Maxeen Turton

Established in 2001 by a former Board member of TH_NK, Shout is a full service strategic digital agency, whose core strength lies in architecting and developing complex business systems for the likes of Nova International (Great Run Local and Great Run Training), CPP and Smoothwall. My clients include, but are not limited to, Proctor & Gamble, ViewPoint Construction, Ryder Architecture, North P&I and TOFFs.

Skills
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
- Managing key, large-scale client relationships across verticals
- Understanding my clients’ businesses, organisation structures, processes and wider company plans in order to articulate a coherent digital vision; aligning these insights to stakeholder engagement plans that support Shout’s position as a preferred delivery partner
- Anticipating client needs, identifying solutions and acting in the client’s best interest to increase the value of Shout’s services
- Presenting sound and technically viable solutions to clients and implementing ROI metrics to track efficacy across the services we deliver
- Collaborating with Shout’s CEO to define strategic direction and growth opportunities for key accounts, as well as seeking ways to leverage growing the client portfolio and agency turnover
- Identifying and implementing ways to work smarter in managing accounts overall and sharing this view with my team
- Extensive experience in document creation, inclusive of project briefs, client-facing presentations and financial reports
- Represent Shout in cross-agency partner meetings

PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- Management of resource across the following disciplines:
o Strategy
o Design (UX, UI, creative and content strategy)
o Development (client side, server side and mobile)
o Online Marketing
- Delivery of large-scale complex programmes of work in SCRUM-Agile frameworks
- Developing Statements of Work (SOWs) that define the scope, pricing, and deliverables for each engagement I manage
- Setting up and managing collaborative workspaces such as HubPlanner, Assembla, TFS and GitHub to track and monitor all deliverables
- Conducting Post Implementation Reviews to improve and optimise more efficient and profitable scoping of future engagements
- Understanding of coding languages (HTML, jQuery, .NET, MySQL), web browsers, mobile development frameworks (native and hybrid) across multiple platforms, W3C accessibility guidelines, eCommerce platforms and CMS systems

BUSINESS STRATEGY
- Maintain thought leadership, watching digital trends, and applying thinking towards client ROI
- Working with in-house marketing managers to generate holistic online marketing plans (SEO, PPC & content marketing)
- Lead brainstorms, contributing to big ideas, and collaborating with internal team members to enhance products

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Led idea generation for Proctor & Gamble that will facilitate innovative iBeacon technology installation in a secure new product development lab
- Managing two large-scale complex programmes of native and hybrid mobile development work on behalf of US-based client ViewPoint Construction, $multimillion software development company for the construction industry, and a tier one account for Shout
- Designed and pitched a digital strategy framework to North P&I, the second largest member club of the International Group of P&I clubs, resulting in Shout being commissioned to design, develop and deliver a responsive site and the design and development of a mobile application which will be rolled out across four platforms. This engagement is supported by a full roadmap to reach their global audience

TH_NK is recognised as being of UK’s leading full-service digital agencies to help businesses navigate digital opportunities. My clients included Formica, BBC, TV Licensing and Sage plc The agency delivers innovative and globally revered products for revered international brands inclusive of J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore, Warner Brothers; BlackBerry, Nandos, Asos and Sony.

Skills
EXECUTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
- Optimised project results by providing a thorough understanding of my clients’ business models and objectives
- Worked with project management and wider in-house delivery teams to manage resource profiles, workflow, assign tasks and gain alignment
- Troubleshooting to ensure correct and timely delivery of work in line with SCRUM-Agile frameworks
- Maintained overall ownership of all deliverables and ensure approval protocol/sign-off procedures in line with client contracts
- Managed multi-discipline teams from initial briefings through to concept formation and subsequent delivery to an agreed scope

RELATIONSHIPS
- Delivered ‘Michelin-star’ service to all clients
- Strategic relationships management across an extensive global network of influential stakeholders, from mid- to senior-level management
- Provided strong lines of communication and collaboration by maintaining frequent contact with clients

KNOWLEDGE
- Fastidiously worked towards solutions that derived measurable value and implemented ROI metrics to demonstrate value at all touch points
- Proactive in all areas, recognising the importance of getting personally involved and making things happen for the agency and clients
- Groomed my understanding on how to present ideas and opinions clearly and persuasively

STRATEGY
- Embarked on an international 3-month research trip to develop a contextual understanding of my clients industry, users and their business
- Co-created a strategy project framework from which TH_NK will base on-going projects
- Demonstrated a deep knowledge of marketing, communications and digital marketing best practice principles - especially in relation to lead generation initiatives
- Authored persuasive client recommendations and points of view in addition to quarterly account plans which enable accurate account forecasting
- Always demonstrated a thoughtful understanding of my clients business and brand dynamics across a range of markets

COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT
- Maintained a margin of 40% across all projects
- Suggested methods to improve internal processes, not just within the Client Services team, but other departments within the agency
- Grew key accounts in line with quarterly account plans and recognised pipeline opportunities with strategies on how to attain these targets
- Demonstrated a good understanding of financial concepts and managed all budget reconciliation efforts
- Authored, negotiated and took ownership of Internal Briefs, as well as all Proposals, Contracts, Addendums and SoWss on behalf of the agency for my clients

KEY ACHIEVEMENT
- Delivered a global web and intranet strategy for global manufacturer, Formica. This elevated the net worth of the account from £300k to £2m, with pipeline opportunities realised across a three-year roadmap. This fast become one of TH_NK’s highest value accounts with confirmed scope to extend the strategic vision to Formica’s parent company, Fletcher Building, the largest listed company in New Zealand, with a market capitalisation of over NZ$4.8 billion.

