The Team
I'll Never Walk Alone
by Nathan Perrott, Account Manager
Bill Shankly once said "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." I have to agree.
As important to me as football is the quality of service I provide to my clients. I believe in giving the best service possible to a level that I would expect to receive myself.
As your main point of contact I will oversee the delivery and the quality of the service. I will be available for update, progress and review meetings and to take briefs, provide media advice and proactively deal with any day-to-day problems.
Previous clients I have worked with include Hampshire County Council, Housing Corporation, VT Careers Management, RNIB and RNID.
Ibiza: a heaven beyond Pacha
by Gill Bentley, Senior Account Executive
I lived in Ibiza for three summers working in a Spanish cocktail bar. I met my fiancée there and we are getting married there in June 2006.
Before Penna, I worked at Bartlett Scott Edgar for 4 years, dealing with various public and commercial sector clients such as Portsmouth City Council and Books etc/Borders. On joining I solely ran the BBC account - the highest spending client in the agency. Before Bartlett’s I worked at Barclays Bank for three years doing over-the-counter customer service.
At PRC I am responsible for the day-to-day advertising for clients, providing media advice, liaising with the media, taking telephone briefs for creative campaigns and supporting the management team. I take a real pride in delivering the best possible service to our clients. I hope that my input to the team here will help Penna to become the most successful recruitment communications team in the business.
From ABBA to Zeppelin
by Brian Cernuschi, Commercial Director
John Miles wrote in 1976 'Music was my first love, and it will be my last, music of the future and music of the past. To live without my music would be impossible to do' - well nearly! The 60's to 80's are my favourite periods.
I've worked in this roller coaster advertising business for nearly 30 years, in the earlier decades as Finance Director but more recently as Commercial Director covering a range of roles including sales and marketing, finance, media, managing in-house services and project management.
As Commercial Director at PRC, my role covers a range of responsibilities - sales and marketing, finance and production amongst others.
I believe that our team has all the ingredients to be the best in the business - experience, knowledge, creativity, flexibility and most of all, an honest and open approach to our clients and the solutions we deliver.
Seduction in the Court of Charles II
by Heather DeLand, Copywriter
Because most any situation can be improved with the presence of high-heeled shoes, a glass of port, unapologetic use of velvet & silk, a small crowd of spaniels and a few stanzas of John Wilmot's poetry.
I've worked as a farmhand, a child minder, a nurse at a summer camp, a freelance journalist, an English tutor in Mexico, a cocktail waitress, a PR girl, a photographer, a history teacher and a costumed tour guide at Hampton Court. Strange jobs have informed my main craft of writing and I've done creative work for John Brown Citrus Publishing, Sky Television, Virgin Atlantic, Orange, English Heritage, the Tube and Scarlet Magazine and some others.
At Penna I'm a copywriter so brainstorms, wordsmithing, disciplined fantasising and the defence of the creative are all my watch.
I believe that every brief is interesting. Which means there's no excuse for an ad that's not.
Travel in Style, Darling
by Heather Staff, Media & Research Director
"Dream like you will live forever and live like you might die tomorrow" is a favourite mantra of mine. Getting to see the world is a big feature of my dreams and doing it in the best style I can has become important as I get older! It all serves me well and has given me a loo full of crazy photos which never cease to make me smile.
I worked for thirteen years in Human Resources within the NHS before succumbing to a seductive offer to join the glamourous world of recruitment advertising almost 20 years ago. After fourteen years in senior client facing roles I was attracted by a change of focus and joined Bartlett Advertising in 2000 as Director of Media, Research and Diversity, working with clients as diverse as the Inland Revenue, Security Service and BurgerKing to drive best practice in all of those key areas.
As Media & Research Director my focus is on driving innovative media relationships, effective media buying and ensuring that the work we do with our clients is informed by an intelligent approach to research. Experienced and innovative media relationships are key to delivering reliability, trust and the unexpected when delivering a good media service to clients. In terms of research, I’m just about to start working in partnership with SOCPO on a research project aimed at exploring what public sector organisations are currently doing to drive diversity and the impact of their initiatives and actions on organisational development. I can’t wait!
Leadership and Lipstick
by Anne Riley, Managing Director
Leadership and Lipstick sums up my approach to work – and life as well.It’s about balance – and about not taking yourself too seriously. I’m lucky enough to lead (and be part of) a fantastic team of people, I greatly enjoy what I do, and it gives me the chance to dress the part.
