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# Headland Consultancy

Specialists in financial and corporate communications, digital communications, sustainability, strategy, insight and planning, public affairs and campaigning.

## Sitemaps

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## News

- [News](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/)
- [Headland strengthens its senior team with series of promotions ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-strengthens-its-senior-team-with-series-of-promotions/) - Reputation and communications consultancy announces recent client wins including BAE Systems, Darktrace, Mahou San Miguel and Royal Mail LONDON, United Kingdom, 20 November 2024: Headland has announced a number of promotions among its Partners to strengthen the breadth and depth of its senior leadership team and gear up for growth in 2025. Managing Directors Dan
- [Prime Minister’s Former Political Director to join Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/prime-ministers-former-political-director-to-join-headland/) - Keir Starmer’s former Political Director Luke Sullivan is joining Headland, one of the UK’s fastest growing reputation and communication consultancies. Sullivan joins Headland’s senior team following a 16-year career in Westminster, bringing with him a wealth of experience and insight into the operations of government, parliament and the Labour party. Having worked for multiple chief
- [Unveiling our first ever Science Based Targets](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/unveiling-our-first-ever-science-based-targets/) - Last month Headland set out a roadmap for how companies can drive success in a rapidly changing world – The Collaborative Corporate . We demonstrated that if companies can see that they exist as part of a system and prioritise collaboration with others to contribute solutions to the world's ‘Grand Challenges’, they can unlock financial, social
- [Headland appointed to help ‘Uncrap the world’ with Who Gives A Crap](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-appointed-to-help-uncrap-the-world-with-who-gives-a-crap/) - December 2023, London: Headland has been appointed by Who Gives A Crap, the iconic and eco-friendly toilet paper social enterprise that donates 50% of profits to help ensure that everyone in the world has access to clean water and sanitation. Headland will provide strategic thought leadership counsel and campaign activation to the UK senior leadership team,
- [Headland unveils the power of the ‘Collaborative Corporate’](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-unveils-the-power-of-the-collaborative-corporate/) - In an era of rapid and fundamental transition, new research from Headland and leading systems specialist Dr. Ben Shenoy shows how business that partner with peers and third parties can unlock financial, social and environmental value Tackling systemic challenges like the climate crisis, rise of AI and social polarisation in partnership with others can lead
- [Matalan appoints Headland as strategic communications partner supporting their business transformation and beyond ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/matalan-appoints-headland-as-strategic-communications-partner-supporting-their-business-transformation-and-beyond/) - 10 November 2023, London: Headland has been appointed by Matalan, the leading fashion and homeware omni-channel value retailer, for a brief covering financial and corporate communications. The partnership will see the agency provide strategic counsel and day-to-day delivery as Matalan’s new leadership team continues to drive the transformation of the business and return it to
- [Proud to be a Blueprint Ally](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/proud-to-be-a-blueprint-ally/) - Right from the off, Headland was built around a single principle: bring a wide range of perspectives to the advice, strategies and delivery we offer our clients. Not just the many skills and disciplines we deploy and combine, but the backgrounds, hinterlands and unique perspectives of each of our people. Ethnicity is a significant part
- [Headland appoints Pilar Teixeira as Partner to drive further international growth](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-appoints-pilar-teixeira-as-partner-to-drive-further-international-growth/) - Headland has hired Pilar Teixeira as a Partner to help advise its growing international client base on strategic communications and corporate affairs. Pilar joins Headland from Brunswick, where she advised Ibex-35 companies on corporate and financial communications, including M&A and crisis, helping to grow the firm’s business in Spain. A former producer with CNBC Asia,
- [Headland hires Nigel Prideaux as Partner](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-hires-nigel-prideaux-as-partner/) - Headland has hired highly experienced FTSE100 corporate affairs adviser Nigel Prideaux as a Partner. He joins the business on 20 February and will advise Headland’s growing client base on a wide range of reputational and business issues. One of the UK’s foremost reputation and communications advisers, Nigel has enjoyed a 25-year career spanning prominent and
- [Headland announces new leadership structure](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-announces-new-leadership-structure/) - Headland has announced a new senior leadership structure to drive collaboration across the business and foster continued strong growth, effective immediately. Dan Mines becomes Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Chris Salt, who becomes Chair of Headland. In addition, the new structure sees the creation of two new roles. Suzanne Morris becomes Chief Operating Officer, and Dan
- [Join us: Panel event Investor Relations in challenging markets](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-panel-event-investor-relations-in-challenging-markets/) - With constant volatility in the capital markets, and the backdrop of economic and political uncertainty, what must companies do to communicate effectively with investors, and what do investors want to hear? Headland is delighted to host a panel discussion on 2nd February for senior in-house IR professionals. We will be bringing together the views of
- [Headland appoints five new Partners](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-appoints-five-new-partners/) - Headland has hired investor relations and financial communications expert Matt Denham as a Partner and announced the promotion of four existing Directors to Partner following another strong year of growth for the business. Matt joins with immediate effect from Teneo where he was a Managing Director advising clients across a range of sectors on their
- [Headland bolsters tech offering to serve rapid growth](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-bolsters-tech-offering-to-serve-rapid-growth/) - Headland has hired technology specialist, Martin Sparey, to provide additional expertise for its rapidly expanding roster of tech clients. Martin joins this month after eight years at Hotwire, most recently as Head of the B2B Tech comms practice at the agency. His client experience spans a range of B2B technologies from cloud, analytics and infrastructure
- [Headland launches Citizen & Community brand campaigning offer](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-launches-citizen-community-brand-campaigning-offer/) - Headland, the UK’s fastest growing reputation consultancy, has launched a new offer for brands requiring strategic consultancy and campaigns. Expanding on its integrated, multi-stakeholder model, Citizen & Community will enable Headland’s clients to build impactful campaigns that engage the public alongside its existing expertise with corporate, financial, political, regulatory and employee audiences. The offer is
- [Headland recognised as City Agency of the Year by the PRCA](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-recognised-as-city-agency-of-the-year-by-the-prca/) - Headland has been recognised as City Agency of the Year by the PRCA at its annual awards ceremony. This marks the second time the agency has won the award in the last three years, having been recognised in 2019 as well. In total, Headland has now been awarded Agency of the Year seven times since
- [Headland strengthens senior team](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-strengthens-senior-team/) - Headland has added to its senior ranks with the recruitment of two new partners and a CFO to support its continued growth as it goes from strength to strength. Jack Doyle joins after two years in 10 Downing Street where he was Director of Communications, a senior adviser to the Prime Minister, political spokesperson and
- [Headland wins Agency of the Year at Corp Comms magazine awards](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-wins-agency-of-the-year-at-corp-comms-magazine-awards/) - Headland has been recognised for the third time in a row as Agency of the Year at the annual Corp Comms Awards. This recognition is different to most awards as in-house communications teams across the industry are asked to vote for agencies based on a number of criteria, as opposed to a more traditional judging
- [Jill Easterbrook joins Headland as Non-Executive Chair](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/jill-easterbrook-joins-headland-as-non-executive-chair/) - London, 4th August 2021: Headland, the London-based agency specialising in financial PR, corporate reputation, public affairs and campaigning, has welcomed Jill Easterbrook as Non-Executive Chair following the firm’s recent investment from LDC. A senior executive with expertise in strategy and retail, Jill will chair Headland’s Investment Board which comprises two representatives from LDC alongside Headland
- [HEADLAND HIRES TWO NEW DIRECTORS, PROMOTES TOM BAGE TO PARTNER](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-hires-two-new-directors-promotes-tom-bage-to-partner/) - Headland has appointed two new Directors and promoted Tom Bage to Partner as the firm continues to grow and diversify its offer. Jo White is a Brand and campaigning specialist and Will Smith is a Financial PR and capital markets expert. Jo brings twenty years of rounded campaign and brand experience with a strong emphasis
- [Headland welcomes investment partner LDC](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-welcomes-investment-partner-ldc/) - We are delighted to announce we have secured a minority investment from LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group. As a leading private equity business, known for supporting the growth of mid-market companies, LDC will be a fantastic investment partner. They will enable us to further broaden and deepen our consultancy capabilities, accelerate
- [Headland named ‘Best PA Agency’ at the PRWeek CCPA](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-named-best-public-affairs-agency-in-the-inaugural-prweek-uk-corporate-city-public-affairs-awards/) - January 2021 is off to a flying start, with an agency award win for the Public Affairs team at Headland. At the inaugural PRWeek UK Corporate, City & Public Affairs Awards last week, they were awarded ‘Best Public Affairs Agency’. Beating off competition from Blakeney, Engine MHP, FTI Consulting & Interel Consulting UK, the win
- [Headland appoints Matt Horrocks as Head of Research](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-appoints-matt-horrocks-as-head-of-research/) - Headland has hired Matt Horrocks, to take up the newly created position of Head of Research. He will build on Headland’s existing research capabilities, coordinating the company’s team of researchers and analysts, as well as developing a primary research offer, as Headland looks to expand its evidence-based approach for clients. Matt brings over a decade
- [Headland promotes Ben Mascall to Partner and makes further new hires](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-promotes-ben-mascall-to-partner-and-makes-further-new-hires/) - Headland has promoted Ben Mascall to become Partner at the firm. The former head of strategic communications at 10 Downing Street joined Headland in 2018 and was recently seconded to the Conservative Party as Co-Director of Communications during the 2019 General Election. Ben joined Headland after spending most of the previous decade working at the
- [Business for Nature hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/business-for-nature-hires-headland/) - Business for Nature is a global coalition of influential organisations and forward-thinking businesses whose aim is to amplify the business voice calling for governments to reverse nature loss and demonstrate business action on nature. The NGO has appointed Headland to develop a global campaign to increase business advocacy for policy action. The campaign will be launched
- [TheCityUK appoints Headland for wide-ranging PR brief](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/thecityuk-appoints-headland-for-wide-ranging-pr-brief/) - 27 February 2020: Headland has been hired by the leading industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services, TheCityUK, to advise on its corporate communications. Beginning from January, Headland’s brief is to advise and assist TheCityUK as it champions and supports the long-term success and competitiveness of the UK-based financial and related professional services
- [Simon Jones joins Headland to lead infrastructure offer](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/simon-jones-joins-headland-to-lead-infrastructure-offer/) - Headland has made its latest significant hire with the appointment of Simon Jones as a Partner. He joins with immediate effect and will focus on work across the infrastructure, transport and engineering sectors. Simon has enjoyed a highly successful career over two decades, working in industry and at the highest levels of government. He was
- [Northzone appoints Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/northzone-appoints-headland/) - Headland has been appointed by Northzone, the early stage VC fund, to provide PR support and build its brand as the firm enters a new stage in its development and growth. Northzone is one of the longest standing and most successful venture firms in Europe. Launched in 1996, it is known for having backed Lastminute.com,
- [Britain's Best Financial and Corporate Agency](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/britains-best-financial-and-corporate-agency/) - Headland has been named best Financial, and also best Corporate agency of the year by CorpComms magazine at its 2019 awards. Headland’s work for Crypto UK was also named the best public affairs campaign of the year. Headland also won City Agency of the Year at the 2019 PRCA City & Financial Awards earlier in
- [Former Unilever sustainability chief Sue Garrard partners with Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/former-unilever-sustainability-chief-sue-garrard-partners-with-headland/) - Headland has announced a collaboration with Sue Garrard, former Unilever sustainability chief, to create a combined sustainability consultancy and communications offer for large organisations seeking to develop and communicate commercially-aligned sustainability strategies. Sue joins as an Associate and will add to Headland’s sustainability communications expertise built up through its work with multiple clients across key
- [Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) appoints Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/hong-kong-exchanges-and-clearing-hkex-appoints-headland/) - Headland has been appointed to support Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), in relation to their proposed acquisition of London Stock Exchange Group. The Headland team, which has been advising HKEX for several weeks, is led by Partners Susanna Voyle, Stephen Malthouse, Ed Young and Mike Smith. The brief covers strategic communications advice and support,
- [Headland hires Brexit Secretary’s special adviser](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-hires-brexit-secretarys-special-adviser/) - Headland has hired Kenny Ferguson as an Associate Director. He joins with immediate effect from his role as Special Adviser to Stephen Barclay MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU). Before DExEU, Kenny served as the Chief Press Officer for Brexit and the Economy in No. 10 Downing Street.