Owned client relationships and generated revenue streams in excess of £500k across my account portfolio. Clients included: Newcastle Building Society, Northumbria University, NRG Recruitment, DFDS Seaways, Newcastle University Student Union, Durham Tees Flight Training and CSD Sealing Systems (the latter two are clients that I carried over from Guerilla).

Skills
- Digital
Advised on SEO/PPC; social media utilisation, CMS trouble-shooting. Generated functional specs for implementation
- Line manager
Developed and supported two Account Executives and assisted with the induction of new team members
- Account planning
Planned, developed and presented strategic/tactical marketing and communication plans to clients
- New business
Wrote and submitted pitches/tenders and confidently presented rationales, budgets and creative executions
- Creative services
Devised insightful and clearly written design/advertising/studio briefs. Followed up with verbal briefings to internal teams
- Media planning ¦ Liaised with in-house media planners to generate proposals that worked in harmony with campaign objectives
- Resourcing
Attended weekly production meetings with group heads to plan work in progress (WIP) and establish capacity across agency
- Financial
Independently costed projects, tracked actual vs. estimated costs on all live WIP and billed all clients at close of project
- Status reports
Initiated fixed weekly status meetings with all clients to review live jobs and scope speculative work for the future

Key achievement
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex flagship project. Worked with Group Account Director on brand creation of £30m sports complex for Northumbria University (Sport Central). Included brand creation, signage production and installation, website creation (design, architecture and content strategy)

Worked at a boutique agency on a range of B2B/B2C national and regional clients including Rowlands Pharmacy, Arriva plc, BBI Healthcare, Northumbrian Water, Durham University, Newcastle City Council, Network Ticketing, Durham Tees Flight Training and CSD Sealing Systems.

Skills
- Digital
Scoped opportunities via client base to generate new business - website creation, EDMs, social media strategy
- Resourcing
Trafficked creative/studio work through agency. Generated production timelines for each project undertaken
- Financial
Solely responsible for financial accounts on all projects, from procurement with suppliers through to billing clients
- Suppliers
Independently negotiated costs, managed print production and media scheduling on behalf of clients
- Creative
Accountable for creative/studio brief writing and served as a brand ambassador for clients
- Reporting
Draft contact and weekly status reports, as well as inputting all project status details into Synergist (in-house CMS)

Key achievements
- Directed a flagship project to re-design the North East's regional transport network from ‘Network Ticketing’ to ’Network One’. £150k re-brand was launched in conjunction with £200k media plan, which I planned, booked and managed from initial planning through to execution.

Reported directly to Herb Kim, former CEO of Codeworks and Founder of the Thinking Digital Conference (thinkingdigital.co.uk) to promote and deliver one of Europe’s leading digital event, as well as GameHorizon calendar of events.

Skills
- Budgeting
Liaised with external suppliers to negotiate costs and manage delivery of an array of event materials
- Copywriting
Drafted email campaigns, press releases, event listings and website content
- Website ¦ Directed external agency to re-design and update the website (site map, typography, graphics and content)
- Digital marketing
Generated email campaigns for mass mail outs, managed SEO, managed social media engagement and reporting
- Video editing
Coordinated the conversion of raw film footage to form short films and speaker presentations and catalogued online
- Sponsorship
Assisted business development manager in formulating sponsorship proposals to generate additional revenue

Key achievements
- Exceeded delegate acquisition target set, presenting a sell-out event two months ahead of schedule yielding £250k in turnover.

I gained substantial cross-sector experience in this London-based B2B publishing house. I left Wilmington to relocate to Newcastle having managed the marketing and event production for a portfolio of internationally renowned events, including the British Press Awards (pressgazette.co.uk) and FX International Interior Design Awards (www.fxdesignawards.com).

Career progression...
...Sept 05 - Sept 06 ¦ Marketing Co-ordinator
...Sept 06 - Nov 07 ¦ Marketing Manager (promotion)
...June 07 - Nov 07 ¦ Event Co-ordinator (second alongside Marketing Manager position)
...Nov 07 - April 08 ¦ Events Manager (promotion)

Key skills
- Copywriting
Created category guidelines, emails campaigns, direct mail, presentations and editorial features (on- and offline)
- Design and print
Directed in-house creatives on design requirements for all materials and coordinated print production with external suppliers
- Digital
Managed event microsites (editing content and steering branding), working with in-house designers/developers
- Media relations
Identified and developed strategic media partnerships. Dealt with associations, government, appropriate publications and press
-Operational
Developed communication plans, budgets, booking celebrity presenters, photographers and production crews

Key achievements
- Exceeded targets set by £56k for British Press Awards 2008. Secured attendance from Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. David Cameron, as guest speaker and all tabloid and broadsheets newspapers attended this events