LBi International

SAB Miller appoints LBi as global agency of record for Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Grolsch

Posted by Imogen Thacker March 24th, 2011

SABMiller (SAB.L), one of the world’s leading brewers, has appointed LBi to enhance the presence of two of its global brands across multiple digital platforms.

Following a competitive pitch process, LBi will devise and implement the global digital strategies for Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Grolsch. This will entail the overhaul and expansion of each brand’s online presence, definition of the role of digital in engaging target consumers, and the creation of a multi-platform engagement plan spanning key international territories.

The full-service brief will see LBi handle online content creation and distribution, social media strategy, mobile app development, and online advertising for both brands.

Chris Taylor, Group Global Brands Director for SABMiller, said: “The way that we communicate with consumers has fundamentally changed in recent years and digital media provides brands with an opportunity to be a part of their lives like never before. We were impressed by the way in which LBi combines insight and creativity with technological expertise to produce blended ideas and campaigns which have genuine cut-through.”

Chris Clarke, LBi’s Chief Creative Officer, said: “Both Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Grolsch are iconic global brands with a rich history of creativity. LBi is buzzing with excitement at the prospect of putting our ideas into action for SAB Miller, using branded content and apps to amplify the brands digitally. It’s an exciting opportunity for SAB Miller and its agency partners to come together to engage consumers in an innovative, compelling and relevant way.”

Tags: Chris Clarke, LBi, Peroni, SAB MILLER

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Lyndsay Menzies promoted to dual bigmouthmedia/LBi role

Posted by Imogen Thacker February 28th, 2011

Lyndsay Menzies, chief operating officer of bigmouthmedia, has been promoted to the dual role of Chief Executive of bigmouthmedia and Chief Media Officer of LBi Group.

The appointment represents a key landmark in the continued integration of bigmouthmedia and LBi following the merger of the two businesses last year.

Menzies will take overall command of bigmouthmedia, as well as heading up LBi’s media operations internationally. She will be responsible for ensuring that bigmouthmedia’s media and search capabilities blend effectively with LBi Group’s range of services to provide a best in class offering to clients including BT, Lloyds TSB, Play.com, IKEA and Electrolux.

Menzies will also work to identify global growth opportunities for LBi Group and will further develop the operation’s media capabilities in territories such as the USA, Middle East and APAC.

“There’s been considerable demand from clients across the globe for a first class integrated marketing and technology service and my first priority will be to focus on continuing to meet those needs,” she said. “Over the coming months I will be spending a lot of time working directly with clients, developing our media business strategy and delivering the technology, innovation and service road map that will take us and our clients into the future.”

In February 2010 bigmouthmedia merged with LBi to create Europe’s largest marketing and technology agency, combining LBi’s best in class marketing, communications, design, branding and technology services with bigmouthmedia’s leading media and search engine marketing product portfolio.

Menzies added: “I’m delighted to be taking up the responsibility of driving group media performance in terms of excellence and revenue. There are some fantastic opportunities for development ahead, not to mention some exciting challenges, and I’m very much looking forward to meeting them head on.”

The promotion follows Menzies’ successful tenure as bigmouthmedia’s Chief Operations Officer, a role she was appointed to in January 2009. Prior to that Menzies was Managing Director of bigmouthmedia UK, during which time she drove four consecutive years of growth and saw the company named one of Britain’s most rapidly growing firms in Deloitte’s Fast 50 Awards. Before becoming Managing Director Menzies was bigmouthmedia’s Operations Director, having joined the company in 1998.

Tags: bigmouthmedia, LBi, Lyndsay Menzies

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LBi and Microsoft Gold Certified Partnership

Posted by Imogen Thacker May 14th, 2010

LBi, the world’s largest independent marketing and technology agency has again received the Microsoft gold certified partnership accolade and continues to provide clients with best-in-class digital solutions built on Microsoft technologies. LBi was able to achieve the Gold Certified partnership because of the large number of successful client implementations on Microsoft technologies in 2009 and also LBi increased the number of certified developers in the network by 15%.

