Hasta La Creative!

Kevin George graduated from Miami University of Ohio in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in communications, but he came back a quarter century later for another education of sorts.

The global CMO of Beam is part of a surprisingly large contingent of senior marketers who graduated from the school north of Cincinnati, many of whom returned to campus Feb. 18 for Miami Rocks, an event hosted by the university’s Farmer School of Business.

Mr. George and alums Kyle Schlegel, now VP-marketing of Louisville Slugger maker Hillerich & Bradsby, and Doug Van De Velde, senior VP-marketing at Kellogg Co., presented business challenges for panels of students to solve. They were joined by a host of other Miami grads now in the marketing industry, including Twitter President-Revenue Adam Bain, Rockfish Interactive CMO Dave Knox and Forbes.com CMO Network Editor Jenny Rooney, the latter two having driven the effort to bring the school’s wide array of high-powered marketers back to campus.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Michael Bolton also told me to tell you that, hey, you’re not the only one enraptured with the pop crooner due to his handsome face and sweet, sultry voice. Michael Bolton’s not going to just drop everything and dedicate his entire day to a phone conversation with you. Why would he? He’s rich, single, and famous. Michael Bolton has more important things to do than talk to one of his many fans about their boring lives. Just, don’t call him, okay? Seriously, back off. Consider this a fair warning.

From Mother NY comes a new campaign for Optimum, the phone, Internet and cable provider that changed their logo last year but reminded you that they weren’t in the logo business because they think you’re stupid. This time around, they’re asking you to call them. Not Michael Bolton. Get it? Because dialing the phone is hard. They think you’ve gotten stupider since your last encounter.

Another new spot from Optimum (above) reminds you that for an optimal TV viewing experience, you should move on your chair or other reclining device in front of the TV. Oh, and I would recommend calling Michael Bolton’s number even though Optimum told you not to. There’s a surprise on the other line. Credits for both spots after the jump.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Earlier this month, Topshop unveiled one of its most digitally ambitious fashion shows to date, “The Future of the Fashion Show.” The fast-fashion retailer partnered with Google on a multiplatform experience that promised consumers a seat at the catwalk to rival Anna Wintour’s. Online viewers could take in the London Fashion Week show from various points of view, from that of the model on the runway — or the handbag on her arm. They could buy featured products instantly and even chat with the show’s stars on Google+. And a “Be the Buyer” app let fans create a mood board using the show’s looks.

The man behind the cutting-edge show was 31-year-old Chief Marketing Officer Justin Cooke, who is just coming off a six-year stint at Burberry, where he rose to the role of worldwide VP-PR/VIP/events. There, alongside Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey and CEO Angela Ahrendts, he helped propel Burberry’s resurrection from a stodgy brand gone to the “chavs”a derogatory slang for working-class youths in the U.K. who sport designer brands and blingto respected luxury retailer and fashion-industry digital darling.

Mr. Cooke’s first fashion gig was on the sales floor at Gucci. “It was like being in the Gucci Army; you’re given standard issue of three amazing black, three-button suits, five white shirts, two black ties,” he said. “I’m getting paid to wear this? That was the beginning of the bug for me.”

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Nestle is to drop George Clooney as the face of its upmarket coffee brand Nespresso, after seven years.

L’organisation Society for Community a imaginé avec l’agence Publicis HK cette campagne baptisée « Hong Kong Apartment From Above » pour dénoncer des conditions de logement inacceptables dans la ville de Hong-Kong. Une sensibilisation aidée par les clichés du photographe Benny Lam à découvrir dans la suite.

When consumers can connect instantly across international borders on social media, does it make sense for brands to keep separate identities in different countries?

Doritos doesn’t think so, which is why the brand is updating its packaging and logo to give a more consistent look across the 37 countries where the chips are sold. The redesigned bags started hitting stores this week and will be supported by Doritos’ first global campaign, called “For the Bold,” which is being handled by incumbent agency Goodby, Silverstein & Partners.

The global update is similar to strategies PepsiCo has undertaken on other brands, including its flagship Pepsi and Quaker products, as the marketer looks to leverage its massive international scale.

Continue reading at AdAge.com

Advertising Agency: Hakuhodo, Tokyo, Japan

WPP has confirmed it is going to merge OgilvyAction, its shopper-marketing agency, with its digital agency G2, as reported in Campaign last week.

Crown Paints has appointed PHD to handle its £1.5m UK and Ireland media planning and buying business.

Ed Vaizey, the creative industries and telecommunications minister, praised the UK for being a “world leader” online, as investment in broadband continues to create new opportunities.