- [The 2020 Headland Trainee Programme is now open](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-trainee-programme-2020/) - https://vimeo.com/374647096 Headland was built to challenge convention. Since 2012, we have grown a purpose-built team of communications specialists with a truly rounded approach to reputation management. We never take an old solution out of the box, use a fixed template or predetermined team. Our clients receive a nimble, purpose-built combination of specialists in financial and corporate
- [Headland hires Susanna Voyle, promotes Toby Pellew](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-hires-susanna-voyle-promotes-toby-pellew/) - Headland has appointed two new partners to the firm as it continues its rapid growth. Susanna Voyle joins Headland with more than 25 years of experience across capital markets, corporate advisory, reputation management, crisis and issues management and journalism. Most recently, she was a Partner at Tulchan for 15 years, advising a wide range of
- [Lime gives Headland the green light](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/lime-gives-headland-green-light/) - Lime, the micro-mobility company most famous for dockless e-bikes and e-scooters, has appointed Headland to a brief covering political engagement, public affairs and campaigns, following a competitive pitch process. Founded in January 2017 and headquartered in San Francisco, Lime offers a range of zero-emission options in more than 100 locations worldwide. Having launched in the UK in
- [Jack Smith joins Headland from Labour HQ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/jack-smith-joins-headland-labour-hq/) - Headland has hired Jack Smith, a senior adviser to the Labour Party, to further strengthen its data, insight and public affairs credentials. He joins Headland with immediate effect from his role as a senior adviser on elections and platform planning at Labour HQ. For the past two years, Jack was focused on strategic planning, and
- [TheCityUK hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/thecityuk-hires-headland/) - TheCityUK has appointed Headland to advise on public affairs following a competitive pitch process. Established in 2010, TheCityUK is the leading industry-led body representing the UK-based financial and related professional services industry. Beginning in December, Headland’s brief is to advise and assist TheCityUK as it promotes policies that drive competitiveness, support job creation and ensure
- [Pret A Manger hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/pret-manger-hires-headland/) - Headland has been appointed by Pret A Manger to advise on its corporate communications and public affairs. The brief includes senior communications counsel and advice, corporate PR, public affairs and press office support. Headland will be working closely with Tovera Consulting, who have been appointed to lead a programme of stakeholder research and insights for
- [Join Headland's Graduate programme](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/join-headlands-graduate-programme/) - Headland is the UK’s fastest-growing communications agency and was recently crowned Corporate Communication’s Corporate Agency of the Year as voted for by clients. We work with some of the world’s largest companies across most sectors and, as we continue to grow, we are looking for more talented, ambitious graduates to join us. We want people with
- [Britain's best Corporate agency](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/britains-best-corporate-agency/) - Headland has been named Corporate PR agency of the year by CorpComms magazine at its 2018 awards. The award, collected at a ceremony in London, follows Headland being named as Corporate Consultancy of the Year by the Holmes Report earlier in 2018. Headland also won an award for its work supporting Toys "R" Us during
- [Jane Hadden and Lindsay Dunford join Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/jane-hadden-lindsay-dunford-join-headland/) - Headland has made two senior hires that further strengthen its advisory capabilities for clients. Highly experienced leadership communications consultant Jane Hadden joins the firm as a Partner. For the past eight years, she has prepared CEOs and senior executives for their most important moments of communication, including market announcements and moments of major change, select
- [Headland welcomes Rob Alexander](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-welcomes-rob-alexander/) - Headland has hired Rob Alexander as a Partner. He will advise a broad range of the agency’s clients on strategic planning, campaign development and execution. Rob has spent the past two years as a Partner at Brunswick, developing campaigns for the likes of Barclays, BHP and BT. Prior to Brunswick, he was Global Planning Director
- [Charles Russell Speechlys hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/charles-russell-speechlys-hires-headland/) - Headland has been hired by Charles Russell Speechlys, an international law firm with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong. The brief spans senior communications advice, press office support across the firm’s priority sector groups, and corporate PR. Charles Russell Speechlys is a leading advisor to growth and family businesses, wealth
- [Ben Mascall joins Headland from Downing Street](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/no-10s-ben-mascall-joins-headland/) - Headland has hired Ben Mascall, currently head of strategic communications at 10 Downing Street. He joins the firm in September as a Director. Ben took up his current role at Number 10 two years ago. As controller of the Government’s communications “grid”, he sets the direction for the timing of all government activity, policy announcements
- [Headland wins at the Sabre Awards](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/2768-2/) - Headland has been named Corporate Consultancy of the Year by the Holmes Report's EMEA Sabre awards. The award, collected in Amsterdam, follows the recent publication of PR Week's Top 150 which named Headland as one of Britain's fastest growing agencies. During 2017, revenues increased by more than 50%, thanks in part to mandates from new
- [Mike Smith and Ed Young join Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/mike-smith-ed-young-join-headland/) - Headland has appointed two senior consultants with distinguished careers in the agency’s heartland of financial, corporate and political communications. Mike Smith joins as Partner and Ed Young as Director. Most recently a senior partner at Brunswick, Mike’s career spans nearly 40 years in communications consultancy and journalism. His two stints at Brunswick, the second of
- [Headland launches CryptoUK trade body](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-launches-cryptouk-trade-body/) - Headland appointed by leading cryptocurrency companies to provide public affairs services to new industry trade body. CryptoUK is the UK’s first self-regulatory trade body for the cryptocurrency industry. Headland will support engagement with government and regulators to develop a blueprint for future regulation. Headland has been appointed to provide public affairs and media relations services
- [Headland scoops two financial and corporate awards](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-scoops-two-awards/) - Headland has picked up two further awards for its work with UBS Wealth Management and McColl’s. The recent PRCA City and Financial Awards named Headland's work on UBS's Billionaires report as their Best Corporate Brand campaign. It follows a win in November at the Corp Comms Awards for Best City Communications for McColl's. Launched in
- [Headland hires Tom Bage and Davina Hagan](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-hires-tom-bage-davina-hagan/) - Headland has hired experienced communications and marketing professional, Tom Bage, and BBC News producer, Davina Hagan, to its growing team. Tom Bage joins as a Director from clean technology start-up bio-bean, where he was Head of Marketing and Communications. Prior to this, Tom was Director of Communications at the global campaigning platform Change.org, where he
- [Stephen Malthouse joins Headland as Partner](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/stephen-malthouse-joins-headland-partner/) - Headland has appointed senior financial communications practitioner Stephen Malthouse as a Partner. He joins from Tulchan, where he was a partner and advised FTSE100 and FTSE250 clients from a range of sectors on financial communications and crisis management. He spent the past 14 years at the firm, joining after a brief period in investment banking.
- [Mulberry hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/mulberry-hires-head/) - Headland has been hired by British luxury fashion brand, Mulberry, to advise on financial and corporate communications. The company, which is AIM listed, was established in 1971 in Somerset. From a strong UK following, Mulberry’s strategy is to grow as a global luxury lifestyle brand, focusing on product innovation and superior customer experience. The brand
- [Skills in the City](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/skills-in-the-city/) - For many people, London’s Square Mile epitomises wealth inequality in the UK. Despite being home to some of the richest financial institutions in the world, it is set against areas of deprivation and disadvantage. Even with a concerted effort in recent years to shake off an ‘old boys’ club image’, the City workforce is still
- [Lidl UK hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/lidl-uk-hires-headland/) - Headland has been appointed by Lidl UK, the rapidly growing supermarket chain, to advise the business on a wide-ranging brief that will span corporate and financial PR, public affairs, senior communications advice and press office support. Lidl UK overtook Waitrose to become the UK's seventh largest grocer in August this year and is Britain’s fastest-growing
- [Three UK hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/three-uk-hires-headland/) - Headland has been appointed by Three UK, the mobile network most recommended by consumers, to advise on corporate and financial communications. The brief spans senior communications advice, press office support, corporate and financial PR and campaigns. Since its launch in 2003, Three has reinvented the rules of the market to make the mobile experience better
- [Cory Riverside Energy hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/cory-riverside-energy-hires-headland/) - Headland has been appointed by Cory Riverside Energy, one of the UK’s leading resource management, recycling and energy recovery companies, to advise on corporate and financial communications. The broad brief spans senior communications advice, press office support, corporate and financial PR, digital advisory and public affairs consultancy. Cory operates the Riverside Resource Recovery Energy from
- [Headland makes seven hires](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-makes-seven-hires/) - Independent financial and corporate communications consultancy, Headland, has appointed seven new consultants. The latest new arrivals increase the agency headcount to 55, driven by both significant organic growth and major new client wins. The hires reflect Headland’s focus on offering integrated advisory services, encompassing creative brand campaigning, reputation management, public affairs and financial communications: Carley
- [Headland appointed by Paragon Group](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-appointed-by-paragon-group/) - Headland has been hired by Paragon Group, the specialist lender and banking group, to advise on corporate and financial communications. Paragon was founded in 1985 and is a constituent of the FTSE 250. With a strong heritage in specialist mortgage lending, the company has been diversifying its business model in recent years to take advantage
- [Andy Rivett-Carnac joins Headland as Partner](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/andy-rivett-carnac-joins-headland-as-partner/) - Headland has appointed senior communications practitioner and digital strategist Andy Rivett-Carnac, as a Partner. Andy joins Headland from Brunswick where he was a partner focused on advising telecoms, media, technology and energy companies on a range of financial communications and reputation management issues. He was also Brunswick’s senior digital consultant in the UK, leading the
- [eToro hires Headland](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/etoro-hires-headland/) - Headland has been hired by eToro, the online trading and investment platform, following a competitive pitch process. Founded in 2007, eToro is a global fintech leader with 6 million users across 140 countries. The successful, global trading platform is now moving into the investment space with a vision to completely remake the entire investment process.