“The Microsoft and LBi partnership represents a great opportunity to deliver innovative solutions to clients.” says Matt Pilgrim, Partner Account Manager at Microsoft. “With Microsoft’s Platform, development tools and increasing functionality and interoperability across the range of products, there is a great base for LBi to add to their creative flair and technology insight to empower their clients with productivity improving solutions and compelling experiences across a range of delivery mediums.”

LBi’s breadth and depth of skills and delivery of successful services and solutions has seen LBi gain Microsoft competencies in SOA and Business Process, Information Worker Solutions (Enterprise Content Management and Forms Specialization), Mobility Solutions, Custom Development Solutions (Web Development Specialization) and Business Intelligence. These Microsoft competencies have helped LBi achieve the Gold Certified Partnership with Microsoft for the fourth year running.

Anil Pillai, Managing Director for LBi UK, says “Our clients are increasingly asking us to participate in defining opportunities to innovate using digital media. Our partnership has deepened over the last few years offering us more insight into some of the tremendous research and development on platforms and devices coming through the Microsoft stable. These early views provide our teams with inspiration and input into new and innovative ideas for brand marketing and consumer engagement.“

LBi has been a Microsoft partner for over ten years and the relationship has seen a significant investment in people, training and infrastructure at LBi offices worldwide. Riaz Ahmed, Head of Microsoft Solutions at LBi values the partnership:

“I encourage my developers to keep up with the latest innovations and products from Microsoft and this partnership helps LBi tap into product and research teams at Microsoft. We get to find out what’s coming up and get the necessary training and support to help put a best in class Microsoft technology solution in place for our clients. We’ve had some great client success stories with solutions built on .NET, Commerce Server, SharePoint, BizTalk and SQL Server. At LBi blending technology, creativity and user experience is key, our relationships and engagements span various industries and we have developed Microsoft solutions for some of the world’s most recognised brands including Sony, Marks & Spencer, BT, Toyota, HMV, Volvo, NHS, Sara Lee, Newell Rubbermaid and many more.”

LBi has a stellar track record of developing cutting edge Microsoft solutions whether it’s developing the next large scale multi-language CMS platform on SharePoint, an international multi-branded eCommerce solution on Commerce Server and BizTalk or an international campaign site developed on .NET and SQL Server. What makes these projects so successful is the ability to combine these technology implementations with great design and user experience as well as the insights of marketing strategy and planning.

“2010 is a big year for technology at LBi” added Mr Ahmed. “and with an array of new Microsoft products spanning multiple devices and platforms, you can count on LBi utilising them to develop something exciting and technologically innovative for our clients.”

Tags: Anil Pillai, Gold certified, LBi, LBi London, LBi UK, Microsoft, Riaz Ahmed

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LBi to host CANNES workshop

Posted by Imogen Thacker May 14th, 2010

Mentors for the session orchestrated by Laurent Ezekiel, LBi’s Worldwide Client Services Director will include Emma Jenkins, Associate Marketing Director, P&G, Gav Thompson, Director of brand strategy, 02, Jason Goodman, Chief Executive officer, Albion and Kieron Matthews, Marketing Director, IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau).

Laurent Ezekiel will host a workshop at the Annual Cannes Lions festival on June 24th at 3pm entitled: ‘The Quest for the perfect storm’. This will be based on solving the diverse issues facing agencies and marketers when they receive a global brief and the premise that one size no longer fits all. Today, the same pitch might need to cover mobile in India, twitter in Brazil, TV in Australia, social networks in the Netherlands or the Middle East and radio on the west coast of the USA.

The seminar will cover how a brand can achieve the perfect global relationship with their customers factoring in geography, diverse processes, culture and a fragmented media landscape. The brief to the audience will be to create and answer a practical global brief and present back at the session. Following a brief presentation with advertising, social media and digital examples from countries as such as Brazil, Japan, India, Korea, Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, the US and the UK the workshop will help inspire the delegates to tease out ideas that make the most of the digital arena whilst considering their application in other media. Mentors will show planning techniques, past success stories, key insights and data to help stimulate the groups.

Laurent oversees LBi’s global clients and helps develop the LBi network, globally. He is excited about the event and says “We’ve assembled a top class team and we’re looking forward to putting some of our experience into practice…”

Tags: Laurent Ezekiel, LBi, LBi London, LBi UK

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