Group Account Director
ASDA'A Burson Marsteller
Total years of experience :18 years, 10 Months
Oct 2011 - June 2013: Rooster PR
Account Director (Travel & Lifestyle PR)
Clients: Hong Kong Tourism Board, Cheapflights.co.uk; Premier Holidays; Channel Islands Direct; Lifestyle 247 boot camps; HostelsClub.com, Red Sea Holidays and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority through our sister agency Results PR
A member of the senior team, I led a team of four, directly managing an account manager, senior account executive and two account executives, reporting into the Managing Director.
I directed nine accounts and was the main point of contact for all clients. Day to day work included working on budgets and developing PR Plan/ strategy across all clients as well as drafting statements for media. In my role as line manager I also managed junior staff both supporting them in their roles and ensuring they received necessary training to progress in their own careers.
New business was integral to my role and in my time at the company, I brought in over ten warm leads as well as leading the winning pitch for the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Other pitches won included: Cheapflights.co.uk, Lifestyle 247, Red Sea Holidays and HostelsClub.com.
As well as setting up the company's Pinterest account, I also managed the company's twitter account, increasing followers by over 1, 500 in a year.
Apr 2007 - Oct 2011: Four Communications
(Employed by bgb until Feb 2011 when bgb was bought by Four Comms)
Account Manager (Travel & Lifestyle PR)
Clients included: Atlantis, The Palm; Banyan Tree Resorts; Angsana Resorts, One & Only Resorts, Destinology; St.Vincent & The Grenadines Tourism and Education Travel Group
• Hosting press trips and chairing client / media meetings
• Crisis PR
• Account planning (PR and budget)
• Identifying new business, working on proposals and competitive pitches
• Holding creative brainstorms for new ideas
• Monitoring the industry and key competitors' activity
• Writing and selling in press releases to meet coverage targets
• Managing accounts admin - monthly reports and mounting coverage
• Managing account executives
Nov 2005 - Apr 2007: Keene PA, London
Junior Account Executive (Travel PR / Public Affairs)
Clients included: Singapore Airlines and Singapore Tourist Board
• Monitoring forward features
• Writing and selling in press releases
• Attending client meetings
• Accounts admin - monthly reports and mounting coverage
Aug- Oct 2005: 21st Century Communications, London
Event Coordinator Assistant
Clients included: Orange Mobile Phones
• Logistical planning of event including venue/prop sourcing/invitations/RSVPs as well as setting up and attending the event
May - Aug 2005: Lianne Jarrett Associates, Brighton
PR Placement
• Preparing press cuttings books
• Pitching stories to the media
• Event organisation
• Handling press enquiries
2002- 2005 University of Sussex BA (Hons) Double major - Psychology (First) and Sociology (2:1)
1999 - 2002 Latifa School for Girls, Dubai, UAE 3 A Levels, 4 AS Levels, 11 GCSE's (all A*, A and B)