- [Headland picks up two top awards](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-picks-up-two-top-awards/) - Headland has picked up two high profile awards including an international IPRA Golden Award for its work with Sir David Attenborough around the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris at the end of last year. The campaign saw Attenborough spearhead a major international media push in the run-up to and during the Paris conference, helping to secure
- [Headland helps Attenborough gain climate change breakthrough](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/news/headland-helps-attenborough-gain-climate-change-breakthrough/) - Final call for the Eurostar check-in to Paris and there’s still no sign of Sir David Attenborough. It’s the eve of the Paris climate change summit and the 89 year old broadcasting legend is spearheading a renewable energy campaign called The Global Apollo Programme. Headland has lined up the world’s media – including the BBC, CNN, Al

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## Insights

- [Still listening: what radio's enduring popularity tells us about good communication](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/still-listening-what-radios-enduring-popularity-tells-us-about-good-communication/) - Headland Director explores why radio still connects with audiences and what its enduring popularity can teach leaders about effective communication.
- [Headland strengthens private capital offer with hiring of Alex Jones](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headland-strengthens-private-capital-offer-with-hiring-of-alex-jones/) - Headland has appointed Alex Jones (pictured)as a partner to lead and expand its private capital offer. The consultancy said his hiring comes as it continues to expand its private capital offer following the acquisition of corporate comms agency Bladonmore in 2025. According to Headland, the firms have a combined client base of over 40 private capital
- [Headland appoints Janine Lloyd-Jones to strengthen crisis, risk and strategic communications advisory offer](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headland-strengthens-crisis-risk-and-strategic-communications-advisory-offer-with-appointment-of-janine-lloyd-jones/) - Headland has appointed Janine Lloyd-Jones as Partner, strengthening the firm’s crisis, risk and strategic communications capabilities as the firm builds a broader, more international offer for clients. Janine joins from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), where she was Director of Communication and a member of the Board and Executive Committee, leading a global function of over
- [The Net Zero debate shows what really drives engagement on X](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-net-zero-debate-shows-what-really-drives-engagement-on-x/) - Analysis of the net zero debate reveals how engagement on X is driven less by agreement and more by disagreement, challenge and amplification.
- [Placeholder capitalism: Purpose, paused](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/placeholder-capitalism-purpose-paused/) - Corporate purpose isn’t dead. It’s evolving. As political risk, AI and economic pressure rise, companies are now entering a new era of placeholder capitalism
- [Headland bolsters leadership team with appointment of Jim Houghton as Chief Financial Officer](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headland-bolsters-leadership-team-with-appointment-of-jim-houghton-as-chief-financial-officer/) - Headland, the reputation and communications consultancy, today announces the appointment of Jim Houghton as Chief Financial Officer. Jim will lead Headland’s financial strategy as the business continues to scale its client offer and international capabilities. Jim brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic finance, M&A and business growth, with a track record of
- [Lights! Camera! Management lessons from the silver screen ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/lights-camera-management-lessons-from-the-silver-screen/) - What can business leaders learn from films like Margin Call and The Big Short? Ben Wright explores leadership lessons hidden in Hollywood.
- [COP30 and the next phase of climate action: What Belém teaches us about the decade ahead](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/cop30-and-the-next-phase-of-climate-action/) - COP30 in Belém was billed as the ‘COP of truth’ - a test of whether global cooperation on climate could endure in an era of political division and fiscal constraint. Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, and with the world on track to exceed 1.5°C, the summit opened with a sobering assessment: progress remains
- [International Women's Day](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/international-womens-day/) - This year’s International Women’s Day theme offered a moment to reflect on the role women play in actively shaping one another’s growth and confidence.
- [Gorton and Denton: the by-election that breaks Labour’s spell](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/gorton-and-denton-the-by-election-that-breaks-labours-spell/) - An in-depth analysis of the Gorton and Denton by-election, exploring Labour’s collapse, the Greens’ rise and the implications for UK political strategy.
- [Good Business Week: Raising the Bar …Together](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/good-business-week-raising-the-bar-together/) - This week is Good Business Week, designed to raise awareness of why good business matters and to celebrate those who are putting this into practice in the way they treat their stakeholders. As part of our annual campaign, we convened a group of large national and regional companies in York in partnership with Headland, encouraging
- [2025: how was it for you? Trends, takeaways and standout moments from the year in communications.  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/2025-how-was-it-for-you-trends-takeaways-and-standout-moments-from-the-year-in-communications/) - From Trump and tech power to political U-turns and platform resilience, Headland experts reflect on what shaped communications in 2025.
- [Q&A with Ben Metz, The Chancery Lane Project](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/qa-with-ben-metz/) - Our co-lead of Climate & Nature, Tom Lawless, speaks to Ben Metz, Executive Director of The Chancery Lane Project, about how the law is scaling climate solutions and the opportunities emerging from the political backlash against climate action. Tell us about The Chancery Lane Project – what does it do and why does it matter?
- [The optics of aspiration in wealth management ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/optics-of-aspiration-in-wealth-management/) - As wealth managers pivot from serving the ultra-rich to targeting the mass affluent, communications must evolve.
- [Headland acquires Bladonmore to broaden advisory offer and international reach](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headland-acquires-bladonmore-to-broaden-advisory-offer-and-international-reach/) - Left to right: Richard Rivlin (Bladonmore Founder & Chair), Richard Carpenter (Bladonmore CEO), Suzanne Morris (Headland COO), Dan Mines (Headland CEO). Image Credits: Peter Schiazza Photography.
- [Quietly going it alone on sustainability will end in failure ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/quietly-going-it-alone-on-sustainability-will-end-in-failure/) - No company is an island. Discover why acting alone on climate and nature leaves businesses exposed - and how collaboration drives real resilience.
- [Reflections from New York Climate Week: breaking consensus, building a national climate conversation](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/reflections-from-new-york-climate-week/) - At New York Climate Week, optimism clashed with political division. While businesses push forward on the transition, politics risks stalling progress.
- [Getting reputation reporting right ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/getting-reputation-reporting-right/) - Delivering impactful reputational reporting isn’t simple. Discover how businesses can move towards better measurement and deliver impact.
- [A new chapter: advice to Headland trainees from the class of ‘24 ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-new-chapter-advice-to-headland-trainees-from-the-class-of-24/) - From staying curious to developing trust, last year’s Headland trainees offer advice to the class of 2025 as they begin their careers.
- [Don’t Tell Me Climate Action Isn’t Happening](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/dont-tell-me-climate-action-isnt-happening/) - “Don’t tell me climate action isn’t happening” is the rallying cry of this year’s London Climate Action Week. It’s a core message for keynote speakers, it’s appearing in socials, in the press, and can be spotted around London on billboards at Piccadilly Circus, Westfield, and Hammersmith Broadway. It’s the rallying cry of a narrative we’re
- [Five years, five lessons: What we’ve learned from running TSB’s first Responsible Business Plan ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/five-years-five-lessons-what-weve-learned-from-running-tsbs-first-responsible-business-plan/) - July 2020 isn’t a time many people look back on with great fondness. We were living through the peak of the pandemic and trying to safely support people and their communities in an incredibly anxious period, while following what seemed like ever-changing rules. In the midst of all this, we at TSB launched our responsible
- [Bye-bye Business, hello Money, as media appetite shifts ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/bye-bye-business-hello-money-as-media-appetite-shifts/) - The media is shifting from business to personal finance, but what does that mean for corporate comms and businesses today
- [Shining some light on the world of GEO (generative engine optimisation).](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/shining-some-light-on-the-world-of-geo-generative-engine-optimisation/) - Move over SEO, there’s a new acronym-based optimisation kid on the block. 2025 has introduced corporate affairs teams to GEO: generative engine optimisation. GEO aims to provide a framework for helping brands and businesses monitor and manage their reputations within generative AI platforms like ChatGPT and Copilot. The search landscape has been in flux for
- [The human has returned to the AI conversation](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-human-has-returned-to-the-ai-conversation/) - It seems that every conference is now an AI conference. This was borne out at the summer’s flagship London events - the inaugural SXSW London and London Tech Week – where dozens of panels and keynotes were dedicated to the subject. Speakers ranged from those building and deploying AI to those thinking deeply about its
- [SXSW review: How to not be the corporate that kills the vibe  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sxsw-review-how-to-not-be-the-corporate-that-kills-the-vibe/) - SXSW London 2025 brought Austin’s creative energy to Shoreditch. Discover what worked, what didn’t, and top tips for brands and speakers at major events.
- [Video rules them all: LinkedIn’s new recipe for success  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/video-rules-them-all-linkedins-new-recipe-for-success/) - Discover why native video is outperforming other content on LinkedIn and how to adapt your strategy for maximum reach.
- [Competition and the CMA: A tumultuous first half of the year ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/competition-and-the-cma-a-tumultuous-first-half-of-the-year/) - A shifting CMA approach, new government pressure, and the 2025 Strategic Steer reshape the UK merger control and M&A landscape.
- [Tariffs: the voter view](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/tariffs-the-voter-view/) - Reform leaning voters open to the idea of a broad deal with the EU International negotiations and the potential for economic turmoil continue in response to President Trump’s ever evolving tariffs pronouncements. The UK government has a series of tough choices to make, from what to give away to get trade deals with the world’s
- [Partnership in Practice: How Labour can deliver on mission-driven government  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/partnership-in-practice-how-labour-can-deliver-on-mission-driven-government/) - After several years of political stasis, the recent General Election has delivered the biggest change to the UK’s political landscape for a generation and with it, a fundamental shift in how business will engage with policy makers moving forward. Labour has long spoken about how ‘mission-driven government’ will help deliver higher levels of economic growth
- [As we approach International Women’s Day, we asked six Headlanders to think and write about the woman that has inspired them most in their career. ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/international-womens-day-2025/) - Aisha Ali: The friend who supports friends When I moved to London, I didn’t just gain a new city – I gained Maahwish Mirza. She was my first friend here and from the moment we met I knew she was someone special. A successful banker with a heart bigger than any corporate title, Maahwish isn’t
- [From Sixth Form to PR: My Apprenticeship Experience ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/from-sixth-form-to-pr-my-apprenticeship-experience/) - It’s three months since I started my apprenticeship with Headland and I’m enjoying every moment, but until very recently this is not where I had expected to be.
- [Private credit. A force for good, or just misunderstood? ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/private-credit-a-force-for-good-or-just-misunderstood/) - Private credit's rapid growth brings both opportunity and scrutiny. Explore its reputation, market potential, and why transparency is key to its future.
