Experience
I've been involved in the marketing and advertising sector for many years cutting my teeth in selling advertising space and airtime before moving into the agency environment. In 1980 I joined a small challenger agency with big ambitions...
I was appointed to the board at a relatively youthful 24, became a shareholder at 28 and had my name on the door in 1995.
The business was built by an extremely talented and committed team of creative, media, account management and support staff; earning a reputation as giant killers and winning a few awards along the way.
In 1999, we sold the successful and profitable business to Panoramic Communications, a Swiss backed, North American marketing services group.
During the earn-out period that followed, I acted as Managing Director for EPB Communications, the £30 million integrated agency formed from the merger of Buckfield Lord and an existing Panoramic Communications group agency, The Square.
As a seasoned board level General Manager, Business Developer and Marketer, I’ve experienced top level exposure to a wide variety of consumer and B2B markets, significantly in the premium segment of the automotive, communications, consumer electronics, FMCG and homeland security markets.
I’m well versed in the practice of nurturing people, businesses and brands to realise their full potential and in the process of increasing revenue and profitability through a variety of strategies including business and industry analysis, business development, new business acquisition, value engineering, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, change management, management coaching and succession planning.
In short, I’m a grown-up with proven experience and expertise that you can trust to deliver results for your business rather than the empty promises of some consultants.
THE JOURNEY
MARKET EXPOSURE
So, what do you learn from immersion across many different markets, promoting brands, products and services to different audiences to different ends; and from working with brand owners and agencies each with their own operating styles; from the highly strategic and analytical, to the instinctive and entrepreneurial?
Well for one, you learn that while the challenges may often appear similar, overcoming them almost always calls for different approaches. But you also learn that the sheer variety of projects provides a solid foundation from which to tackle new challenges and arrive at solutions much more quickly and decisively.
BRANDS AND MARKETS
Agri-chem: Elanco, Shell
App Development: Insight Mobile
Automotive: MAN and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Bentley Motors, Ducati, Eaton Corporation, Mercedes-Benz (Vans, Trucks, Genuine Parts, Financial Services, Dealer Marketing, Used Commercial Vehicles and Contract Hire), Unipart
Broadcast: Music Choice (Now a BskyB company), At The Races
Capital Equipment: CFM Aero Engines, Canon Business Machines
Charity: Meningitis Research Foundation
Cigarette Lighters: BiC
Communications: JVCKENWOOD, CSL DualCom Group, DPMR Association
Consumer Electronics: JVCKENWOOD (Car Audio, Home Audio, Communications Solutions), Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, Purple Sound Earphones
Fashion: Ducati Apparel/DKNY, Gieves & Hawkes
Financial Services: Lex Vehicle Leasing, AXA Equity & Law (Offshore Investment Products)
Food: Granose, KGF Food Service, Leaf
Furniture: Caxton, Ercol
Grocery: BiC
Health: Helios Homeopathy
Homeland Security: Jacksons Fencing, Bristorm (Hill & Smith)
Homes & Gardens: Jacksons Fencing, Brighton Bike Sheds
Hotels: Leading Hotels of The World
House & Home: Groupe SEB, Sunbeam Electric, Rayovac, Tefal
Industrial: Alcan, The Aluminium Federation
Logistics: Lex Wilkinson, Bristish Road Services, Panalpina
Marketing Services: Slipstream Studio, JWT Detroit, Kioken, Comin Network, Insight Mobile, Mason Zimbler
Property: Chestertons, South East Surveyors, Wyberton Developments
Packaging: Alcan, Reed
Perfume: Parfum BiC (and a salutary lesson in overstretching a brand’s elasticity)
Recruitment: Blue Arrow
Retail: Gieves & Hawkes, Mercedes-Benz Dealer Network
Stationery: BiC (pens, pencils etc)
Technology: SITA, ENG, CSL DualCom