I’m incredibly proud today to be become Managing Director, UK, PAN Communications.
I take over the reins from outgoing managing director Gareth Thomas, who has been my amazing business partner for the past 11 years. I was previously general manager of the PAN UK team.
I bring more than 20 years’ experience across B2B, B2C and corporate PR, working both client-side and at a wide range of agencies.
It is such an exciting time to be leading the 20-strong team here in the UK, and we’re brilliantly placed to take advantage of the renewed focus on B2B brand building in the industry.
After years of research proving that companies who focus on both brand and demand outperform their peers, we are now seeing this thinking become mainstream in the UK marketing community.
We’re seeing demand from B2B firms for creative campaign work that places earned media at the heart of wider integrated campaigns that deliver longer term brand awareness, whilst also supporting shorter term sales.
PR plays a massive role in building brands. But to do this well is tough: it takes creativity and content that is compelling and cuts through. CMOs are telling us they’re looking for ‘brand, not bland’. And that is exactly what we deliver.
My team and I have always got a kick out of doing brave work for clients. And watch this space for news of some further exceptional senior hires that we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks.
I also draw on a far wider bench of PR and Marketing pros around the world. We already share around half of our clients with our PAN colleagues in the US, and 80% of our work is global, drawing on the skills of our international PAN Global Network partners. We are perfectly placed to help UK brands go global, as well as supporting international companies enter the British market.
On a personal note, as a mother of two young children, I’m also proud to be working for a progressive company that values senior female leadership and has created a thoughtful, inclusive culture.
According to the PRCA 2023 census, 68% of the UK’s PR workforce is female, and yet women remain underrepresented in senior positions. Just 13% of new UK agencies launched in the last year were started by women, for example.
I’m also from a very normal state school background, and it is testament to how the industry has changed in the last few years that opportunities are opening up for people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Finally, I want to thank PAN’s CEO Phil Nardone for putting his trust in me and I look forward to repaying that with exceptional work and fast business growth out of the UK.
Day one begins and I can’t wait!