- [New year, old meta - what Zuckerberg’s changes mean for businesses](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/new-year-old-meta-what-zuckerbergs-changes-mean-for-businesses/) - In case you missed it, in a five minute video, Zuck announced plans for Meta to get back to its “roots” of free expression and freedom of speech. This includes removing all fact-checking in the US, in favour of X-style community notes. Politics, previously supressed in favour of “meaningful interactions”, will make a comeback (if
- [A nostalgic Noël for brands – but festive feelings are fleeting ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-nostalgic-noel-for-brands-but-festive-feelings-are-fleeting/) - So here it is, Merry Xmas. The festive period brings with it some of the most anticipated ads of the year, and 2024 is no exception. At least, not if you work in PR, Marketing or retail trade media. Like it or not, festive advertising discourse is ‘a thing’ – so here is our take
- [Why I chose PR, and why I chose Headland  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/why-i-chose-pr-and-why-i-chose-headland/) - When I first started at Headland as a trainee in September, there were so many questions whizzing about my head, “What on earth have got myself into?” being the most obvious. Other people had questions for me too, "why did you choose PR?” and “why did you choose Headland?”. Studying politics, PR had been one of
- [LinkedIn is the new home of political engagement ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/linkedin-is-the-new-home-of-political-engagement/) - Politicians are more engaged with LinkedIn than ever and nowhere was this more evident than with the most recent Budget announcement. Content from Britain’s first female Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, received substantially higher levels of engagement than her predecessor.Reeves’ main Budget post, when directly compared to Jeremy Hunt’s spring announcement, received over 3,000 more reactions, almost 800% more
- [Shifting sands: The instability shaping the UK’s media landscape ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/shifting-sands-the-instability-shaping-the-uks-media-landscape/) - The UK’s media landscape feels as unstable now as it has been in a very long time. The BBC recently cut its existing news budget by 4%, axing 130 jobs and cancelling HARDtalk, BBC Click, and BBC Asian Network’s bespoke news service (among others). The Guardian is in talks to sell The Observer to Tortoise
- [Communication, collaboration and confidence: three key learnings from my apprenticeship ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/communication-collaboration-and-confidence-three-key-learnings-from-my-apprenticeship/) - For many September is the ‘new January’ – a time for seeking new experiences and challenges after the summer holidays are over. That was definitely the case for me, when I joined Headland’s apprenticeship scheme in the autumn of 2022, having completed my A Levels, ready to embark on my career in public relations. Commuting
- [What does business in the North of England really want from government?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-does-business-in-the-north-of-england-really-want-from-government/) - Sixteen percent. That’s the proportion of the people in the North of England who feel business will fare well over the next few years in their region according to research Headland ran last week. And in London and the South East? As is now wearily familiar, prospects look brighter. But what about business itself? How do
- [AI as a flattening force: Lessons from my internship on embracing the future of work ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/ai-as-a-flattening-force-lessons-from-my-internship-on-embracing-the-future-of-work/) - By Headland Intern Mia Wu Entering the world of work alongside the rise of AI is both exciting and unsettling. Over the course of my eight-week internship at Headland, I’ve been having conversations with my colleagues about how AI is going to impact the job market, both within communications and across different sectors. The exciting
- [Taylor Swift has manufactured the ultimate reputational revival – businesses, take note ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/taylor-swift-has-manufactured-the-ultimate-reputational-revival-businesses-take-note/) - While Charli XCX’s ‘brat girl summer’ may be having a moment, it’s Taylor Swift who continues to dominate both cultural conversations and the music industry. With three albums released over the last 13 months, being named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year 2023 and a 152-show global tour worth more than $1 billion, you’d be
- [Inside Labour’s election winning machine - and what business can learn from it](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/inside-labours-election-winning-machine-and-what-business-can-learn-from-it/) - The General Election, and the advent of a new Labour Government has produced reams of commentary on ‘what business could expect’ from Labour and ‘how to engage effectively’ with Labour. Less, however, have been written about what business can learn from Labour, and in particular, the way it went about winning its historic victory earlier
- [How the Lib Dems became the third party in British politics once again ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/how-the-lib-dems-became-the-third-party-in-british-politics-once-again/) - After he became the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the late Paddy Ashdown used to joke that the party’s vote share was only indicated by an asterisk on polls – it was that low. Through a relentless focus on building up a councillor base and winning by-elections, Paddy made the Lib Dems a force to
- [Southgate’s leadership lessons for Starmer ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/southgates-leadership-lessons-for-starmer/) - The question facing Sir Keir Starmer is the one that Gareth Southgate never quite answered: how do you get the most out of the Number 10 role? The parallels with the political situation Starmer has inherited and that faced by Southgate 8 years ago don’t stop there.How do you reverse the countrys’ fortunes, recover national pride
- [From ballots to brands: Digital lessons from the UK General Election campaign for corporate communications ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/from-ballots-to-brands-digital-lessons-from-the-uk-general-election-campaign-for-corporate-communications/) - In the aftermath of the UK's recent General Election, as the campaign leaflets are packed away and a new government settles in, the digital strategies employed by political parties offer a treasure trove of insights for corporate communications teams. One of the key themes from 2024 was the importance of speaking to people on their
- [Engage your stakeholders with LinkedIn ads in five steps ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/engage-your-stakeholders-with-linkedin-ads-in-five-steps/) - As the comms channel mix expands, the need for robust, multi-channel communication strategies to reach audiences has never been greater. With its billion members globally, including journalists, influencers, policymakers and industry or sector opinion formers, LinkedIn has emerged as the go-to platform for corporate social media engagement. However, LinkedIn is much more than just a
- [Even without Vaughan Gething, the job of governing Wales isn’t going to get any easier for Welsh Labour ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/even-without-vaughan-gething-the-job-of-governing-wales-isnt-going-to-get-any-easier-for-welsh-labour/) - The Welsh First Minister’s decision to accept a £200,000 donation from a company whose owner had been convicted of environmental crimes has triggered a series of events in Wales that has put his premiership in peril before it really got going. Perhaps more crucially, it has put in motion events that have changed the parliamentary
- [Climate: the crucial election issue nobody’s talking about  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/climate-the-crucial-election-issue-nobodys-talking-about/) - The cost-of-living continues to be the most important issue for British voters ahead of the General Election. Latest polling shows the environment and climate change in fifth place – behind health, the economy and immigration, but ahead of traditionally significant issues like crime and education – with the majority of people wanting political parties to
- [The end of the corporate rainbow?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-end-of-the-corporate-rainbow/) - It’s Pride month, which means graphic design departments are digging out their rainbow-coloured logos and dreaming up empowering slogans, all in the name of support and solidarity for the LGBTQ+ community. Only this year, they’re not. Commentators suggest companies have significantly pulled back on activity around Pride this year, bucking a trend that has cemented
- [Peer-ing into the future ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/peer-ing-into-the-future/) - Headland hosts one of Britain’s best pollsters, Lord Hayward Having a conversation with an eminent pollster on the polling day of a byelection is a dream for most political junkies. Here at Headland we were lucky enough to get the chance to do so when one of Britain’s most prominent psephologists, Lord Hayward, joined us
- [Supermarkets’ reputations: collaborative action is not bananas  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/supermarkets-reputations-collaborative-action-is-not-bananas/) - The UK’s supermarket retail sector is intensely competitive. Winning slivers of market share, gains in like-for-like sales, and unearthing reputation and brand advantage, determines both real and perceived success. There are good reasons for this fierce culture of competition. The last thing customers need during a cost-of-living crisis are big food giants coming together to
- [‘Genny Lec’ social strategy: memes to an end?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/genny-lec-social-strategy-memes-to-an-end/) - It’s probably too early to properly define the narrative of the current General Election; we’ll need a few more milkshakes for it to properly be “the milkshake election”. Our view is that 2024 is already shaping up to be the “meme election”. Memes work because they deliver a message with humour and relatability, often at
- [Skills I learnt from Headland’s apprenticeship scheme   ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/skills-i-learnt-from-headlands-apprenticeship-scheme/) - Deciding to apply for Headland’s apprenticeship scheme as a school leaver in October 2022 was not a decision I made lightly. I was apprehensive to enter the working world at age 18 and was originally tempted to follow the rest of my peers in attending university. However, looking back, hitting send on that application form
- [Why TV debates matter - and could change the course of the election](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/why-tv-debates-matter-and-could-change-the-course-of-the-election/) - It’s less than two weeks since Rishi Sunak stood in the rain in Downing Street and announced that a General Election would be held earlier than expected on July 4th. Today, Mr Sunak and the man challenging him to be Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, will go head-to-head in the first live TV debate of
- [Talking tech: Labour and the startup ecosystem](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/talking-tech-labour-and-the-startup-ecosystem/) - Sound familiar? A political party, out of office for more than a decade, seeks power promising to build a leading global economy in science, technology and innovation. This isn’t a description of 2024, but 2010, when – alongside this lofty pledge - the Conservative manifesto included case studies on Silicon Valley and the technology sectors
- [Labour's Battlegrounds - Headland launches interactive map of Labour candidates and what's needed to win](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/labours-battlegrounds-headland-launches-interactive-map-of-labour-candidates-and-whats-needed-to-win/) - Although Labour has been leaps and bounds ahead in the polls, we shouldn’t underestimate the scale of the challenge Keir Starmer is taking on. His party needs a national swing of over 12% to win with even a small majority. That’s a record not even accomplished by Tony Blair. Nonetheless, Labour is well-prepared, with candidates
- [Public engagement is missing from your sustainability strategy](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/public-engagement-is-missing-from-your-sustainability-strategy/) - Each year, the polling company IPSOS publishes its Earth Day report, which explores global changing attitudes to the climate crisis, who people think should be leading on solutions, and what actions people are willing to take. Reading it was my first experience of doomscrolling a PDF. Some of the most worrying findings include: Conviction on
- [Empowering women: Lessons from Nancy Best ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/empowering-women-lessons-from-nancy-best/) - In celebration of International Women’s Day, Headland had the privilege of a visit from Nancy Best to hear about her journey building online female fitness community, Ladies Who Crunch. Her insightful talk delved into topics ranging from growing something from nothing, to the importance of nurturing self-confidence and resilience through exercise. Here, I've shared the
- [Five things to look out for in the local elections](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/five-things-to-look-out-for-in-the-local-elections/) - Voters will head to the polls on 2nd May for a critical set of local and mayoral elections. Aside from being the last big litmus test of public opinion ahead of the general election, the locals will directly impact the regulatory environment, infrastructure, workforce development, and overall economic conditions in which businesses operate. Ahead of
- [Bringing some sparkle to the unglamorous diamonds](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/bringing-some-sparkle-to-the-unglamorous-diamonds/) - In the Financial Times recently, former Lex writer and current breaking news editor Oliver Ralph wrote an article extolling the virtues of the FTSE 100’s “magnificently unglamorous seven”. Ralph noted how the shares of seven of the index’s less exciting members had performed far better than those of the household names. The group comprised Compass,
- [What you need to know about Climate Transition Plans ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-you-need-to-know-about-climate-transition-plans/) - Businesses have done well to get to grips with the acronym soup of sustainability frameworks and disclosure rules, but one of them – Transition Planning – is still relatively unknown despite its increasing importance. The UK Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT) was put together by the UK Treasury to develop good practice guidance for corporate climate
- [#Sambagate and the art of nimble brand comms](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sunak-vs-samba-and-the-art-of-nimble-brand-comms/) - Last week the cries could be heard across WhatsApp groups everywhere as 1000’s of the so-called ‘Samba Community’ considered if they’d need to bin their beloved trainers. In an official Instagram post, the Prime Minister opted to don a pair of box-fresh Adidas Sambas as he looked to promote his new tax policies. As a
