Michael Butcher Email and Phone Number

Creative Director for an agency that leads media relations, marketing and communications for selected technology, retail and energy clients, primarily situated in North America and Europe. Part of a small, specialist team that helps transformative companies grow through strategically targeted and consistently delivered media visibility.

I was fortunate enough to be able take a career break (ok, it was actually supposed to be early retirement) to look after my mother, who had dementia, from the time she was diagnosed until the very end. The toughest, yet most rewarding of roles in which I was blown away by mum's courage and determination. I learned what really matters. Doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest thing - but it is ALWAYS the best thing.

Created an eco farm and brewery brand on the side whilst looking after my mother.Amazingly, won shedloads of awards for both the beer and the brand- including SIBA, Great Taste and DBA Design Effectiveness Awards. Mine’s a pint, please. Experienced the flip side of working in the media by being (willing) story fodder - Channel 4, ITV, local news and radio, Radio 4 Farming Today, The Telegraph, The Times, The Mail, ES, Independent, Grand Designs Mag, The Mirror and Radio 2 to name a few.Hung out with a few inspirational Michelin-starred chefs (numbering 13 of them as clients) and dived deep into the food and drinks industry. Developed a compelling story, corporate identity, branding, website, social media and sales platforms. Gained brewing qualifications and passed all the regulatory and legal hurdles.Built a farm house that featured on one of the most-watched/liked episodes of Grand Designs, which Kevin McCloud called ‘An idyll. An exemplar of the 21st century country house. Life-giving, life-changing, game-changing'. Glad he preferred it to the old building which he likened to a house 'built by a serial killer in Alaska'.Founded an ecologically-focussed business, integrating a modern brewing operation into a traditional farm, creating meadows, orchards, water and woodland habitats- flora, fauna and farmers thrived. Established small herds and flocks of Dexter cattle, Wiltshire Horn sheep, Berkshire pigs and rare breed poultry and became a dab hand at milking, lambing and egg hatching. During this time I partnered with the local Mencap occupational therapy unit to create jobs and also became a trustee for the Enborne Poors Charity – which saw it successfully repositioned and revenue doubled. Sold the house and businesses as a going concern to an Australian billionaire to spend more time with my mum and to renovate an old manor house and garden near the coast on Exmoor.The brewery has been sold on for a second time and is still thriving.

Took a bit of time out a few days a week from caring/brewing/farming to scratch the itch of working on magazines again. A friend let me do a maternity cover (jobshare) - securing exclusive celebrity interviews and shoots for the front page. Patted myself on the back for having happily become a member of a team again after being head honcho on a magazine. Made easier by the team in question being totally and utterly fabulous.

Headed up the magazine and led a team of 39 talented journalists on this celebrity magazine read by 1 million young women a week, during which time it achieved rapid circulation growth and profitability (annual turnover approx. £32 million). Was the public face of the brand and built successful relationships with advertising clients, celebrities and the wider media. One of those rare things happened - the editorial, publishing, marketing, circulation and advertising teams aligned perfectly, had a lot of fun, did amazing work and made magic happen. We even got the magazine into profit way ahead of schedule.Shortlisted for BSME editor of the year 3 times. Always the bridesmaid. And always in the best of company. Left the magazine at its peak, delivering it into safe hands, to ‘retire’ and care for my mother who had recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers. Not an easy decision, but it was the correct decision.Immensely proud to have been made very welcome and fully supported as Hearst UK’s first openly gay male editor.

Following the merger of ACP and Natmags, became editor of Reveal. What a week! Every week. Relaunched and achieved substantial sales increases. Became part of Hearst and had the best of times - see above.

Editor on Special Projects, leading and developing what went on to launch as Real People. Who knew so much fun could be had hanging out in a development cupboard in Covent Garden? A small team, but a great team.

Number 2 on this big-selling, but miserable new launch. Learnt that it’s important to really look before you leap - the grass isn't always greener and soon parted ways to become an editor for the first time.

I couldn't keep away. They say you should never go back, but I couldn't refuse a job created for me as Number 3 on Now Magazine and Editor of Fitness and Homes Specials during a period of strong and steady growth. Also assumed the role of chief party and event planner - someone had to do it, right? I’m proud to say I left the job as a matter of principle. The magazine ran discriminatory adverts from a travel company (shame on you, Sandals!) - I wanted no part of that, so feather boas were swished and I jumped ship. This was 2003, not 1903, after all.

Number 3 on Prima, happily reunited with old editorial friends and colleagues. The Prima High Street Fashion Awards were conceived during this period and the magazine absolutely sparkled.

Number 3 on Ideal Home, during which time it was relaunched and took back market leadership with a lively, powerhouse team. The best thing was, everyone made it look easy. And unlike Martha Stewart, none of us went to prison.

Because sometimes, a little ray of sunshine is needed in a busy, globally-important newsroom. I've never heard so much swearing.

Assistant Editor of Now Magazine, following its merger with Here! Interesting (and fun) times combining two teams and successfully blending two (former rival) cultures. Left to gain more newspaper skills.

Number 3 on the launch of Here! A groundbreaking celebrity weekly launch that competed with tabloid newspapers- the first of its kind in the UK. Picture Editor on the relaunch of Best - had a fine old time here and made a lot of life-long friends.

Based in London for the German magazines Bunte, ELLE, ELLE DECO, Ambiente, Freizeit Revue, Forbes and the daily newspaper Super! My first job in magazines - and what a job! Here I learned that most things, if not all, are possible.

It soon dawned on me that words were much more fun than numbers. However, to my eternal delight I was part of a small team involved in an audit that uncovered a multi-million pound fraud. It was like being the Cagney and Lacey of the financial world and I was THRILLED beyond belief. But medialand beckoned.