John Currie Email & Phone Number

Edinburgh

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Highland News & Media Ltd (HNM) formerly SPP Media Group, is a privately-owned company producing 18 newspapers covering Caithness, Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness-shire, Strathspey, Moray, Grampian and Aberdeenshire.I was employed as the Director Of Operations and reported to Managing Director, managing up to 5 direct reports, including IT Manager, Circulation Manager, Publishing Manager, Digital & Social Media Manager and Production Manager, delivering new and measurable websites /… Show more Highland News & Media Ltd (HNM) formerly SPP Media Group, is a privately-owned company producing 18 newspapers covering Caithness, Sutherland, Ross-shire, Inverness-shire, Strathspey, Moray, Grampian and Aberdeenshire.I was employed as the Director Of Operations and reported to Managing Director, managing up to 5 direct reports, including IT Manager, Circulation Manager, Publishing Manager, Digital & Social Media Manager and Production Manager, delivering new and measurable websites / media and reducing IT costs, ensuring all newspapers were produced economically.• Part of the Leadership team and board responsible for maintaining circulation across core titles and delivering increased social media numbers.• Interfaced with internal and external stakeholders, including sub-contractors such as Menzies Distribution, DC Thomson Publishing, Iliffe Media Group Web Development and local stakeholders.• Developed digital and social media strategy to achieve new revenue streams valued at ~£1M in 3 years.• Directed marketing and promotions activities of both printed and digital newspapers.• Managed sale of all unnecessary satellite offices and transition from head office into smaller centralised unit.• Orchestrated and led reduction of group printers, leading to savings of £350k pa.Key Achievements:• Identified and project managed outsourcing of the printing and distribution to external companies with a saving of £500k pa and distribution model was also introduced by sister company in 2020.• Successfully moved IT department from on-site server to Cloud based procedures with a saving of £350 pa.• Worked with editorial teams to develop and integrate new newspaper publishing system (PCS) and coordinated development of newspaper websites to new PCS system, resulting in tenfold increase in web traffic.• Introduced Digital & Social Media Manager to business, resulting in a fivefold increase in social media traffic. Show less

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom

With 350 employees spread across the North and Northeast of Scotland, SPP published 13 other local newspaper titles including: The Inverness Courier, The Northern Scot, The John O’Groat Journal, and The Ross-shire Journal.I was employed as the Commercial Manager / Director and reported to the Managing Director, managing 3 direct reports, including the General Manager, Sales Manager, and Administration Manager, and indirectly responsible for 50 design studio personnel.• Acted as… Show more With 350 employees spread across the North and Northeast of Scotland, SPP published 13 other local newspaper titles including: The Inverness Courier, The Northern Scot, The John O’Groat Journal, and The Ross-shire Journal.I was employed as the Commercial Manager / Director and reported to the Managing Director, managing 3 direct reports, including the General Manager, Sales Manager, and Administration Manager, and indirectly responsible for 50 design studio personnel.• Acted as General Manager for sister company to SPP called Method Publishing, producing several monthly and annual A4 and A5 publications specific to the Army through the MOD.• Performed a complete business audit to bring sister company into profit whilst making it more proactive in sales.• Developed new Special Publications either through acquisition or through new ideas such as working with Government bodies to produce on their behalf high print run publications, including the Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board Guide annual titles (150,000 copies).• Managing Method Publishing as Managing Director.Key Achievements:• Project managed entire process from advertising, sales, training, management procedures, print and production and successfully increased profitability by £500k within 2 -years for Method Publishing - part of SPP. Show less

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

John Currie Consulting delivered advise, project management and publishing consultancy.I was engaged as a Non Executive Director / Management Consultant and engaged with legal property firms to promote their companies through traditional print and direct marketing.• Helped SMEs with benchmarking and streamlining sales operations• Developed and implemented marketing plans.Key Achievements:• Headhunted by Scottish Provincial Press to set up new Specialist… Show more John Currie Consulting delivered advise, project management and publishing consultancy.I was engaged as a Non Executive Director / Management Consultant and engaged with legal property firms to promote their companies through traditional print and direct marketing.• Helped SMEs with benchmarking and streamlining sales operations• Developed and implemented marketing plans.Key Achievements:• Headhunted by Scottish Provincial Press to set up new Specialist Publication Division.• Created New Century Publishing, a non-newspaper, including tourist publications for the Scottish Tourist Board, Highlands & Islands Tourism Board and Calmack Ferries.• Managed events publications, including the World Downhill Cycling championships and Snowball Rally. Show less

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh & London

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Post Graduate Diploma, Marketing

Higher National Diploma (Hnd), Print Production & Management