- [The delicate dance of English football’s latest gatekeeper ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-delicate-dance-of-english-footballs-latest-gatekeeper/) - The Government's move last week to create an Independent Football Regulator (IFR) was ostensibly to align football governance with core values of fairness, sustainability, and community. But wrapped in the rhetoric of preserving integrity, two motives were clear: safeguarding against the formation of a breakaway league and keeping club ownership structures in check. The European
- [Award season review: A new golden age?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/award-season-review-a-new-golden-age/) - The 2024 award season is finally behind us. As Margot Robbie hangs up her pink ensembles, and Cillian Murphy retires his Oppenheimer acceptance speech, we explore key takeaways from the season - including new-found audiences and platforms for celebrities and brands, and whether we're now back in the golden age of awards. Awards enter their
- [“Smash the Blue Wall” – the Lib Dems have a clear mission ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/smash-the-blue-wall-the-lib-dems-have-a-clear-mission/) - The Liberal Democrats’ Spring Conference in blustery York was a lesson in preparation, focus and expectation management. If you were looking for lots of drama or debate, you were in the wrong place. Always geared more towards activists than the main event in the Autumn, the key message to members over the weekend was stay
- [Decoding TikTok trends: What brands need to know about what we will be eating, drinking & talking about in 2024](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/decoding-tiktok-trends-2024/) - I have a theory that 97% of conversations that start “So, I read this thing the other day [insert fact/anecdote/life hack]” are actually really good TikToks people have watched, such is the breadth and impact of the platform. Whilst I’m sure we can agree the beauty of TikTok is its ability to consistently deliver content
- [Is tech on the way back? A new report from Headland ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/is-tech-on-the-way-back-a-new-report-from-headland/) - DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE The last 18 months have seen significant uncertainty within the tech industry. High interest rates. The cost-of-living crisis. Layoffs. Valuations plummeting. IPOs practically dead in the water. Throw the launch of generative AI into the melting pot and we’ve seen change like never before. But tech has proven itself to be
- [The shifting role of communicators as agents of the transition](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-shifting-role-of-communicators-as-agents-of-the-transition/) - Headland clients and contacts heard last week from Akshat Rathi, leading climate journalist at Bloomberg, following the launch of his new book, Climate Capitalism. He talked optimistically about the people and personalities powering the climate transition – the entrepreneurs, innovators, campaigners and many more. We discussed the challenges companies face in communicating on climate when
- [It don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that (proportional) swing](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/it-dont-mean-a-thing-if-you-aint-got-that-proportional-swing/) - Of all the misquotes, ‘A week is a long time in politics’ is perhaps the most egregiously overused. But this week may well warrant a genuinely worthy deployment of the cliché. On Friday last week, the Labour Party was having its first properly negative coverage for many months off the back of their decision to
- [Crisis of communication: a week to forget for top politicians](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/crisis-of-communication-a-week-to-forget-for-top-politicians/) - Who’s had the worst week? Sunak, Starmer and Biden offer lessons in communication with missteps and mistakes. For politicians, communication is often about control. Sticking rigidly to a script and staying on message. Choosing when and by whom you agree to be interviewed. Planning your announcements with military precision. From Washington D.C. to Westminster, this
- [Curiosity – how it’s enabled acquiring skills for life ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/curiosity-how-its-enabled-acquiring-skills-for-life/) - Curiosity and an eagerness to learn are usually the best mindset one can ask from a person. It drives exploration and discovery which is followed by opportunities to learn - something I knew would always benefit my life – after all, it is a tried-and-true mindset. However, looking back at my three months as an
- [How my apprenticeship has helped me grow ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/how-my-apprenticeship-has-helped-me-grow/) - Before I joined my apprenticeship with Headland, I was inexperienced, unsure of myself and I lacked something I was passionate about. Then I found the opportunity to work at an integrated agency that covered areas of PR I didn’t know existed. As part of the recruitment process, I attended an assessment centre. On this packed
- [Back from the brink? Northern Ireland’s political institutions get back up and running ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/northern-irelands-political-institutions-get-back-up-and-running/) - After a two-year hiatus for Northern Ireland’s political institutions, the Democratic Unionist Party has agreed with the UK Government a package of reforms to trade mechanisms between Great Britain and the province. The agreement clears the way for the restoration of the region’s political institutions, the Executive and the Assembly at Stormont. The deal is
- [Three questions investment trust boards should be asking](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/three-questions-investment-trust-boards-should-be-asking/) - Investment trusts struggled last year with rapid interest rate rises depressing the appeal of dividend yields in relation to bonds while also hitting private equity, real estate and infrastructure assets. Discount rates have widened, with the AIC average at 16.9% to NAV, the largest since 2008. Yet despite the volatility of interest rates and inflation,
- [Reflections on the Collaborative Corporate](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/reflections-on-the-collaborative-corporate/) - Last November we launched the Collaborative Corporate, a report I co-authored with Dan Smith, Managing Director at Headland. The background to the project Together with Headland Co-Founder, Neil Hedges, Dan has been a guest speaker at my postgraduate Corporate Communications course at London School of Economics for several years. Neil and Dan deliver a highly
- [Which way for M&A in 2024? ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/which-way-for-ma-in-2024/) - As the New Year begins in earnest, what will 2024 hold in terms of M&A? Before we look to the future, let’s briefly revisit 2023. It was a subdued year with the challenges of interest rates, inflation and geopolitical tension causing a significant reduction in deal flow across all sectors. However, November and December provided cause
- [Start-ups to saunas: Slush is the sexiest event in the venture capital calendar ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/start-ups-to-saunas-slush-is-the-sexiest-event-in-the-venture-capital-calendar/) - What happens when you bring together thousands of European start-ups and venture capitalists in the heart of Finland? You get Slush – the tech party of the year. It was my first time at Slush in Helsinki. And oh my, it is miles apart from the conferences I’ve attended in the UK. Slush – described as
- [The true meaning of this year’s Christmas ads ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-true-meaning-of-this-years-christmas-ads/) - In the words of Mariah Carey, it’s time. And for many of us, it has been since early November… No sooner than the pumpkins started to turn did the festive lights switch on, the shopfront displays go up and the mega media buy come to fruition. Yes, it’s Christmas ad season. You might say it
- [Can Rishi Sunak Turn Things Around By Christmas?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/can-rishi-sunak-turn-things-around-by-christmas/) - The next three months will be critical in determining the Government’s prospects ahead of next year’s election. Headland Partner and former No10 Director of Communications Jack Doyle analyses the critical moments ahead as both the Tories and Labour go on to election footing. Parliament Returns (Today) The sun is shining as MPs return to Westminster
- [Big business should think small world to cut through with citizens  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/big-business-should-think-small-world-to-cut-through-with-citizens/) - How do you feel about life right now? In the last few years, the world has confronted more ‘grand challenges’ than ever before. We’ve suffered through a pandemic, recorded more extreme weather events and witnessed the start of devastating wars. And here in the UK, we’ve seen three Prime Ministers, seemingly endless political scandals, public
- [What the King’s Speech teaches us about good communication](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-the-kings-speech-teaches-us-about-good-communication/) - Steeped in tradition and surrounded by splendour, the King’s speech is unlike any public speaking engagement most of us are likely to encounter. The monarch delivers the much-trailed address detailing the government’s agenda for a new parliamentary session wearing a crown and elaborate robes to an audience – summoned more than invited – hanging on
- [AI adoption in communications ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/ai-adoption-in-communications/) - The AI Safety Summit, held last week, was a significant event that brought together world leaders and tech executives to discuss the future of AI and its implications for humanity. The summit's central theme revolved around ensuring that AI does not become a tool for unchecked wrongdoing and remains beneficial for humanity. Rishi Sunak, quoting
- [Bringing your authentic self!](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/bringing-your-authentic-self/) - Bringing your authentic self to the workplace, sounds good in theory but how many companies really understand what this means for African heritage employees? Look at the colour, vibrancy and diversity in this image, so many workplaces don’t look like this but why? Now, put aside the dress code, can you tell which aspect of
- [Has your CEO been trolled yet?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/has-your-ceo-been-trolled-yet/) - CEO use of LinkedIn has surged in recent years, as a growing number of leaders have latched onto its value as a communications tool. The social media site provides a direct route to your audience in a way earned media simply doesn’t. It now allows individuals to pay to target specific audiences, in the same
- [Leaders in Sport: A post-match analysis of the annual gathering of sporting execs](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/leaders-in-sport-a-post-match-analysis/) - Two months have passed since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the most successful ever, and its legacy was one of the key themes at the latest Leaders in Sport conference, the annual event which brings together the great and the good from the sports industry. Representatives from clubs, governing bodies, investors, tech providers and
- [Lessons from BNEF’s Summit: It’s time to take stock on the energy transition](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/lessons-from-bnefs-summit/) - After a brief hiatus last year, Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s London Summit was back in full swing earlier this month. As executives from across the energy, finance and technology sectors came together to discuss ways to shape a cleaner, more competitive future, it was a chance to take stock on where the world is at
- [Two historic by-election wins put Labour on course for General Election victory  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/two-historic-by-election-wins-put-labour-on-course-for-general-election-victory/) - Headland’s analysis of Labour’s by-election victories in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire The key takeaway from the two by-election results last night, with swings in Tamworth (23.9 per cent) and Mid Bedfordshire (20.5 per cent), is Labour’s poll lead of around 20% is playing out with real voters at the ballot box. Therefore, if the Tories
- [Three key takeaways from the Festival of Marketing 2023](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/three-key-takeaways-from-the-festival-of-marketing-2023/) - Last week I had the pleasure of attending one of London’s leading marketing conferences – Festival of Marketing. Run by Marketing Week, the day focused on five key elements of the marketing mix: effectiveness in action, delivering for customers, setting the agenda, navigating trends, excellence in B2B and developing your career. Now, despite the 2000+
- [Sifted Summit 2023: key takeaways from the second instalment of Europe’s fast-growing scale-up expo ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sifted-summit-2023-key-takeaways/) - If a week is a long time in politics, then a year is an age in tech. At the inaugural Sifted Summit last year, discussions focused on the sector’s severely dampened optimism amid a barrage of job cuts and a weakened economic outlook. Those looking ahead to the future were debating when people were set
- [Can Keir seal the deal in Liverpool?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/can-keir-seal-the-deal-in-liverpool/) - “You did it. You blew the doors off!” No, that’s not a misquote of The Italian Job but a triumphant speech from Keir Starmer following Labour’s “seismic” victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election. The victory, carried by a 20% swing to Labour from the SNP, comes on the eve of an eagerly anticipated
- [Can Rishi turn things around in Manchester?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/can-rishi-turn-things-around-in-manchester/) - At the weekend the Conservative Party decamps to Manchester for a Party Conference either full of potholes, or opportunities, depending on who you ask. Speaking to some Conservatives they, quite fairly, suggest that the PM enters conference on precarious ground. Still comfortably and consistently behind in the polls, his personal ratings have dropped below Keir
- [Rebuilding the Lib Dems, brick by Blue Wall brick ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/rebuilding-the-lib-dems-brick-by-blue-wall-brick/) - By Sam Payne at Lib Dem conference To judge entirely by column inches, the most dramatic thing that happened at Lib Dem conference was Ed Davey falling out of a kayak. But behind the scenes in Bournemouth, there was a renewed sense of optimism about the party’s prospects at next year’s election. The last time
