Driving internal and external communications at Cargill's Animal Nutrition & Health business.Key responsibilities include:• Building & executing communications strategies and plans to advance business priorities• Ensuring Cargill speaks with a consistent voice across businesses and geographies • Providing trusted counsel to senior business leaders and stakeholders• Managing and developing direct reports• Aligning communications plans and execution across regions• Providing issues management for complex, regional and global issues

Acting as the senior communications advisor for the CEO and responsible for leading global business and functional communications at AkzoNobel.Key responsibilities included:• Acting as the key communications advisor for the CEO and providing strategic advisory services to all global functional and business unit leaders.• Leading a team of communications consultants (business partners) to deliver powerful plans that meet key business objectives, and which are aligned to the company strategy.• Providing communications expertise to resolve complex reputational issues and identifying opportunities that positively impact the reputation of the company. • Coaching and supporting senior leaders in their communications and positioning, assisting in style, tone, and key messaging.• Targeting areas for digital innovation for the team and implementing new working practices.• Acting as a key member of the Communications Leadership Team – driving the communications strategy to meet its business-driven objectives.

Leading communications for Europe, Middle East and Africa across all business units and activities in the region.Key responsibilities included:* Driving the communications strategy across AkzoNobel's biggest region * Leading a team to deliver media relations, public affairs & stakeholder relations * Boosting internal engagement and driving transformation programs * Leading digital communications * Providing strategic counsel to business leaders* Handling issues & crisis management

Operating as the “chief of staff” for the Communications function.Key responsibilities included:• Appointed by the Communications Director to perform this strategic role – operating as the “chief of staff” for the Communications function• Being a key member of the Communications Leadership Team – developing the communications strategy & driving the planning process, establishing targets and reporting back to the Executive Committee on results• Developing a new structure for the function – and engaging with senior stakeholders to implement this new approach • Leading the global communications planning process to ensure the successful delivery of the strategy• Increasing overall engagement levels of the function through the creation of a core-capability program – in 2016 the function recorded the most improved engagement levels across the company

Driving AkzoNobel’s reputation – specifically in the areas of sustainability and innovation. Key responsibilities included:• Acting as an on-going pro-active communications consultant to the sustainability and innovation functions to help drive these respective strategies for the company• Developing engaging content-led campaigns to deliver consistent media coverage on sustainability and innovation themes across the world • Effectively and proactively managing stakeholder & media relations for sustainability and innovation related topics

Leading corporate reputation programs for companies such as Jaguar Land Rover, Sony Europe, Santander, and British Telecom (BT). Key client experience at Grayling included:BT (British Telecom): Led communications to maximize BT’s global sponsorships, including partnerships with the Tate, Philharmonia Orchestra, British Film Institute, and the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.Sony Europe - I directed a brand building campaign to raise Sony's profile as an innovator creating an open innovation program that delivered record communications results for the company.Jaguar Land Rover – I directed a corporate reputation programme for Jaguar Land Rover in the UK and across Europe with a remit to help improve perceptions of the company, raise awareness of product improvements and build relationships with stakeholders including environmental NGOs, think tanks and political figures. COP 18 Climate Change Conference, Qatar – I worked with the COP 18 communications department in Doha to establish a set of external messages for the conference and the creation of a crisis management framework.Santander – I managed a public relations program focused on building Santander’s reputation amongst its customers and other key stakeholders through the company’s sponsorship and CSR activities.