I’ve spent most of my working life in recruitment communications, helping clients find solutions and strategies to help their organisations succeed. From running an agency of 5 people, to running Austin Knight UK with 350 people, my experience is broad ranging and across all client sectors. Latterly, at Bartlett Scott Edgar, I helped create a very successful, truly client focused business with a great team of people.
My role at PRC is to build a new business within Penna, extending the range of services Penna offers, and to bring an exciting, passionate recruitment communications option to the HR community. I have been given a unique opportunity by Penna – to work with highly talented previous colleagues and friends, backed by an organisation with a great reputation.
These boots were made for walking
by Raphael Mulcaire, Account Director
These boots were made for walking… And that’s just what they’ll do, one of these days these boots are gonna … hang on a second though. Most of the shoes and boots I have weren’t made for walking at all. They were designed specifically for getting in and out of cabs. And that’s just what I do.
Having graduated in business and marketing, I spent two years working in Marketing within further education. I then joined Bartlett Advertising as a Graduate Trainee and progressed to Account Director level. Responsible for strategic planning and operational delivery on a large portfolio of clients, I co-ordinated all agency services from campaign and print management, to employer branding, search and diversity projects.
I have managed large-scale public sector accounts including Essex and Hampshire County Councils, national charities (Mencap, RNIB), The Housing Corporation and various education clients. Commercial experience ranges from Friends Provident and Mitchells and Butler, to Atkins and Victor Chandler.
At Penna I am responsible for managing commercial projects within the Penna Resourcing service, and developing a portfolio of direct clients which so far includes Ecolab and Mencap. I truly believe this is the best group of people in the business. I joined Penna Recruitment Communications to work with this team because of their ability to do a fantastic job as individuals and to add enormous value working together as a team. I’m proud and excited to be part of such a creative and inspirational environment.
The Paint aint Faint
by Ondine Howard, Senior Creative Artworker
“The paint ain't faint" - after Mac'ing artwork up all day at work, I enjoy getting back to the basics of splashing paint on canvas. I particularly like painting city-scapes and have a somewhat weird taste for cranes and construction sites.
After studying, I worked for over a year in the studio of a large advertising agency in South Africa, dealing with clients such as BMW, Nando's and Roche. Gripped by an urge to see more of the world I went travelling - finally ending up in London. I freelanced for a few years for various agencies and finally took on permanent work where my duties included creating and preparing finished artwork for final print and production.
My role within PRC is to create and produce artwork and to follow its progress through to the final stages of print and production. Work would include setting up brochures, leaflets, exhibition stands and adverts for print in various media.
Working with a quality team I believe we can produce creatively inspired work which would fulfil both our and our clients’ expectations.
Boss of Bosses
by Katherine Taylor, PA to the Executive Team
Basically, I’m bossy! Being a PA to the team means getting things done – so I have to be organised, well prepared and, on occasion, a bit assertive.
After moving to London I went into Recruitment Advertising and over four years moved through the ranks to become the manager of a high volume, fast turnaround team working with education clients, county councils and public notices for Bartlett Scott Edgar Ltd. In 2001 I travelled the world for 19 months and on my return knew I wanted a change in career. The perfect job presented itself – PA to Anne Riley. I have been in the role for two and half years, my background ensured I had knowledge of the industry and admin skills to die for.
My role now is administration support, general office assistance to the whole team and supporting Anne Riley, our Managing Director. I think I have found job satisfaction as part of a team I love in a company with an exciting future.
Confessions of a Macfreak
by Neil Carter, Print & Production Manager
I have been using Apple Macs since 1988. Some people tell me that's not healthy. But what do they know, they're probably PC users.
I started in advertising and design in 1983 as a studio junior, which is just under pond life. After mastering the art of tea-making I quickly moved on to the finer skills of Finished Artist and found myself the in-house expert - hand drawing and cutting "one-off" typefaces and logos for the top 3 advertising agencies in London. After moving through the ranks I became more curious about technology and fell for the Mac in a big way. I spent a couple of years in a small design company taking briefs, designing and artworking, delivering and invoicing. I even managed to take a few clients to the pub where I would brainwash them into buying a Mac.