- [The grass isn’t always greener: Making the case for the UK equity market ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-grass-isnt-always-greener-making-the-case-for-the-uk-equity-market/) - Criticism of the City as a place to list is overblown, argues Headland’s Matt Denham You don’t have to look hard to find criticism of the City as a place to list. So the story goes, post-Brexit Britain is losing its lustre as a financial centre, as evidenced by the flood of firms listing elsewhere,
- [What lioness leadership can teach CEOs](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-lioness-leadership-can-teach-ceos/) - Having just lost her second consecutive World Cup final, Lionesses coach Sarina Wiegman might have been forgiven for feeling more than a little sorry for herself. But as she collected her award as Women’s Coach of the Year at the draw for the Men’s Champion’s League last week, she instead paid tribute to the Spain
- [Our Summer at Headland ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/our-summer-at-headland/) - By Headland Interns - Olga Mitala and Zachariah Bosky This Summer, we took part in Headland’s 8-week Internship programme. We are currently at different stages of our academic and professional careers - Olga is going into her second year at university studying History and Spanish, while Zachariah is going into his fourth and final year
- [Blairites? Brownies? The soft left? Maybe they are Keirites](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/blairites-brownies-the-soft-left-maybe-they-are-keirites/) - Reading some of the papers this morning, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it was 1996. The headlines were all about crumbling school buildings, a Tory MP on his way out for a sex scandal and a group of “Blairites” promoted to the Shadow Cabinet. But the long awaited ‘government-ready’ shadow cabinet reshuffle, I believe,
- [Social licence could be the victim of a war on net zero](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/social-licence-could-be-the-victim-of-a-war-on-net-zero/) - Many businesses have pushed back on the emerging war on net zero in UK politics, warning about instability effecting the operational landscape; but it’s the erosion of social licence they need to worry about. “Failure to communicate creates a vacuum that is filled by poison, misinformation and drivel.” A pearl of wisdom from Saatchi & Saatchi
- [A stitch up – do MPs care about Threads?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-stitch-up-do-mps-care-about-threads/) - It’s now been over a month since Threads was launched. Meta’s long anticipated response to the ongoing uncertainty of Twitter (now “X”). The short-form newsfeed style social media platform has similar functionality to X, just without the fluctuating policy changes, expensive verification rules and eccentricity of Musk’s many whims. With X historically being the way
- [PR must not become the pickled egg of the media mix ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/pr-must-not-become-the-pickled-egg-of-the-media-mix/) - I hate pickled eggs. Faced with the prospect of one of these rejected horror film props, I would choose literally any other foodstuff on offer. I know there are fans of the pickled egg out there – good for you – but I am confident that I am not alone. What’s the point of this
- [LinkedIn and private capital: getting it right ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/linkedin-private-capital-an-opportunity-you-cannot-afford-to-miss/) - Download the full report here. You may frown at some of the content posted by people or companies in your network. It can be overly salesy, shared with limited self-awareness or incredibly bland. Yet, when done right, LinkedIn is a very cost-effective and smart way to build a firm’s or senior leaders’ reputation with LPs,
- [This Barbie is a shrewd, self-deprecating business](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/this-barbie-is-a-shrewd-self-deprecating-business/) - On Saturday, I, alongside thousands of people across the UK, flocked to the cinematic phenomenon that is Barbie. Taking a seat in the local cinema, I was struck by the sense of excitement in the air. Cinemagoers around me had embraced Barbiemania. Groups of friends, couples, fathers and daughters, children, adults, and teens alike had
- [By-elections and beyond – the political weather forecast for Labour and the Lib Dems  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/by-elections-and-beyond-the-political-weather-forecast-for-labour-and-the-lib-dems/) - This may be the last week of term time for MPs, but there’s no let up for Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer or Ed Davey. All three will be looking forward to the summer period for very different reasons. Three by-elections on Thursday in Somerton and Frome, Uxbridge and South Ruislip and Selby and Ainsty will
- [Demonstrating AI leadership as the hype-cycle slows  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/demonstrating-ai-leadership-as-the-hype-cycle-slows/) - It’s difficult to think of a recent hype-cycle like we’ve seen with generative AI. The Metaverse had its moment. Then it very quickly didn’t. Crypto and NFTs came. Then, for most of us, they retreated from view. For those not following AI in the broader sense closely over the last decade or so (or if
- [Yousaf clears the decks ahead of September relaunch  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/yousaf-clears-the-decks-ahead-of-september-relaunch/) - It has been a fascinating few months in Holyrood. While there’s been an awful lot of politics at play, for the purposes of this blog, we’re going to focus on government policy. In his first three months as First Minister, Humza Yousaf has arguably cut more policies than he has announced new ones. We’ve seen
- [Threads vs. Twitter… The gloves are off in the cage fight everyone was waiting for](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/threads-vs-twitter/) - It was only a few weeks ago that Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk agreed to a cage fight and with the launch of Zuckerberg’s Threads, his rival app to Musk’s Twitter, it’s safe to say that this cage fight is only just getting started… What is Threads? Threads, a social media platform linked to Instagram
- [Glastonbury: three takeaways for brands looking to get involved ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/glastonbury-three-takeaways-for-brands-looking-to-get-involved/) - It’s been a week since I travelled home from Glastonbury Festival. Now the dust has settled, and I am a fully functioning human again (my apologies to caring colleagues and concerned clients), I’ve taken some time to reflect on the takeaways for brands from a wonderful weekend at Worthy Farm. Glastonbury is certainly an experience
- [Reddit vs. users: Lessons for the tech industry from Reddit’s planned IPO ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/reddits-ipo/) - Reddit, the self-proclaimed "front page of the internet," has been facing a backlash from its users over plans to start charging third-party developers to access their data. Whether Reddit chooses to deescalate or stay in its current course, there are broader lessons that we can draw from Reddit’s communications strategy which are relevant to any
- [Engaging with Labour: how businesses can succeed under a Labour government](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-can-business-expect-from-labour/) - Download full report here For corporate leaders across Britain, the concerted effort by the Labour Party to engage with British businesses – both large and small – has been unmissable. The party has eagerly invited views from business on how a Labour administration might work with them to further the party's priorities once in government.
- [Scotland's new government](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/scotlands-new-government/) - Scotland has a new First Minister. Refreshing its leadership at a much more leisurely pace than Westminster, this is just the third in 16 years. Nicola Sturgeon, whose reign has dominated Scottish politics for more than eight years has taken to the back benches, alongside her long standing right-hand man, John Swinney. It’s hard to
- [Law firms and consultancies should be cautiously brave in navigating “the war on woke capitalism”](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/law-firms-and-consultancies-should-be-cautiously-brave-in-navigating-the-war-on-woke-capitalism/) - A group of Republican senators recently wrote to the managing partners of 51 major law firms, pledging to “scrutinize the institutionalised antitrust violations being committed in the name of ESG.” This opened a new front in the campaign against “woke capitalism”. Hitherto, Republicans focused on corporates and financial institutions with ESG commitments. This has
- [Managing Reputation Through AGM Season](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/managing-reputation-through-agm-season/) - AGM season is fast approaching. With more than half of the FTSE 350 (ex Investment Trusts) having a December year end, April and May will see a significant proportion of UK plc putting itself at the mercy of shareholders. While the majority of AGMs will pass smoothly and well below the radar, it remains an
- [After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, what next for tech?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/after-the-collapse-of-silicon-valley-bank-what-next-for-tech/) - After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, what next for tech? After a bruising winter for many tech firms, the collapse of SVB last weekend was a further shock to the system. And it will be seen by some critics as another sign of tech’s vulnerability in a higher interest rate environment. But it would
- [Inspirational stories this International Women’s Day 2023](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/inspirational-stories-this-international-womens-day-2023/) - To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we asked female Headlanders across the agency who most inspires them and what they can teach us about this year’s theme of #EmbraceEquity. The list we’ve put together goes to show that inspiration can come from anywhere – with role models across sports, music, comedy and our families.
- [The ‘Skills for life’ my apprenticeship is giving me ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-skills-for-life-my-apprenticeship-is-giving-me/) - In October 2022, I joined Headland as one of their first three apprentices. As I boarded the train and headed into London, I couldn’t wait to start my next chapter. I was met with a warm and friendly welcome and instantly my nerves eased as I met my fellow apprentices, had a tour of the office
- [A week in the life of my apprenticeship](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-week-in-the-life-of-my-apprenticeship/) - A typical working week as an apprentice at Headland is never the same. On the apprenticeship scheme, we are put on a rotation within the key areas of Headland’s PR offer – financial, corporate, public affairs, and citizen and community. At the moment I’m on the public affairs rotation. So, a little more about my
- [My journey to finding the perfect apprenticeship for me](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/my-journey-to-finding-the-perfect-apprenticeship-for-me/) - Finding an apprenticeship wasn’t easy, especially finding one that was right for me. So how did I get to my apprenticeship here at Headland? Well, I’ll tell you a little bit about that journey now… Like most 15/16-year-olds doing their GCSE’s, we’re all told the same thing when thinking about our future, do your GCSE’s,
- [Cutting Through: Investor Relations in Challenging Markets](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/cutting-through-investor-relations-in-challenging-markets/) - Last week, Headland hosted a panel event for senior investor relations professionals. We were joined by James Lowen, Senior Fund Manager at JO Hambro Capital Management and manager of its £2bn UK Equity Income strategy; Jemma Spalton, Head of Communications and Investor Relations at Smiths Group, the FTSE 100 Industrial Engineering business; and Nick Stockman,
- [ESG is evolving. Can you keep up?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/esg-is-evolving-can-you-keep-up/) - There have been several indicators this year, partly in response to the effects of the pandemic, that ESG is evolving very quickly beyond the provision of risk management information towards a framework to proactively solve environmental and social problems. Two big developments in September have added momentum to that trend: Firstly, the World Economic Forum’s
- [A defining midterm moment for both parties](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-defining-midterm-moment-for-both-parties/) - Next Thursday’s elections will be a significant test for the leadership of both major parties: a midterm election for a government that has been in power for 12 years and a set of elections that represented a high watermark for Labour when last contested four years ago. While polls indicate that voters have been turned
- [Private equity should hold firm on ESG  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/private-equity-should-hold-firm-on-esg/) - Ask any managing partner at a large private equity firm these days and ESG will be cited as a top priority. But 2022 has raised some questions and the wider ESG-investment movement is now under attack from several fronts for doing too much and too little at the same time. While the focus is primarily
- [The next PM should ban the B-word](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/next-pm-ban-b-word/) - Amidst the very many frustrations I felt listening to Theresa May’s swan song outside Number Ten this morning, it was her expression of “huge regret (that) I’ve not been able to deliver Brexit” that frustrated me the most – and not because the UK still hasn’t left the European Union. It’s because the word (or
- [A campaigner's view: Trewin Restorick, CEO, Hubbub](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/great-campaigners-trewin-restorick-ceo-hubbub/) - As part of our Great Campaigners series, Dan Smith caught up with Trewin Restorick, CEO of Hubbub, the UK’s leading sustainability campaigning organisation to discuss the state of play on sustainability and how the business world is currently responding to some of society’s most fundamental challenges. Trewin co-founded Hubbub in 2014, and his now 30-strong
- [Election manifestos: who's writing them and what happens next](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/election-manifestos-whos-writing-them-and-what-happens-next/) - With the 2019 General Election campaign now underway, the political parties are working against the clock to finish their manifestos. With the content of the manifesto and the launch itself critical to electoral success, all parties will be keen to learn the lessons of the 2017 General Election: the good and the bad. With this
- [Walking the walk on ESG](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/walking-walk-esg/) - The annual Investor Relations Society conference took place last week in London. I find this a useful barometer of opinion on the issues facing companies in getting their story out to the wider financial community. This year there were several sessions focusing on best practice, including thoughts from investors, sellside analysts and Investor Relations Officers.
