Jamie Bowden

A former senior media manager for British Airways, Jamie Bowden is a PR and broadcast expert specialising in the airline, leisure and travel industries.

Jamie spent more than 20 years with British Airways where he gained extensive management experience in an international FTSE100 environment providing counsel to the CEO, chairman and directors and managing more than 2,000 staff.

As British Airways’ senior media manager, Jamie was the company’s principal broadcast spokesman and has conducted over 2,000 broadcast interviews during his career.

Jamie was seconded to the London Eye in 1999 to handle the media launch of this major London attraction. As the media spokesman, Jamie further extended his wide range of contacts in the BBC, ITN, Sky News, CNN and broadcast media around the world.

Jamie also handled the relaunch of Concorde for British Airways following its refit after the Air France crash in 2000.

As a freelance consultant, Jamie continues to advise airlines on media handling and is currently working on a TV travel programme.

Specialist skills
• Brand Marketing
• Broadcast Communications
• Conference link presenting, (inc autocue, PTC)
• Crisis management counsel
• Event management including press launches and editor briefings
• International communications
• Managing hostile media
• Media training

Industry sector experience
• Airlines
• Leisure
• Travel

Blair Drummond

Blair Drummond is a seasoned PR professional with around 25 years’ consultancy experience of creating and delivering a broad spectrum of communications programmes to support the marketing, awareness and reputation objectives of corporate, public and third sector clients.

A former magazine and broadcast journalist before entering the world of PR consultancy, he has particular expertise in communications training – effective writing for the media, feature writing, media interview training, and crisis and issues management.

Over the past 15 years, he has trained hundreds of executives – from CEOs to junior staff – in private, public and charity sector organisations in how to get the best from media interviews. He has also been actively involved in crisis and issues management, from preparation, planning and testing to live management.

Blair was project manager for Shell UK in the two year aftermath of the Brent Spar crisis, helping Shell rebuild reputation through open dialogue with the world’s media. For three years, he was a full member of the crisis management team for Kerr McGee Oil, participating in at least one full-scale test simulation annually. He has delivered crisis training courses and testing for GE Europe and Perkins Foods, and has participated in crisis test exercises for Lloyds TSB, a risk management business active in Iraq and one of the world’s leading air freight businesses. He continues to manage the communications aspects of issues for a fast-growing waste management company, and continues to deliver a long term media interview training programme for the RNID.

In 2003, he was selected by BBC TV to media-train the two young contestants who featured in reality TV production ‘Blair For The Day’ which imagined they were Prime Minister for a day and having to deal with escalating issues.

Most recently, he helped deliver a second cycle of intensive interview training for management and experts from EUMetsat (the European agency responsible for weather satellites and related data collection and transmission) in Germany, based in a full size working TV studio.

Grace Drury

Former deputy managing director of Ketchum Paris and head of consumer PR at Ketchum London and Countrywide Porter Novelli, Grace Drury has developed and run international communications programmes for corporate and consumer clients.

Grace has more than 15 years’ experience in international consultancy, developing and managing programmes for clients such as Coty, Reebok, FedEx and Gillette.

Recently, she has provided crisis planning and communications programme development for major cross-border factory closure and redundancy programmes for clients such as C&A and Levi Strauss.

Fluent in French and Spanish, Grace spent two years managing the Paris office of Ketchum where she ran international campaigns for clients such as FIFA World Cup ’98, Remy Martin and ACNielsen.

On returning to the UK in 2000, Grace set up her own consultancy, Objective Consulting, to provide senior counsel to brand owners on a local and international scale. Recent projects include the launch of Ocado, the on-line shopping service and consultancy support for Coty, as well as activity for Polo Ralph Lauren, BMW Mini and other blue-chip companies. She regularly runs training courses on corporate communications, as well as undertaking media training.

