Agency

Global CEO departures have leveled off at a high plateau, and less than half of CEOs leaving office in 2006 departed under normal circumstances, according to the sixth annual survey of CEO turnover at the world’s 2,500 largest publicly traded corporations released today by management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton. The study found that corporate boards are quicker than ever to replace underperforming CEOs, as they focus more on grooming in-house leaders and turn to outsider and interim CEOs less often as outsider results continue to disappoint.

Total U.S. advertising spending is expected to increase 1.7 percent in 2007 to $152.3 billion, according to the full-year forecast released today by TNS Media Intelligence. This is a downward revision from the company’s prior forecast of 2.6 percent growth issued in January.

The first half of 2007 is projected to advance by just 1.2 percent while the second half of the year is expected to post a gain of 2.3 percent.

Advertising spending for the first quarter of 2007 was down slightly at 0.6% over the same period last year, according to preliminary figures released by Nielsen Monitor-Plus.

Advertising spending was mixed across media with gains in some categories and declines in others. Internet advertising continues to grow steadily with an increase of 31.9% in the first three months. National Magazines (6.5%), Spanish-Language Television (4.0%) and Spot TV Markets 101-210 (4.1%) also reported growth, while Network TV dropped by 8.5% this quarter compared to the same time period last year.

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) honored the exceptional work of the 2007 ADDY Award winners. The ADDY Awards are the world’s largest, and arguable toughest advertising competition, presenting both professional and student advertising. This year’s gala event took place during the AAF National Conference 2007, June 7–9, in Louisville, Ky.

‘As Seen on TV’ still has some heft to it.

TV ads are the best way to reach and engage online consumers with new product information, according to the American Marketing Association’s “Mplanet” survey, conducted with Opinion Research Corporation prior to the 2006 holiday season.

Ad spending in the gay and lesbian press has grown at almost three times the rate of consumer magazines over the past ten years, according to a major annual survey.

Ad spending in gay and lesbian publications in 2006 reached a record $223.3 million, an increase of 5.2% over 2005 and an increase of 205% since 1996, according to the 2006 edition of the Gay Press Report, the annual survey produced by advertising agency Prime Access Inc. and gay media representative firm Rivendell Media.

Apple Inc.’s “Get a Mac” campaign, created by Media Arts Lab\TBWA was awarded the Grand Effie at the 39th Annual Effie Awards gala last night at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. The Effie Awards honor the most significant achievement in the business of marketing communications: ideas that work. Results from the “Get a Mac” campaign included market share growth of 42%, record sales and cultural influence.