• Johnson & Johnson Eliminates CMO Role
    Johnson & Johnson has eliminated Alison Lewis’ position as global chief marketing officer. The company is establishing “a new business model that streamlines priorities, allows us to operate more efficiently, and increases our investment in categories that offer high potential for growth and where we can make a positive impact on consumers' lives,” according to a statement. Lewis held the job for more than five years.
  • Best Buy Expands Repair Service To Include iPhones
    Apple and Best Buy are extending a partnership that will allow the retailer’s technicians fix iPhones at any U.S. Best Buy store. “Apple said that it now has 1,800 third-party repair providers in its U.S. network, three times as many as three years ago and enough to put eight out of 10 of its customers in the United States within a 20-minute drive of an authorized repair center,” according to Reuters.
  • Bentley Hires Former Cadillac, BMW Exec
    Florian Spinoly has joined Volkswagen Group luxury brand Bentley as its new director of product and marketing. Spinoly left General Motors in September last year, where he served as the director of marketing, product and public relations for Cadillac Europe, as well as for Chevrolet Performance Cars. Before joining GM, Spinoly was director of marketing and product management for BMW South Africa.
  • Cracker Barrel Turns Away Anti-LGBTQ Minister
    A Tennessee Cracker Barrel has told an anti-LGBTQ pastor he and his church are not welcome to hold services there. Grayson Fritts had planned a church gathering at a Cleveland, Tenn. Cracker Barrel for late June. “Fritts thrust himself and his church into the spotlight with a series of recorded sermons in which he advocated for government authorities — including the Knox County Sheriff's Office, where he works — to execute LGBTQ people,” according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.
  • American Express Brings Andy Murray Back For Wimbledon
    Retired tennis star Andy Murray is returning to Wimbledon as part of American Express’ multiplatform takeover as the official payment partner for the tennis Grand Slam. Murray, who becomes a global brand ambassador under a multi-year deal and will be featured in a multimedia effort scheduled to break this week “reminding fans to bring their American Express card to unlock a unique experience at Wimbledon.” The effort includes TV, digital, social media and outdoor.
  • Electric Charging Stations Lagging Behind
    Automakers have lofty aspirations when it comes to electric vehicles, but the charging infrastructure that’s needed to support higher volumes is not quite there. “Most EV drivers already do a majority of charging at home or at work, when the vehicle is most often at rest,” per The Detroit News. “That’s why companies like ChargePoint and EVgo — which are both working with General Motors on crowdsourcing a more comprehensive charging network — are focused on selling their chargers to corporate and retail property owners.”  
  • Dairy Industry Challenges Vegan Companies' Use Of 'Butter,' 'Milk'
    The dairy industry has been quiet about the proliferation of non-dairy products that use words like “milk” or “cheese.” But it’s starting to push back, according to Bloomberg. Lobbying groups like the National Milk Producers Federation are campaigning against alternative dairy products—specifically their use of dairy terms on labels. Vegan products using labels such as “milk”—or in this case, “butter”—are seen by the milk lobby as misleading to consumers to unfairly steal market share.
  • Fifth Third Bank Closing 44 Branches In Chicago
    Fifth Third Bank is closing 44 branches in greater Chicago as a result of its $4.7 billion acquisition of MB Financial. Nearly one in five locations of the combined bank will close on July 9 and 10 in a cost-saving move aimed at eliminating branch overlap, Fifth Third spokesman Larry Magnesen told the Chicago Tribune.  The acquisition bolstered Fifth Third as a middle-market business bank.
  • Former Duke Basketball Star Sues Marketing Company
    Former Duke University basketball player Zion Williamson is suing to terminate his contract with Florida-based Prime Sports Marketing LLC. A lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Greensboro states the agency violated North Carolina's sports agent law. Williamson announced April 15 he was leaving Duke to enter the NBA draft. According to the lawsuit, the five-year contract he signed five days later with Prime Sports did not contain notice that he would lose his college eligibility upon signing, and did not contain a disclaimer allowing him 14 days to cancel.
  • Britain Bans Some Gender Stereotypes In Ads
    No more hapless husbands or stressed housewives: Ads in Great Britain must not include "gender stereotypes which are likely to cause harm or serious or widespread offense.” Complaints will be assessed by the Advertising Standards Authority, according to The Associated Press. British broadcasters are bound by the terms of their licenses to comply with its rulings. The aim is not to ban all gender stereotypes, just those that are deemed harmful. "Examples include depictions of a man failing to change a diaper or a woman to park a car, or ads that suggest women are solely responsible for cooking and …
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