of deer, elk and duck - over Busch's signature "blaze orange" background. There are 60,000 random, special-edition "Trophy Cans," which consumers can then use to enter the "Hunt Down A Trophy Can" contest and have the chance to win prizes, including a hunting vacation.
Chain Store Age
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reportedly planning to terminate Wal-Mart Express. An internal corporate memo reportedly indicates that Wal-Mart will rebrand its 21 Express stores, which average about 12,000-sq.-ft., to its larger 45,000-sq.-ft. Neighborhood Market banner in the next few months. The memo says Wal-Mart's research finds that Express stores served the same purpose as its larger Neighborhood Market stores.
Burger Business
Canada was the Burger Week king, with Burger Week Montreal, Quebec, Vancouver and Winnipeg. But the UK now has National Burger Day that includes 200 independents and chain locations across England, Scotland and Wales. Created by "Mr. Hyde," a lifestyle daily, the event started last year.