Head of the agency’s award-winning activation strategy function, where I have the privilege of leading and nurturing a team of 5 brilliant strategic thinkers. Responsible for all the agency’s strategic planning output, with hands-on responsibility across certain key accounts and projects.A member of the agency’s Operational Executive Leadership Team, working with other function heads and the managing directors of the UK offices to deliver the board’s vision for commercial growth, agency culture and operational effectiveness.Direct responsibility for the development and delivery of all proprietary agency thought leadership (white papers, seminars). Strategic lead on agency growth, from pitch wins (Suntory, Vivera, Tails.com) to organic new business generation (Bacardi and Froneri in 2023).Press spokesperson for ZEAL (features and commentary in titles including The Grocer, WARC, Econsultancy, Prolific London), Effies Award Judge and guest lecturer at Manchester Metrolpolitan University.Quite simply, just a person who’s passionately curious and loves working with interesting people on interesting things.

In this newly-created role I headed up the agency’s planning function, taking on more formalised leadership responsibilities within the agency and its clients, as well as wider agency leadership.AGENCY► Responsibility for the agency’s planning output across all clients► Hands-on member of the planning team, leading key client responses, projects and pitches► Development of proprietary thought leadership, seminars and content responsible for delivering organic growth and new business► Line management, mentorship and development of all members of the planning team► Press spokesperson for ZEAL INDUSTRY► Participated in the BBC's Bitesize School Tours programme► Member of the MAA GLOBES international judging panel; member of the IPM judging panelAWARDSIPM Awards 2019 - GOLD - Insight & Strategy - Chicago Town Pizza KitchenIPM Awards 2019 - SILVER - Insight & Strategy - RubiconIMC Europe Awards 2019 - BRONZE - Shopper Marketing - RubiconIMC Europe Awards 2019 - BRONZE - Integrated Communication - Chicago Town Pizza Kitchen

Recruited with the remit of bolstering strategic capabilities through the provision of insight and planning skills across the agency’s entire portfolio of clients.An incredibly enjoyable role working across national and EMEA-wide business, helping clients to deliver tangible commercial results across several pieces of award-winning work.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:CLIENTS► Agency strategic lead on multi-disciplinary category strategy (FMCG) reinvention► Development of global brand strategy for international dairy FMCG brand► Insight-driven repositioning for soft drinks brand (driving strong volume / value growth)► BTL strategy lead across inter-agency 2018 brand planning (FMCG dairy brand)► BTL planning and insight lead for FMCG sponsorship property activation► Development of 2018 EMEA e-commerce activation strategy for global FMCG brand► Insight-led shopper activation planning across a number of iconic cereal brands► Consumer planning lead across all EMEA promotional marketing campaignsNEW BUSINESSPlanning lead on the following successful competitive new business pitches:► NPD (impulse) shopper launch for global beverage brand► Online grocery e-commerce category repositioning► Shopper activation and repositioning for leading dairy brand (EMEA)► On-pack promotion for market-leader in the frozen food categoryAGENCY► Introduction and development of new planning function within the business► Creation of proprietary planning process for the agency► Training of staff with regular 'Lunch & Learn' sessions

Passionate about giving back and inspiring the next generation of strategic thinkers, I volunteer as an industry lecturer teaching both undergraduate and business school student cohorts. My current units include:Behind the scenes of strategy: applied strategy within an agency environmentGetting industry-ready: key learnings for marketing studentsApplied research methodologies: leveraging insight for commercial effectiveness

Ardotalia (also known as Melandra Castle) is a Roman fort located in Glossop, Derbyshire. A scheduled ancient monument, Melandra is listed on Historic England's 'Heritage at Risk' register. In this voluntary role, I lead the marketing, communications and social media consultancy for the historic site, as the trust seeks to protect and promote this site and its development.

Reporting directly into the director of creative strategy and planning, my role as senior planner saw me undertake strategic planning, research and insight work across a portfolio of global blue-chip clients, working seamlessly across the UK's Manchester and London offices, as well as with colleagues in our North American locations. My work entailed creative strategy, shopper and trade marketing, and integrated communications, (B2C and B2B). In addition to client work, I supported the agency network with thought leadership pieces for global press, commercial products, and international reports.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:CLIENTS► Strategic development of European BTL / Trade toolkits for global premium beer brand► Development of strategic experience proposition for global pharmaceutical brand► Creation of international shopper marketing strategy for global consumer goods ► Retained digital shopper marketing strategist for EMEA FMCG business ► Translation of global ATL campaign into consumer activation platform (lifestyle brand)► Development of creative strategy for product re-launch in North American marketNEW BUSINESS► Planning lead on pitch team responsible for £m+ global account win (lifestyle brand)► Lead planner on successful pitch for £m+ global B2B experiential contract► Lead planner on successful pitch for European BTL campaign for global drinks brand► Lead planner on successful pitch for global PR and experiential account contractAGENCY NETWORK► Author of the agency network's global whitepapers for proprietary 'We Know Gamers' study► Author of the agency network's global thought piece 'What is Real?' ► Delivery of commercial productisation of strategic workshops► Development and delivery of proprietary research project 'We Know Modern Shoppers'

A diverse and enjoyable role that evolved exponentially over 4 years. Initially brought in to provide digital and social insight and strategy across the agency’s broad portfolio of clients, this role encouraged me to develop into more of an integrated planner, while retaining a specialism in digital, social and digital shopper marketing. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:► Planning lead across 2 comprehensive pan-European FMCG digital research projects► Development of multi-territory social media strategy for international entertainment business► Strategic lead on agency team appointed to European FMCG digital shopper marketing roster ► Development of digital communications sustainability strategy for global B2B organisation ► Strategic lead on development of digital P2P strategy for consumer technology product► Development of digital shopper workshop tool that has been rolled out globally► Creating the B2B social media strategy for leading UK professional services organisation

Led the strategic and executional digital marketing for three separate brands within the UK and provided support to the Australian office. Role encompassed digital marketing strategy, eCRM and email marketing campaigns, mobile marketing, web analytics, managing relationships with job board vendors, budget management, overseeing organic SEO copywriting and line management of the Advertising and Copywriting Executive.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: ► Marketing campaigns that generated record traffic to both UK and Australian company websites► Achieved page 1 Google ranking against a defined set of competitive keyword criteria ► Part of core team that integrated job board data into company systems to analyse marketing spend and save budgets

Digital marketing support to the Digital Marketing Manager. Ongoing copywriting and content responsibility across four brands. Managed day-to-day digital marketing activity, including website management through CMS, supporting digital marketing campaigns and reporting with Google Analytics and in-house analytics platforms.

Core member of the marketing team, responsible for writing compelling commercial SEO copy for websites, digital and social platforms. Also copywriter for all marketing collateral, including print advertising, press releases and marketing collateral.

Various freelance copywriting positions, including TNT Magazine, Docklands News, The Wharf Newspaper, Castlegate Technology, Dot Digital Media, HMV.

Halcyon days.After graduating, I sought immediate employment while I built up a credible portfolio of journalism and copywriting. What was meant to be a short stint, turned into living the dream: getting paid to work in an iconic record shop, surrounded by a world of music and a team of incredible people. Sales assistant with responsibility for the games department. Duties included general shop assistance, customer service, games ordering / buying, merchandising and stock management.

While studying at college, I followed my passion for writing by landing a gig with the Sussex Express, serving as one of their their football correspondents. Work involved following the mighty Uckfield Town and writing match reports to a high standard, for publication in the weekly newspaper edition.