- [A campaigner's view: Kat Sladden](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/a-campaigners-view-kat-sladden/) - Kat Sladden has been at the forefront of some of the UK’s most challenging and inspirational campaigns. At the ONE Campaign, she was part of the team campaigning to make poverty history. Then, as Campaigns Director at Change.org, Kat helped grow some of the UK's most memorable people-powered campaigns, from putting a woman on a
- [A campaigner's view: Jenny Afia](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/great-campaigners-series-jenny-afia/) - This blog is the first in a series in which we'll be sharing ideas, insights and advice from some of the the most effective campaigners around. Jenny Afia is a partner at law firm Schillings and recognised as one of the top privacy lawyers around. Whilst her job can often mean protecting clients against unwarranted media
- [Escape velocity: the power of being talked about](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/escape-velocity-the-power-of-being-talked-about/) - Challenger bank launches a new product feature. Major hire for regtech disruptor. Series B fundraise for payments provider. Savings app onboards 50,000th customer. These aren’t real headlines, but they easily could be. For fintech startups, corporate announcements play an important role in creating a drumbeat of news. They are a crucial ingredient in building awareness
- [Do believe the hype](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/do-believe-the-hype/) - In 1995 two things happened that would have a profound impact on the way in which society viewed technology. First, The Net, a now classic film starring Sandra Bullock was released. It was basically the first film about the internet. It setup the idea that the proliferation of services delivered online (from ordering a pizza
- [In financial services, credibility is king](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/financial-services-credibility-king/) - I recently attended an event co-hosted by a large, highly-regarded financial services brand and an equally well-respected financial media organisation. The half-day event was on the topic du jour in the City currently – responsible investment – and the agenda looked full of promise. The high hopes I held for an interesting, insightful event were
- [Privacy vs. growth: the great reputation tension in tomorrow’s economy](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/privacy-versus-growth-great-reputation-tension-tomorrows-economy/) - The West Wing was wonderful for many reasons. The characterisation. The pace. The way it casually educated millions about the way the US constitution works. Above all, it was insightful about society’s biggest issues and built drama in telling their stories through a political lens. In Episode 9 of Series 1, which aired in 1999, the
- [Labour's Election Manifesto: Radical but nothing new](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/labours-election-manifesto-radical-but-nothing-new/) - Labour's manifesto, It's Time for Change, has launched. Even more radical than the 2017 manifesto, it will soon become clear how much support there is for Jeremy Corbyn's vision for the country. Read our full take on the manifesto in the briefing note below.
- [Headland's view of the Conservative Manifesto](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headlands-view-of-the-conservative-manifesto/) - Kenny Ferguson, Former adviser to Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, examines the Conservative’s manifesto and potential implications on the election race.
- [General Election 2019: South of England key seat guide](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/general-election-2019-south-of-england-key-seat-guide-2/) - This election will be a complex race with the two main parties under challenge from the smaller parties and Brexit. This is the final briefing in Headland’s four-part series of key seat guides. Based on an assessment of election history, demographics and an in-depth knowledge of local areas, we lay out which seats are going
- [Fund managers could become the new environmental activists](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/fund-managers-could-become-the-new-environmental-activists/) - Fund managers could become the new environmental activists Are fund managers on the cusp of channelling their inner Thunberg? I wrote a piece for this morning’s City AM based on analysis of UK markets data from Activist Insight. It found that conventional active fund managers launched 55 public demands in 2019 versus 35 in 2018
- [Headland's view: Keir crowned but what to expect](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/headlands-view-keir-crowned-but-what-to-expect/) - Now Sir Keir Starmer has been crowned leader of the Labour Party, attention has quickly turned to the issues - Coronavirus and more - that fill his in tray and the top team who will be supporting him.
- [Six ways to better communicate your sustainability strategy](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/six-ways-to-better-communicate-your-sustainability-strategy/) - 2020 is set to be a big year for sustainability: COP26 in Glasgow will be crunch time for agreeing how to reduce global carbon emissions and will act as a lighthouse for businesses to announce yet more pledges and commitments; rules like the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s ESG Disclosure Requirements or The UN’s Principles for
- [Where the government is on climate change policies](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/where-the-government-is-on-climate-change-policies/) - Climate change had a higher profile in the UK general election than ever before, with all political parties competing to prove their green credentials. Throughout the campaign, environmental campaigners were quick to point out that the Conservative manifesto was light on ambition and policy detail compared to other parties’. And following the decisive election result,
- [Corporate affairs in the 2020s: time to stop waiting for the world to happen to us](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/corporate-affairs-in-the-2020s-time-to-stop-waiting-for-the-world-to-happen-to-us/) - Patrick Collison, co-founder of Silicon Valley-based payments company, Stripe, has a countdown on his computer’s wallpaper. It’s clocking the days he has left to live. Morbid? Perhaps. But Collison simply uses it as a daily reminder of how long there is to make a meaningful mark on the world. As one of the world’s youngest
- [Paris agreement trumps Heathrow: What does it mean for UK infrastructure?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/paris-agreement-trumps-heathrow-what-does-it-mean-for-uk-infrastructure/) - A stunning landmark ruling against the expansion of Heathrow citing the Paris agreement has arguably left the airport’s future expansion in tatters. In order to restart the planning application an update to the national policy statement (NPS) would be necessary and would likely take years. It should not be forgotten that this was the largest
- [Fund managers, don’t risk it all on your approach to ESG](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/fund-managers-dont-risk-it-all-on-your-approach-to-esg/) - Investment mandate pitch processes are fiercely competitive, and typically held behind closed doors. Yet the investors awarding these mandates are often public organisations that need to keep a broad range of stakeholders happy. In a marked departure from convention, last week’s ESG ‘investing olympics’ thrust five fund houses into a pitch to promote the social
- [London’s investment trusts need to inspire their own revival](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/londons-investment-trusts-need-to-inspire-their-own-revival/) - Nowhere has the recent market sell-off been more pronounced than in the investment trust space. Investment trusts are close-ended funds listed as public companies. They were invented during the Victorian period as a way of pooling capital to fund large-scale ventures like railroads and natural resource projects. Today there ore over 450 listed on the
- [Government moves firmly into phase two of its Coronavirus business response](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/government-moves-firmly-into-phase-two-of-its-coronavirus-business-response/) - The flare up between Government and lenders yesterday over the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) for businesses with a turnover of less than £45 million was telling in two ways about how Government is functioning. Firstly, it demonstrated that we have now moved from the first to the second phase of its business support
- [Business lessons - from the cabinet in-tray](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/business-lessons-from-the-cabinet-in-tray/) - There is a growing chorus of voices calling for clarity on an ‘exit strategy’ from the current crisis. As Government increasingly turns its attention to what such a strategy will look like, businesses are understandably keen to ensure they end up on the right side of this crisis when the dust settles. So what clues
- [Communicating sustainability in a pandemic](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/communicating-sustainability-in-a-pandemic/) - Since the start of this pandemic there have been strong calls for both progress on sustainability to be maintained in the wake of massive economic and social disruption, and for that disruption to be seized upon as a chance to reset for the benefit of people and planet. Whilst it is still early days, there
- [Will the green shoots of recovery be green at all?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/will-the-green-shoots-of-recovery-be-green-at-all/) - 2020 was set to be a pivotal year for global climate action, with the UK firmly at the heart of it as host of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). The Covid-19 pandemic has created a new and unexpected context for these efforts, throwing the future of environmental policy into question. As focus turns to
- [UK infrastructure: Gotta Go Fast?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/uk-infrastructure-gotta-go-fast/) - Can you speed up the delivery of UK infrastructure projects? The Government certainly thinks so. Today the Department for Transport (DfT) has launched its new Acceleration Unit, under the control of Darren Shirley. The aim is simple: deliver infrastructure projects in a more timely fashion. This dream is not new – it has been the
- [We must play the long game in ESG – communicating more than climate impact](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/we-must-play-the-long-game-in-esg-communicating-more-than-climate-impact/) - ESG has taken a hit in recent months, which few will have anticipated as we rode the wave of COP26, peaking with rhetoric and ambition on climate action. The year so far is also not turning out as most people had expected. The cost of living has soared, revenues have been hit and listed businesses
- [COVID-19 puts spotlight on mental health support from financial services firms](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/covid-19-puts-spotlight-on-mental-health-support-from-financial-services-firms/) - Consumer champion Martin Lewis secured his latest victory last week, as the government agreed to change archaic laws which force lenders to send intimidating letters to struggling borrowers. From December, new legislation will require default letters to use plain English rather than legalese, stop the use of threatening capital letters and oblige firms to refer
- [Q&A with Christoph Woermann, CMO Corporate Bank, Deutsche Bank](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/qa-with-christoph-woermann-cmo-corporate-bank-deutsche-bank/) - Christoph is Chief Marketing Officer for Deutsche Bank’s Commercial Bank division. Fresh from attending the first ever virtual Sibos conference and organising DB’s own virtual Festival of Finance, we asked him to share his thoughts on how Deutsche Bank has adapted its marketing strategy to meet the challenges of Covid-19. As a true Sibos veteran,
- [Veterans of the railways want fair fares for all](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/veterans-of-the-railways-want-fair-fares-for-all/) - Waiting for a rail review to conclude can take as long as the wait for the trains to arrive. In 2019 we were expecting change to our daily commute with more integration, so things were sorted out quicker when things went wrong. And after several false dawns, Covid hit, and recommendations in an unpublished review,
- [Sustainability Talks: Interview with Sue Garrard](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sustainability-talks-interview-with-sue-garrard/) - Sue Garrard spent a decade at Unilever where she was responsible for leading and embedding the company’s ambitious Sustainable Living Plan into the business and ensuring delivery against its 70-plus time bound targets. By the end of her time at Unilever, its ‘Sustainable Living Brands’ were growing 67% faster than its other brands and represented
- [ESG is changing the axis of reputation](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/esg-is-changing-the-axis-of-reputation/) - There is no question that businesses today face mounting and significant regulatory, social and market pressures to align their interests with the interests of society. Just take a cursory flick through the FT or even The Sun and you will see how all stakeholders now expect businesses to reduce their environmental impact and increase their
- [Freeing the freeport genie](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/freeing-the-freeport-genie/) - If the country is to truly level up, coastal communities are a great place to start. They are a vital facilitator of trade for the rest of the UK, but can often include the most deprived neighbourhoods and have been in need of a more focused set of policies. Yesterday’s Budget announcement on the location
- [Financial Services Comms: Why it needs a rethink](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/financial-services-comms-why-it-needs-a-rethink/) - Can you remember seeing the UK Prime Minister at a factory? Chances are you can. What about at a bank, insurance firm or trading floor? No, me neither. And it is for good reason: taking our current Prime Minister as an example, Boris Johnson visited 13 factories between June 2019 and March 2020 and not