Specialist skills
• Brand development
• Change management planning
• Crisis and issues management
• Cross-border redundancy programmes
• International communications planning and programme development
• Media and presentation skills training

Industry sector experience
• Consumer goods
• Food and drink
• Luxury goods
• Retail
• Transportation and logistics

Peter Boxer

A former group director of external relations at Vickers plc and senior vice-president of British Aerospace’s Washington DC-based North American Government Programs Office, Peter Boxer has wide strategic market development and reputation management experience.

As director of external relations for the Vickers group of companies, he had corporate responsibility for market development support of the company’s divisions and for ensuring that the group’s achievements, objectives and values were communicated to the investment community, the media, the government and public.

Before joining Vickers in 1992, Peter spent four years in Washington DC as senior vice-president of Government Programs Office, part of British Aerospace’s US subsidiary, where he managed an annual budget of $2.3m.

He is skilled in developing and focussing external and internal perceptions across a company’s key audiences.

Peter has spent 15 years overseas in the United States and West Africa, was a Member of the Royal College of Defence Studies course in London, and is a Member of the Institute of Public Relations and the Institute of Directors.

Specialist skills
• Corporate positioning
• Government relations
• Investor relations
• Reputation management

Industry sector experience
• Aerospace
• Defence
• Engineering

Christiane Morris

A founding partner in The Counsel House, Christiane Morris is a highly experienced interim PR manager in the corporate and professional services sector, having undertaken assignments at HLB Kidsons, Logica, QCA, PKF and Wordbank.

Christiane also has considerable experience of the independent schools sector, housing associations and SMEs for whom she provides complete marketing communications support ranging from strategic marketing reviews and plan development to client satisfaction surveys, collateral production and media relations.

Recent projects have included the development and implementation of a communications strategy for a specialist housing association including new corporate identity, creation and production of new marketing collateral and re-launch event.

She has undertaken a number of strategic marketing reviews for independent schools including the development of marketing plans and regularly runs marketing workshops for this sector.

Christiane is currently providing in-house marcoms consultancy to a localization company where she has undertaken the development and implementation of a marketing strategy and plan including a new website, brochure and other promotional materials, seminar programme and client care programme.

Specialist skills
• Business to business communications
• Client care and targeting programmes
• Client satisfaction surveys
• Copywriting and collateral production
• Marketing reviews and plan development
• Surveys and research projects

Industry sector experience
• Accountancy and other professional services
• Commercial property
• Housing associations
• Independent schools
• Localization and translation
• SMEs

Edward Townsend

A former industrial editor of The Times and Head of Group Media Relations for BAA and NatWest Group, Edward Townsend has also worked at a senior level within two leading PR consultancies, Le Fevre Communications and Luther Pendragon.

Following 14 years at The Times – including seven years as Industrial Correspondent and Industrial Editor - Edward was headhunted by BAA as Head of Media Relations, a new post-privatisation position for the company at corporate level. He worked closely with airline and airport PR teams on a range of crisis and security issues including the Lockerbie tragedy in 1988.

In 1990, Edward joined NatWest Group as Head of Group Media Relations and Senior PR Consultant with responsibility for managing the Group Press Office and advising the bank’s subsidiary operating companies’ press and PR units.

Edward then joined Luther Pendragon in 1996 as a senior consultant and specialist in media relations and crisis management for the consultancy’s blue chip clients in the legal, banking, stockbroking, technology and financial services sectors.

In 1998, Edward was appointed by Le Fevre to mastermind the consultancy’s expansion from Oxford to London and provide media relations and executive-level PR consultancy to a range of clients including BT, Abbey National, Lloyds TSB, Thomas Cook and several new media companies.

Specialist skills
• Crisis management
• Industrial and business issues
• Media relations
• Media training
• People management

Industry sectors
• Airlines/airports
• Banking
• Financial services
• Legal
• Manufacturing
• Motors
• Travel and tourism

Peter Kendall

A former corporate communications director for the development and launch of Eurostar and communications director at Connex, Peter Kendall has in-depth experience of both the rail and energy markets.

