www.wadepr.com

Brought in as a trusted, senior pair of eyes to work across a number of different clients and teams for an agency I worked for previously. Was tasked with delivering impactful, immediate wins for City of London and Venture photography particularly. Was also brought in to manage project delivery on the City of London's Sustainable City Awards and content for Heart of London Business Alliance's speaker programme. Worked on senior news delivery for retail analyst client Springboard for their key Christmas trading period media programme. Media achievements, especially for Boxing Day delivery, noted at a senior level as was my writing ability.Was also brought in as a senior team member for a number of other agency clients including Wyevale Garden Centres and the Mouth and Foot Painters Association.In addition, the agency used my design/ artistic skills to redesign their corporate identity, logo and presentations.

To set and oversee the implementation of the overall Consumer Communications (PR & Social media) strategy for Travelplanet24 and Tripsta - on a European level across 5 markets (Greece, Poland, Romania, Russia and Turkey). To set the Corporate Communications strategy (PR & Social) for Travelplanet24 and oversee its implementation. To support and oversee the implementation of the business’ internal communications needs. To set the brand identity and oversee its correct usage across the business - on a European level. To oversee, support and implement the delivery of events within the business – both for external partners and staff.* Design and oversee the implementation of the Consumer Communications strategy – managing the delivery of our 3 European external PR agencies, Romanian freelancers, the Social Media Specialist and the PR Account Executive * Set Pan-European Consumer Communications targets * Share Consumer Communication strategies, achievements and learnings with the CEO, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operating Officer. * Manage and respond to negative consumer feedback on Pan-European social media channels * Set and manage the budget for Consumer Communications activities * Support the development of the Social Media Specialist and the PR Account Executive, driving forward monthly deliverables and development goals * Design and oversee a Corporate Communications PR & Social strategy to position Philipp Brinkmann and Travelplanet24 as leaders in the areas of entrepreneurship, online innovation, travel and Greek business * Work with Senior Management in the communication of major company news (including financial announcements) * Oversee the organization of start-up events/ activities/ CSR programmes * Support the CEO in speaking/ filming and interview opportunities * Provide copy-writing support for corporate materials * Identify and enter industry awards* Design internal communication strategies * Organise internal events

I led, oversaw and designed lastminute.com’s proactive and reactive PR strategy for UK and Ireland. This was a challenging and fast-paced role which required me to manage two retained PR agencies, lead cross-channel brand projects and work with multiple departments within the business. The position enabled me to develop excellent contacts with travel media in the UK.Key achievements included; leading the re-pitch of lastminute.com’s UK PR agency account, devising a PR idea which led to a £200k multi-channel business investment (Spontaneity Champion campaign, see: Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and The Independent), unlocking the brand’s approach to media ‘issues,’ developing a PR evaluation approach which is held-up as best practice by Gorkana and raising the profile of PR with the leadership team and our global parent company.Key responsibilities included:- Building journalist relationships with UK travel and news media - Providing consultation on PR approaches in order to deliver maximum editorial exposure in UK press- Driving brand-reassessment through PR coverage and strategy- Tailoring PR approaches to deliver key commercial objectives and communicate overall brand messages- Managing a UK and Irish retained PR agency; including press office delivery for both markets and project delivery for the UK- Raising the profile of PR with internal stakeholders to encourage efficient collaboration - Integrating and sharing best practice with European and corporate PR leads- Managing crises and issues- Delivering coverage which drives SEO objectives- Reporting on PR achievements to the wider business

Unilever – Global brand and communicationsWickes – UK homewares press office and brand re-positioningI led and oversaw the strategy and implementation of Wickes’ UK press office which delivered home and garden product coverage in key UK consumer media, in-line with cross-channel business objectives. Since taking the helm, I raised the bar in terms of the quality and type of exposure achieved for Wickes’ products, through both proactive and reactive work. The press office remit included the promotion of Wickes’ sales and offers as well as corporate communications and crisis work (as it arose.) I also designed and oversaw the delivery of various brand-building projects which sought to maintain Wickes’ standing in the DIY category and challenge perceptions amongst its important trade customers. I prepared and presented monthly activity reviews to the Digital and Communications team, as well as ROI-based materials for the Wickes Board. Whilst at salt I also directed the Unilever Food Solutions account which delivered award-winning, global communications campaigns to build the brand across emerging and developed markets. The account involved devising authority-building platforms to raise the profile of Unilever Food Solutions amongst potential customers and their effective roll-out across 25 different countries. Since joining the account I championed a more bespoke approach to managing global activation which generated country-specific insight, further establishing trust in the Unilever brand. All campaigns had strict commercial and brand deliverables, with the end goal of driving product sales and Unilever service awareness. For both clients at salt I prepared annual and project-based scopes of work which allocated team resource and budgets based on forecasted delivery. I was accountable for the profitability of both accounts and, once a month, reported back to the agency’s directors in this regard.