My role at Penna today is to help realise our clients’ expectations and demands through the Print and Production process, keeping a tight control of quality at every stage of a job’s life and making sure all deadlines are met, as well as being the resident Mac guru. My hopes here are limitless...
How to Pop the Question
by Jonathan Richards, Creative Director
In 2004 I proposed to my wife by pretending to go to New York on business, getting her to follow me out there as a surprise and then meeting her in the window of Bloomingdales with a big sign saying "Husband for sale". We got married in Italy a year later.
My history in recruitment communications goes back to the ancients. I started in the heady days of shoulder pads and Gordon Gecko braces at Stafford Long and Partners, moving from Administrator to DTP manager to Copywriter. From there I went on to be Creative Head at TCS and then Creative Director at Bartlett Scott Edgar managing 14 people. I’ve worked across virtually every media, sector and job, no matter how senior or strange, helping to win awards for Nandos, Ernst & Young, Ujima Housing, Amazon.co.uk, Audit Commission, Kent Police and Burger King.
Creativity is about engaging people. And Creatives are also on Earth to offer possibilities. My role is to open our clients’ minds to new ways of connecting audiences with their vision. I’ll never get tired of challenging viewpoints, using new technologies and creating highly crafted work – from DVD to traditional press. But it all comes down to a passion for making people sit up, be immersed in what’s going on and inspired to change.
Advanced Tank War Strategies
by Lex Frost, Interactive Media Designer
No web designing and programming geek would be complete without playing an online multiplayer strategy game, mine is called Tankmania.
I have eight years experience designing for the web, which includes six within the Recruitment Advertising industry. My skill sets include cutting edge flash design and programming for websites, CD ROMs and a wide range of new media solutions. I have worked as the lead designer on projects for various agencies over the years, picked up a Rad Award for 'The Best Online Campaign' and a SOCPO for 'The Best Recruiters Website'.
I'm here at PRC to enhance our new media based interactive portfolio, win awards, and have a lot of fun along the way!
The Life and Times of a Palace Fan
by Mike Burgneay, Client Services Director
My Dad took me to see Palace when I was nine. Supported them ever since. My daughter Sarah comes with me now so there's now a new generation of Palace fan in the Burgneay family. Why? Good question. There's just something about Palace!
I joined my first agency in 1986. I was responsible for business development, research and planning. Back then, I worked with organisations like Abbey National, Dixons, Amersham Life Sciences, Harrods and London Borough of Islington. I joined Austin Knight in 1990 as Group Account Director. I ran a small client service team and worked with clients such as the MoD, PWC, Debenhams and Alliance & Leicester. I joined Bartlett Merton (latterly BSEL) in 1998 and became Client Service Director in 2001. My team of 25 account handlers worked on clients as diverse as the Housing Corporation, Friends Provident, Borders and Books Etc, National Crime Squad and CAB. I was personally involved with clients such as Essex, Kent and Hampshire County Councils, Mencap, RNIB and Barnardo's.
My role here at PRC is to work with clients at a strategic level to ensure they win their own individual battles in the war for talent. I'm accountable for the quality of service PRC delivers to its clients.
For me, reputation is everything. I'd like Penna Recruitment Communications to be known as the most reliable, inventive and passionate Recruitment Comms partner an organisation could ever work with. The thing is, with the team we have here, I know we can achieve that. Exciting times!
Woody Allen stole my Life
by Gary Seabrook, Art Director
Opening scene: It's Watford. It's 1970. It's raining.
A small boy (me) looks wistfully through his bedroom window, clearly considering weighty matters.
The narrator takes up the story.
"At the age of six, I realised that I was a genius. It was my little secret... The frustration for me was that nothing I thought, or did, or said really evidenced my gift. But I kept faith, safe in the knowledge that one day I would bloom in to the renaissance man that I was destined to be."
And so I waited. And I'm still waiting!
Clearly, what happened was this - Woody Allen stole my life. That's life, not wife! I should have had the Oscars, the laughs, the glamour, the good looks. Never mind.
In the absence of world wide fame, I've spent the last six years forging a career in Recruitment Communications. I joined Penna in November '05 as an Art Director. As a newbie I'm settling in nicely and looking forward to a highly successful time here. I try to inject humour and intelligence in to all the projects I work on.
Just like Woody, I always begin each project with the ambition to create something 'Oscar-winning'.
And some day…