Kate Close Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

Kate was Head of Business for Heatherwick Studio, a UK design practice founded by Thomas Heatherwick in 1994, known for producing exciting, inventive and experimental design and architectural projects. After she joined in 2010, the practice underwent phenomenal expansion. Revenue quadrupled and profit increased exponentially. The studio team grew from 23 to 180. Her primary role was to manage the business of Heatherwick Studio, her focus was on strategy, marketing, operations and finance as well as client relationship management. Kate Close is now a business consultant to the creative industries with twenty years experience of working in the public and private sectors. She provides frank, insightful advice that is both strategic and practical. Taking a design-based approach, she enables creative practices to innovate and expand. She helps them to define their long-term business aims and puts strategies in place for how to achieve those aims. Skills: Business strategy, planning and prioritization, international expansion, change management, business development and pipeline management, client relationships and management, fee negotiation, pricing strategy, contracts and procurement policy, project accounting and cost control, resourcing, mentoring, leadership, organization design, business processes and systems optimization, sustainable growth and business performance management, branding, marketing and communications.

London, United Kingdom

As Head of Business, Kate was a member of the core leadership team. In fulfilling her primary role, which was to manage the business of Heatherwick Studio, her focus was on strategy, operations and finance. She led and managed the development and strategy of the business and was responsible for client relationship management, fee negotiations, financial management, resourcing, performance analysis and management, contract and procurement policy, and marketing and communications.

London, United Kingdom

After reading Political Science at the University of Kent, Kate worked for ICSTIS (now Phonepayplus) an independent regulatory organisation governed by Ofcom. After rapid promotion from Press Officer to Communications Manager, she was appointed Director of External Affairs, a role in which she advised the Chair, Baroness Dean of Thornton-Le-Fylde, and CEO Sarah Harrison, on policy and public affairs, external and internal communications and media management.

Interior And Spatial Design, Chelsea School Of Arts, Distinction

Politics And International Relations With Italian, 2:1

Political Science

European Baccalaureate