B&Q – UK press office/ product placement and UK campaignsSainsbury’s/ Waitrose – Issues-based campaigns and product placementSelfridges – Christmas B&Q was ZPR’s most important account for which I devised and led delivery of campaign work (including celebrity partnerships), product placement and a busy corp/cons press office. The role also involved organising twice yearly press shows, as well as overseeing product photography and Look Book creation. In addition to B&Q, I ran issues-based work for one of the UK’s most respected food manufacturers. I implemented a product placement programme for their premium supermarket products which included press trips and shows. I was part of the team responsible for the communication of Selfridges’ Christmas ranges and the store’s Boxing Day sale. This involved identifying news stories for press around product ranges and managing hands-on, timely sales media relations to maximise coverage. As one of ZPR’s directors I was also involved generally in devising PR strategies across all of the agency’s accounts, including work on Waitrose and Peacocks.

I was employed by this retail association to raise awareness of its role and shopping initiatives through PR and marketing. Press coverage achieved included a 10 minute piece on BBC London (TV) and event listings in Timeout and the Guardian Guide (among others). I developed e-product “flashes” to raise awareness of local products and encourage the involvement of other independent retailers. I also launched Facebook and Twitter sites for the association and developed a social media programme they could continue.

I was solely responsible for the business’ PR, marketing and business development strategy which I designed from scratch and then implemented. This included launching the Venturi’s Table concept to the national and trade business press and devising an ongoing media relations programme. Resulting coverage significantly increased the centre’s client base and was instrumental in a 310% increase in bookings within the first few months of my employment. I was also responsible for developing marketing materials for the business which included managing the redesign of the company website (for which I wrote all the content). I devised and wrote fliers and e-newsletters, briefed new photography and instigated a social media presence. I also created a new business programme for the business which involved cold calling, the creation of promotional materials and designing and managing ‘taster’ events for prospective clients. Systems for maintaining contact with existing and past clients were instigated and I worked with the Managing Director to widen the business’ event offering during the recession and help increase repeat bookings.

John Lewis Oxford Street – News generation/ flagship store exclusives John Lewis Fashion – Brand re-positioning and product placementPeter Jones – News generation/ ChristmasNew West End Company – Store openings/ Christmas/ corporate positioning I ensured the media relations-heavy accounts I managed, for six demanding clients, delivered ambitious results for this high pressure “no coverage, no fee” agency. I managed and trained a team of four junior members of staff who then went on to form the award-winning Debenhams in-house PR team. Other highlights include a John Lewis fashion campaign which achieved coverage with an editorial value of £3 million and was so influential that the business was asked to attend a Parliamentary Select Committee. For John Lewis Fashion and Lingerie Advice Services my team achieved a 383% year on year increase in coverage. In addition to media relations delivery, I ran and devised the press launch events for numerous clients including a large-scale event at the London Aquarium and a vintage Dior jewellery launch at Sketch. I also managed a considerable number of photoshoots and picture stories for various clients including those required for John Lewis Oxford Street’s refurbishment and its new Waitrose Foodhall.

Media relations: This was primarily a media relations role which involved ongoing press office work, the writing and pitching of national press stories and the management of two junior members of staff. Highlights included my work on the Magners Irish Cider launch in London and on the 2005 Romantic Novel of the Year award. My trend-led coverage for Magners achieved in the Sunday Times Style, Radio One, ES magazine and the Guardian helped refresh the image of cider in general. Client liaison: I managed monthly and weekly client reporting, met with clients on a monthly basis and liaised with them daily. My role in client meetings became more autonomous as I progressed in the agency.Events/ photoshoots: Organised and managed press photocalls and photoshoots for clients.New business: Began to become involved in new business pitch preparation and presentations.Clients: Magners Premium Irish Cider, The Romantic Novelists’ Association, Nestlé’s Children’s Book Prize, Nestlé’s Social Research Programme, Nestlé’s Make Space Programme, Henkel Consumer Adhesives and Avery.

Media relations: Worked on national, consumer and regional media programmes for various clients across consumer, healthcare and corporate sectors, achieving blanket coverage for a number of campaigns. Wrote press releases and developed my media relations skills. My writing ability was recognised during my time at the agency by a composer client, who was so impressed by the biography I wrote for a press pack he commissioned me to write his professional profile for Faber & Faber.Client liaison: Prepared for and presented at client monthly meetings.Events: Was involved in background event research and hands-on support for a number of different clients and headed-up a regional programme of events for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.Other: Was heavily involved in a celebrity picture story which involved complex negotiations with the national press. Clients: Vipere au Poing (French Film), The National Lottery’s 10th Birthday, The Electoral Commission, The Jamaican Tourist Board, Whitbread, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Empiredirect.co.uk, Alliance & Leicester, Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, GSK’s allergy portfolio: Piriton, Piriteze, Flixonase and Beconase.

Foreign & Colonial, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, EMXco, Franklin Templeton and the Juvenile Diabetes Federation