A journalist by training, Peter joined the British Railways Board in 1985 becoming Chief Press Officer then Southern Region’s regional public affairs manager, where he helped to protect the company’s reputation during and after the Clapham and Purley rail accidents. He led a 23-strong team during a period of major industry change before being appointed by the British Rail Channel Tunnel Division as public affairs director to promote the need for a new high speed rail link and preparation for Channel Tunnel services on existing lines.

On the creation of Union Rail and Eurostar as separate companies, he continued as Eurostar’s first director of public affairs and was an influential member of the senior management team during the development of the company and the launch of the service.

In 1998 Peter was appointed by Connex Rail as communications director but resigned in 2000 after the company rejected his strategic advice.

His subsequent career as a consultant has included a 13 month assignment with BHP Billiton Petroleum covering their External Relations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Specialist skills
• Change management
• Copywriting
• Crisis management
• Media relations
• Political lobbying

Industry sector experience
• Energy
• Railways
• Transport

Anne Gilding

An experienced corporate communications director, Anne has in-depth knowledge of the international financial markets having worked in senior roles in-house at UBS and Salomon Brothers and, more recently, as a consultant to a major Japanese and a leading European investment bank.

In addition to her investment banking experience and her understanding of financial markets and institutions, Anne also has specialist expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors having been Director of Corporate Communications at Vernalis plc for four years and currently working as a consultant with a number of European clients in the life sciences area.

She has been actively involved in the strategic management and implementation of worldwide IR programmes with experience of all major international markets. She has worked on more than a dozen IPOs and the evaluation of benefits of markets for both initial and secondary listings including NASDAQ and the new European markets.

She has special expertise in issues management, contingency planning, crisis management and disaster recovery and has provided consultancy for a number of public companies on their bid/defence contingency planning. Anne was the winner of the 1999 Proshare Award awarded for the best website for a non-FTSE company for Vernalis plc.

Anne’s M&A experience includes the acquisition of Cerebrus Pharmaceuticals by Vanguard Medica and the subsequent integration of the businesses and internal communications activity for the merger of ABN AMRO and ING Barings in the US market. She has also handled internal and external communications and corporate culture and image development for the newly named company, Vernalis Group plc, and due diligence for financing rounds, listings and acquisitions.

Specialist skills
• Disaster recovery
• Investor relations
• Issues management
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Risk assessment

Industry sector experience
• Biotechnology
• Healthcare
• Investment banking
• Pharmaceuticals
• Utilities

Vyvyan Kinross

A founder and principal of Kinross + Render Ltd which has since become a top 50 marketing and PR firm, Vyvyan Kinross has spent a total of 20 years in marketing and public relations consultancy. He has planned and implemented marketing, communications and PR programmes for a wide variety of organisations, both in the UK and internationally.

On behalf of Shell UK, he developed a communications campaign over five years to promote the company’s liveWIRE programme, the successful UK wide scheme to help support young entrepreneurs considering self-employment.

He also planned and rolled-out a UK and European marcoms programme on behalf of UPS Logistics Group, part of the world’s largest transportation company. This included setting up and co-ordinating an agency network to achieve common objectives across the UK, France, Benelux and Germany. He has worked on communications and PR programmes for major US and UK organisations, such as Xerox Corporation, Saga Services and Diebold.

In the public sector, Vyvyan delivered the high profile marketing and communications campaign supporting the Department of Trade & Industry’s (DTI) Information Society Initiative, set up by Government to spread awareness of information and communication technologies (ICTs) amongst SMEs. This included research, sponsorship, advertising, direct marketing, events and extensive media relations. Vyvyan has also worked on communications audits for the Highways Agency and on developing marcoms strategy for the National Disability Council, on behalf of the DfEE.

