I’m a multi-skilled marketing professional who can help with everything from strategy to creativity.
I have over forty years’ experience in business-to-business marketing. When you want not just an experienced eye, but also a safe pair of hands, I’m here to help.
Experience
My corporate career reached board level, after which I launched and ran two successful marketing agencies. This gives me both the high-level experience needed to help organisations to plan successful marketing strategies, alongside the project management and creative skills to help turn those strategies into effective campaigns.
Highlights
I am co-author of Is it News? – a definitive guide to creating, writing, distributing and measuring news stories.
I’ve worked with dozens of business-to-business organisations, primarily (but not exclusively) in IT services, learning and recruitment.
I was the owner/founder of a content-marketing agency and was also the creative director/founder of a successful marketing firm.
I helped to establish a sector-specific newswire.
I worked as a freelance journalist for Haymarket Media Group for many years.
I was the marketing director of a national IT services company.
I was the marketing manager of a national IT services company and technology supplier.
I was the European marketing communications manager for a global IT services organisation.
I was the studio manager at a creative marketing agency.
Timeline
MAR 2020–PRESENTMorganAsh – head of marketing
Working with the managing director, I am responsible for all of the company’s marketing activities, from inception to execution. This includes devising content strategies, creating content campaigns (including videos, podcasts, social media campaigns, white papers etc), working with the PR agency to plan and execute publicity campaigns, managing the website, and creating and running communications campaigns from within our CRM system, ActiveCampaign. I also work with the software development team to help plan and build our software systems – primarily with responsibility for the user interface and system usability. I worked with MorganAsh for around a decade as a consultant, before becoming head of marketing – a role which runs concurrent with managing my own creative agency.
MAR 2003–PRESENTContent Productions – owner and lead consultant
Currently running my own business-to-business marketing company, helping organisations to develop effective marketing strategies and then deliver campaigns for them, using online and offline media. I’m responsible for client management, marketing consulting, managing projects, creative production, copywriting, business generation. My key role is to provide marketing consultancy services, usually at top-team level; I also head up creativity, managing a virtual team of professionals, including designers, voiceover artists and 3D animators.
PUBLISHED 2021Is It News?
I co-authored this in‑depth guide to writing press releases. It breaks the writing process down into practical steps that can transform how press releases are written.
PUBLISHED 2011The Well
I authored this top-selling, 4.5-star-rated. award-winning horror novel, The Well.
1997–MAR 2003Marketing Direction – co-founder and co-director
I co-founded this full-service marketing agency to provide a ‘virtual marketing department’ to organisations without their own marketing team, or for those who wished to supplement their marketing resources. As one of two founding partners, I provided clients with the skills and input they would expect from a marketing director. I also managed the creative team.
1994–2003Haymarket – columnist
I wrote for two Haymarket publications as a regular columnist, on a range of learning and HR topics, concurrent to my other roles. I additionally wrote reviews of self-paced learning software.
1996–1997Xenon/Xpertise – marketing director
A fixed-term role, I was hired to help shape up the business for sale or stock market floatation. I was retained as a consultant to the business for five years after this role. I helped to establish the training division as an independent business helped grow it to become the third largest training company in the UK (before it was bought by the largest, QA). The rest of the company became part of Viglen.
1994–1996P&P/Skillsgroup – marketing manager, services
Responsible for all aspects of the marketing of computer services (including training and technical consulting) for one of the UK’s largest computer resellers. I helped develop the training business and integrate several acquired companies. My role included managing the creative team and external agencies, working with internal stakeholders and having budgetary responsibility.
1991–1994SHL Systemhouse – marketing manager, Europe
Responsible for the creation and implementation of all marketing activities within Europe for this global systems integration company.
1990Webber Frost Advertising – studio manager
Responsible for managing the studio of this busy Manchester agency, working with clients, developing concepts and writing copy, art direction, print-buying and working with external service providers.
1985–1990Creative Design & Promotional Services – studio manager
Helping to establish and build this creative business. Responsible for managing the creative team, liaising with clients, business generation, copywriting, art direction and development of concepts.
1982–1985Prontaprint – studio manager
Responsible for designing and writing marketing materials, working with clients, managing the design team, working with the print team, managing external suppliers.