Following a long term consultancy gig developing VMLY&R's connections planning capability, I then took a full time role developing this for some of VML's key Clients including Diageo , Bayer, BAT Next Gen Products, The Coca Cola Company & many different projects and pitches contributing to a £1.5m additional income.

Freelance connections and brand planning into a variety of roles in agencies supporting brand teams ; VMLY&R , Connections Strategist / Brand PlannerGTB , Senior Connections Planner Stereo Creative , Brand Strategist (Worldpay Pitch)Fawnbrake Collective , Global Workshop Facilitator for Carlsberg (Switzerland, Hamburg, Ukraine & New Delhi) TBWA London, Comms Planning Coach (1 Day Training Workshop for Planning Team) RGA London, Connections Director (Global Siemens Pitch)… Show more Freelance connections and brand planning into a variety of roles in agencies supporting brand teams ; VMLY&R , Connections Strategist / Brand PlannerGTB , Senior Connections Planner Stereo Creative , Brand Strategist (Worldpay Pitch)Fawnbrake Collective , Global Workshop Facilitator for Carlsberg (Switzerland, Hamburg, Ukraine & New Delhi) TBWA London, Comms Planning Coach (1 Day Training Workshop for Planning Team) RGA London, Connections Director (Global Siemens Pitch) Gyro , Media Strategist (Facebook Workplace) Mindshare , Strategy (Dyson Product Launch)Burson, Cohn & Wolfe PR , Strategy Director (Cambridge International Education) Show less

Lead strategist on the P&G Media Pitch in 2017 which led to the creation of PG One - P&G's Integrated Communications Agency including media, creative and PR. Designed and presented pitch strategy for Oral B Power & Gillette and subsequently led integrated strategy for Ariel Do You Pod? cited as “best response ever” , Pampers Thank You Midwife recognised as leading contributor to significant brand turnaround & Herbal Bio Renew creative pitch beating all rostered agencies on performance scores.

Supporting a fully integrated service model, directly working with creative and media to improve favourable opinion of Ford - helped sell in new communications model for Edge launch "Le Fantome" becoming most viewed piece of content across Europe, changing perceptions of senior Client leaders.

Crossed over from pure media & into the integrated agency world. Picked up a little predatory thinking (but not too much!). Helped bring creative , comms and ideas to full service agency planning. Won my first brand consultancy pitch for Wiltshire Farm Foods. Pitched and won Campaign Future Leaders to a panel including AMV, Ogilvy (and my Boss). Lead and designed comms strategy & ideas for RBS, STA Travel, National Accident Helpline & PDSA.

Senior member and founder of Carat's strategic innovation team. Working with planners and other agencies to lead strategic approaches for global, European and UK specific Clients, including British Airways, Arla Foods, Diageo & RB. Supporting new business pitches, training and development, and internal collaboration and creative projects.Most proud of Mentoring Erik Arnell on his IPA Diploma, for which he received a distinction in his final paper which can be viewed here… Show more Senior member and founder of Carat's strategic innovation team. Working with planners and other agencies to lead strategic approaches for global, European and UK specific Clients, including British Airways, Arla Foods, Diageo & RB. Supporting new business pitches, training and development, and internal collaboration and creative projects.Most proud of Mentoring Erik Arnell on his IPA Diploma, for which he received a distinction in his final paper which can be viewed here http://issuu.com/lhowes/docs/ipa_excellence_diploma_2014_dd9879cdf5db7b Show less

Consulting on new strategic innovation unit (see above). Helped craft & facilitate bespoke workshop products. Paid consultancy projects for Arla Foods, and supporting J&J Pitch team. Mentored James Tomaszewski on the IPA Excellence In Advertising Diploma who received a distinction for his final paper (published in Campaign in Nov). Then took some time off to get married!

Recruited by MD to set up and run Insight team leading the development of a strategic planning product. My role was to disrupt the agency’s conventional approach to media, train staff with a new planning framework putting greater focus on insight generation and idea creation, whilst helping win bigger accounts and advise their most valued Clients. I was also responsible for the agencies thought leadership on the future of media which I have presented to some of their key arts… Show more Recruited by MD to set up and run Insight team leading the development of a strategic planning product. My role was to disrupt the agency’s conventional approach to media, train staff with a new planning framework putting greater focus on insight generation and idea creation, whilst helping win bigger accounts and advise their most valued Clients. I was also responsible for the agencies thought leadership on the future of media which I have presented to some of their key arts and publisher Clients. Most proud of : Linda McCartney's Search for Tastiest campaign shortlisted for media idea at Campaign Media Awards last year. Show less

Having graduated from the IPA Diploma my eyes were opened to the possibility of brands and media. So when Invention was set up late 2008 to create more ideas-centric output for Mindshare, I was recruited by Michaelides & Bednash to work on the Unilever global account providing content rich communications ideas for Cornetto & Comfort, later moving to UK on idea generation projects for Unilever, LG, Argos, News International & Motorola.

Leading UK channel strategy for Persil, Surf, PG Tips, Hellmann’s, Knorr, Pot Noodle & Peperami, leading overall brand media strategy directing a 10 strong planning & investment team. Was proud to have been selected for IPA Excellence In Advertising Diploma which I graduated from with a Credit, chuffed & enlightened!

After a brief year working in Mindshare's specialist retail unit looking after Boots & Halfords, I spent a little time working with Nike devising clever stuff which was truly inspirational. I later went on to oversee Pfizer Consumer Healthcare & Kimberley Clark accounts with a Business Director, with later direct responsibility for Nicorette.

Learning the trade on Quaker, COI, Associated New Media - promoted after 6 months

Being trained within an inch of my working life on Cadbury, Sega, Nivea, British Gas