While at K+R, Vyvyan also devised low cost communications programmes for clients in the not-for profit sector, among them the Hamlet Trust and Sickle Cell Society. He has achieved Institute of Public Relations Approved Trainer Status and is a member of the NUJ.

Specialist skills
• Communications audits
• Copywriting
• International communications (especially in the Middle East)
• Marcoms strategy development
• Training

Industry sector experience
• Government and public sector
• Not-for-profit
• SMEs
• Transport

Robin Swinbank

A founding partner in The Counsel House, Robin Swinbank is an experienced interim PR manager having undertaken secondments with blue chip organisations such as Eurotunnel, Vickers, Logica and Nabarro Nathanson.

Examples of his interim management work include a period at Eurotunnel, where he reported to co-chairman, Sir Alastair Morton, and the public affairs director, John Noulton, in both an advisory and executive capacity across a range of PR roles. These included crisis and issues management and media relations. Specifically, he was tasked with the planning and organisation of the inauguration of the Channel Tunnel by The Queen and President Mitterrand.

At Logica plc Robin undertook a marketing and communications role for the international computer consultancy, systems integration and software company. This also involved the development of a global corporate PR strategy and plan for the company and its various divisions linked to a range of services, including Year 2000 compliance. He also provided senior management with crisis and issues management advice.

Robin’s most recent secondment was at the law firm Nabarro Nathanson. He has also advised several other professional service sector clients including Mishcon de Reya, KPMG and HLB Kidsons.

He has advised senior management on issues management and crisis PR in a number of leading corporations including BT, Pepsi-Cola, Logica plc, and Vickers plc.

Specialist skills
• Business to business communication
• Corporate counselling
• Crisis and issues management
• Strategy and plan development

Industry sector experience
• Commercial property
• Defence
• Drinks
• FMCG
• Legal
• Recruitment
• Technology
• Transport

Amanda Croft-Pearman

Amanda is a highly motivated and committed fundraising professional with proven experience in business development, strategic planning and marketing.

She has worked in the voluntary sector for over 12 years, eight of which were spent working as a corporate fundraiser with the NSPCC during the development and implementation of its Full Stop appeal. This involved securing major donations and support from companies like Berkeley Homes, Burger King, Mars and Microsoft.

Whilst at the NSPCC, Amanda was seconded to Marks and Spencer’s head office to act as the project manager running the Children’s Promise appeal, a campaign which successfully raised £2.5 million (£500,000 more than the original appeal target).

Amanda is experienced in all forms of fundraising and business development as well as in staff management and team development. She has a proven track record in generating new revenue streams. In her capacity as a fundraising consultant, she has already helped Chailey Heritage School raise £2.1 million for a high-level capital fundraising appeal and is currently working as a campaign director on a £3.5 appeal for the Royal College of Pathologists, which is seeking to build a new education centre.

Prior to her career in fundraising, Amanda spent eight years in advertising and marketing working on a range of blue-chip client accounts.

Alison Kenny

With over 15 years experience of fundraising across a broad spectrum of funding sources – trusts and foundations, corporate support and sponsorship, individual giving including major donor campaigns, Lottery and statutory – Alison Kenny offers a holistic and creative approach to meeting an organisation’s funding requirements.

Much of Alison’s work is with Arts organisations. However, her current client list also includes a hospice and a charitable housing association and she has previously worked with organisations supporting vulnerable children, young and older people. Before becoming a freelance consultant Alison worked with a range of organisations including the NSPCC, the Halle Orchestra and Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Alison’s strengths lie in reviewing and evaluating a client’s existing fundraising activity, identifying opportunities for funding and creating strong and viable funding packages. Alison works closely with client’s staff to prepare a compelling case for support and with senior managers to identify and develop viable, new projects to complement existing services and facilities and opportunities for growth.

Alison has in-depth experience of both capital and revenue projects, maximising opportunities for raising core funding where possible, and with organisations of varying size. She works both on a strategic level and in the direct implementation of an agreed funding campaign maximising sustainable income generation and support.