Tony Gray Email and Phone Number

Consulting and strategic direction for a range of National and International clients in digital strategies, publishing, events, renewable energy and content marketing.

Specific focus on business as a narrative and integration of this into branding and broader business strategy.

Directing business development and commercial activity combining content marketing, social media community management, App development and optimising DFP / RTB advertising operations for publishing and blogging sites in the UK - including the in-house properties 'Shiny Shiny' and 'Tech Digest'. Directed the strategic marketing of the new combined company and professional AdOps offering for mainstream publishers and fellow bloggers in the UK.

Managed (and achieved) a 10 Million Euro revenue budget for all streams (print, digital, regional) and defined strategy for one of the largest media groups in the Balkans. Leading a team of over 60 sales people, beat market expectations by growing sales by over 100% year on year - while reducing cost to sale by over 30%. Promoted to develop the company’s network of regional newspapers and to plan and implement a state of the art classified advertising solution integrating print, mobile and on-line (Wave2 supplied self-serve architecture)

Directed and managed business development for a group of five advertising and media companies (Initiative, Lowe, Brand Connection, Hyperactive and Golin Harris) under the international LOWE brand in Romania. Main focus was establishing new clients, directing and managing pitches for new business, supplier management and internal reorganization.

Mlada Fronta is one of the Czech Republic’s largest and most respected media groups. Led a team of local managers to assess, benchmark and direct strategy for the re-positioning and re-launching of 16 magazine brands and 10 websites/digital offerings. Directed detail marketing plans, oversaw execution for new launches, established new digital sales operations and on-line sales policy. Additionally represented brands to the international advertising community (including L'Oreal and P&G). The portfolio can be found at - www.mf.cz/

Led the turnaround and managed the sale of the healthcare publishing and events group, PulsMedia. The focus was on sales, re-branding and strategic positioning. First assessed the position of the group, then set and presented the new market facing strategy to the team, key stakeholders and commercial partners. Hired and directed new key personnel and made company an independent self-supporting and profitable unit in 9 months. Once complete, this newly revitalized company was rolled out and presented for sale to significant media groups around Europe and successfully sold in 2008. Remained as CEO to oversee operational merger & strategy and reporting to the Mlada Fronta board until 2009.

Advised on acquisition and merger of local magazine and digital brands with other media properties within this UK/US based private equity group. Following merger re-launched acquired titles and established new centralized sales operation, new process design and developed and launched new websites.

Responsible for setting and executing strategy to take Netherlands based Telegraaf Media Group (a billion Euro+ company) into new markets through acquisitions, mergers, JV's and greenfield start-ups. For example - Led the successful entry into the Ukrainian market. From research, decided on the best entry strategy, held initial discussions with potential partners and pitched for board approval. Then oversaw the acquisition and operational merger, including recruitment of new management from Holland and Ukraine. Also responsible for marketing the new company to the advertising and business community in Ukraine and region and for all key suppliers.

As the first holder of this positon was charged with the creation and leadership of a new business unit of Haymarket Worldwide. Directly responsible for the sales and marketing of Haymarket’s brands, rights and copyrighted material to the International media market - this brought together the IP activity of the whole group under the worldwide divison leadership. • Defined and restructured licensing and syndication policy for the Haymarket Group, consisting of 49 individual magazine brands and 92 International editions.• Negotiated and completed high profile licensing deals to leading media groups in countries as varied as Russia, Japan, Italy, Czech Republic, Ukraine and South Africa.• Managed relationships and marketing activity for Haymarket’s Publishing, TV, e-commerce and advertising partners across the world.

• Jointly founded and developed internet and e-commerce business bringing the benefits of the Internet to the over 50’s, under the purpose built brand ‘Clickton’. Together with the CEO, closed funding agreement with Regional Independent Media (owned by Candover private equity at the time) to develop computer hardware sales, tutoring, web portal and e-mail system for new ‘silver surfers’.• Directly responsible for all operations including sales (on and off-line), marketing, website construction and the hiring and training of a highly diverse team. Also negotiated all advertising deals, handled PR and established strong partnerships both nationally and within the local community.

Founded and, as MD and majority partner, developed the first professional magazine publishing group in Romania. In five years built the company from one magazine and an original team of eight local people to a diversified and profitable media group with leading international brands, websites, B2B titiles, events and a team of over 70 professionals. Originally sold to and merged with Edipresse from 1998-2000, it is now part of the 'Ringier' Swiss multinational media Group's holdings in the region. • Personally developed the company’s first Magazine, ‘avantaje’ in partnership with UK’s IPCMedia. Built the circulation from 30,000 to 150,000 copies in less than a year. ‘avantaje’ was nominated for the IPD ‘International magazine launch of the year’.• Established long term partnership with the French Hachette Filipacchi Group licensing and publishing ELLE magazine. Developed and launched a completely new magazine brand - the first quality celebrity title in Romania, ‘VIVA’.• RPG were the first media group in the region to successfully sell, plan and execute a co-branded advertising campaign across TV, print, radio and outdoor media with a major blue chip FMCG company (Proctor & Gamble)• In 1998 founded - in partnership with Freedom House International - "The Romanian young journalist of the year" awards. It continues to be the most recognised and respected annual awards for journalistic excellence in Romania.

Established revenues for Emap’s first launches in the European magazine market. Set up and managed sales operations for Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK.

Cars, home entertainment, B2B and one shots - including Classic and Sportscar, Autocar, Print week, Horticulture week, Car and Accessory Trader, What Hi-Fi? and Home Entertainment Design.