- [Sustainability Talks: Sarah Gordon](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sustainability-talks-sarah-gordon/) - Sarah Gordon is the Chief Executive of the Impact Investing Institute. The Institute was launched in 2019 to accelerate the growth and improve the effectiveness of the impact investing market in the UK and internationally. Its work includes a series of research, education and advocacy programmes designed to bring about the market conditions to enable impact investing to
- [Mapping out a future for crypto away from memes and price volatility  ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/mapping-out-a-future-for-crypto-away-from-memes-and-price-volatility/) - One of the more notable moments of the recent Bitcoin 2021 conference came when a man jumped on stage and ripped off his suit to reveal a tee featuring the now infamous “Doge” meme. He repeatedly shouted “Dogecoin to the moon”, a reference to the cyptocurrency favoured by Elon Musk, as he was removed from
- [Has the latest climate change science set your Sustainability plan on fire?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/has-the-latest-climate-change-science-set-your-esg-plan-on-fire/) - At the start of August this year, the IPCC issued its latest report providing a scientific assessment of the climate crisis. This was the first of three parts of its assessment report and warns that the window to avoid the worst impacts of climate change is closing rapidly. Long-term business success relies, in part, on
- [How COP has changed expectations on businesses](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/how-cop-has-changed-expectations-on-businesses/) - Two weeks of intense international negotiations have resulted in the Glasgow Climate Pact. The agreement sets out a blueprint for public and private sector actors to follow over the coming decade. However, the Pact is not legally binding, there is no clear mechanism to enforce it, and there are already indications that some countries may
- [Outputs or Outcomes: What are you really measuring?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/outputs-or-outcomes-what-are-you-really-measuring/) - Measurement. Too often the bête noire of our industry. We’ve been through the break-up with AVE (advertising value equivalents). We’ve backed the rise of message penetration and competitor share of voice. We’ve learnt how to understand social metrics like engagement and the value (or not) of follower growth. But have we really come up with
- [Shout smarter or shout louder please Pensions](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/shout-smarter-or-shout-louder-please-pensions/) - Energy bills soared last week. Food prices are going up a fair whack too. So are house prices again. Someone once described inflation to me as being like salt. You need a bit of it in your diet, but too much and it becomes dangerous. Right now, people are being forced to swallow tablespoons of
- [Winning where? What the victory in North Shropshire means for the Lib Dems](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/winning-where-what-the-victory-in-north-shropshire-means-for-the-lib-dems/) - “Crushing”. “Disastrous”. “Shock defeat”. Last week’s Lib Dem by-election victory in North Shropshire — achieving an enormous swing of 34%, the seventh largest in by-election history — was described in invariably hyperbolic language that was more about the Conservatives’ defeat than their success. It has intensified the pressure on the Prime Minister at a time
- [Labour’s first big pitch to the business community](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/labours-first-big-pitch-to-the-business-community/) - There are tell-tale signs that political plates in Westminster are shifting and that an opposition party is on course to win the next General Election: donations up; celebrity endorsements; a rush of applications to become parliamentary candidates. And for Labour, yesterday sent another clear signal that they might just be on their way to taking
- [My survivor’s guide for a new secretary of state](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/my-survivors-guide-for-a-new-secretary-of-state/) - As a new Prime Minister makes the traditional speech on the steps of Number 10, the blood pressure of Tory MPs will start to rise as they anticipate the call they all hope to get. I’ve watched as friends anguish by the silent telephone in their parliamentary office. The inevitable questions start to flow. “When
- [Devolution in 2022: an action-packed year](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/devolution-in-2022-an-action-packed-year/) - With the future of the Union in increasing doubt, and the devolved authorities becoming more self-assured in light of the pandemic, the Headland Devolution team looks at what’s in store for the UK’s regions and nations in 2022. Scotland: one year to go until IndyRef2? Nicola Sturgeon has promised to begin a second campaign for
- [Planet-saving technology: please handle responsibly](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/planet-saving-technology-please-handle-responsibly/) - Like many with a Netflix subscription, I watched Don’t Look Up during the festive break. Spoiler alert. Please stop reading if it’s on your 2022 watch list. Much has been written about the film’s obvious climate crisis analogies: scientists being ignored; the media trivialising the acutely severe; social media spreading misinformation; politicians idling in the
- [It’s time all Corporate Affairs Directors had advertising budgets](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/its-time-all-corporate-affairs-directors-had-advertising-budgets/) - If you cut a leg off a table, it’s liable, to wobble. Until now corporate affairs has coped admirably with just such a missing leg. It’s high time we added it in – it’s time that advertising and paid-for activity became a regular, consistent part of all corporate affairs activity. 2022 should be the year
- [Small margins, big drama: Northern Ireland's Assembly elections](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/small-margins-big-drama-northern-irelands-assembly-elections/) - In one week’s time, Northern Ireland will vote in an election with potentially historic consequences. The Assembly elections on May 5th follow a period of seismic change in party loyalties. As a result, Northern Ireland could come out the other side of this election with a First Minister who is ideologically opposed to its very
- [Can the Government show it’s not tone-deaf when it comes to the cost-of-living crisis?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/can-the-government-show-its-not-tone-deaf-when-it-comes-to-the-cost-of-living-crisis/) - Last week saw the delivery of one of the most ambitious Queen’s Speeches since 2005. With a total of 38 Bills to be introduced, the Government outlined a super busy legislative agenda for the year ahead. The volume of Bills to achieve in just 12 months leads many to question where compromises will be made
- [Rethinking the future for ESG through the lens of sustainability ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/rethinking-the-future-for-esg-through-the-lens-of-sustainability/) - The debate around the future of ESG continues at pace, with the FT questioning whether the term is “coming to the end of its useful life” and The Sunday Times’ Oliver Shah calling for it to be replaced with “CDP – common sense, decency and pragmatism”. Oliver is right to challenge ESG, the metrics used,
- [CMA Green Claims Code presents risks & opportunity](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/cma-green-claims-code-presents-risks-opportunity/) - ‘Eco-friendly’, ‘green’ ‘sustainably made’, and ‘conscious’ claims will now be more closely scrutinised with the introduction of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) Green Claims Code. Launched on Tuesday, the code focuses on six principles to help businesses understand how to communicate their green credentials without misleading shoppers. The reputational risk Savvy shoppers have long
- [Is Labour’s fate still tied to Brexit?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/is-labours-fate-still-tied-to-brexit/) - The Conservatives are now more popular than Labour among working class voters… Because of Brexit? Following the Batley & Spen by-election, Headland was visited by the UK’s leading psephologist and BBC’s go-to-expert Professor Curtice. Here’s what we learnt. Brexit and by-elections Despite Hartlepool and Batley & Spen both voting to leave the EU, and once
- [The Queen's Speech: A look ahead](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-queens-speech-a-look-ahead/) - Overview With the local elections behind us, vaccine rollout continuing at pace, and restrictions on society largely on track to fall away in June, the new parliamentary session will mark a genuinely new political chapter. The coming phase will be characterised by an attempt to return to pre-pandemic political priorities and move beyond recent controversies
- [Three green policy changes you need to know about](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/three-green-policy-changes-you-need-to-know-about/) - It’s been yet another bumper month for green policy announcements, from Rishi Sunak setting out plans for green sovereign bonds in the Budget, and offering investors the chance to accelerate the UK’s push towards net zero, to the launch of a new Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy. We’ve also seen further details emerge of DEFRA’s plans for
- [Corporate Affairs Directors: are you ready for 2021?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/corporate-affairs-directors-are-you-ready-for-2021/) - It’s been a year like no other. The last nine months have seen us live through more disruption than we might have expected in nine years. This has brought into sharp relief the importance of the corporate affairs function to businesses. Whether it’s been empathetic dialogue with colleagues and customers, open engagement with capital markets,
- [Growth to value: how will investors and corporates respond?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/growth-to-value-how-will-investors-and-corporates-respond/) - In the last few days Tesla has hit a forward price to earnings ratio of 278 (share price up 620% over the last 12-months), Bitcoin has hovered around $35,000 (up 282% during the same period) and online broker Robinhood has raised $3.4 billion to shore up its financial position following wild trading activity amongst its
- [Sustainability Talks: Interview with George Marshall](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sustainability-talks-interview-with-george-marshall/) - George Marshall is the founder of Climate Outreach, a non-profit specialist in public communications and engagement around climate change with an international reputation for its work on visuals and developing narratives for new audiences. Their clients and partners include the World Bank, UNFCCC, IPCC, the BBC, plus over 25 universities and governments around the world.
- [When the world is battling a cost-of-living crisis, how do companies report good news?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/when-the-world-is-battling-a-cost-of-living-crisis-how-do-companies-report-good-news/) - When it comes to companies reporting performance, it used to be that the more stonking results you could announce to the market, the better. In the current cost-of-living crisis, however, that position has changed dramatically. Companies moving away from a pure shareholder returns approach to financial communications, to a more purposeful stakeholder approach, has been
- [What can we expect to see in the world of social media during 2023?](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/what-can-we-expect-to-see-in-the-world-of-social-media-during-2023/) - 2022 was a year of big change and turmoil in the world of social media. Mark Zuckerberg faced even more scrutiny over Meta, Elon Musk bought Twitter, and various platforms came under fire for their online safety policies. I have to say, it was quite an adventurous year to be working in the digital space
- [A National Food Strategy? It’s time to deliver. ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/national-food-strategy-time-deliver/) - Ten years ago this week, Andrew Lansley’s Public Health Commission published its report into the long-term health of the nation. With the Government announcing plans for a national food strategy, one of the authors of the 2009 report, George Gordon, shares here what he learned from the attempt at an integrated food and health policy
- [Why growth stories still matter during a downturn](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/why-growth-stories-still-matter-during-a-downturn/) - Last year, we looked at the market rotation towards mature companies with high cash flows, and its implications for messaging. Since then, growth company valuations have been decimated, with some pundits drawing parallels with the dotcom bubble. At the turn of the century, and then again after the Global Financial Crisis, bear markets created incredible
- [Force of Nature](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/force-of-nature/) - Nature is rising up the corporate agenda. The effort by various climate action organisations to connect the climate and nature crises is paying off, and most businesses, investors and policy makers now understand the extent to which nature underpins economies and the ability to do business at all. COP15, the UN Biodiversity Conference happening in
- [Citizen brands serve up meaningful fun - for life, not just for Christmas ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/citizen-brands-serve-up-meaningful-fun-for-life-not-just-for-christmas/) - So there we have it. The deluge of festive ads has well and truly dropped. Landing a Christmas campaign this year was probably one of the toughest gigs in recent memory for CMOs. There have been plenty of big calls to make. Firstly, what’s the right balance of brand vs performance? Sure, we all buy
- [Key takeaways from Web Summit 2022 ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/key-takeaways-from-web-summit-2022/) - Over 71,000 people travelled to Lisbon last week to discuss all things technology – from sportstech to fintech and everything in between. With economic storm clouds gathering and tech valuations under pressure, it was interesting to see that the recurring theme of this year’s conference was the world of milk and honey which awaits for
- [Cutting Through in Challenging Times](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/cutting-through-in-challenging-times/) - Recent weeks have seen turmoil in the UK’s financial markets. Rocketing gilt yields; volatile Sterling; panic amongst pension funds; an intervention by the Bank of England; and at least two government policy U turns. Yet, the UK equity market is down only 11% this year, materially outperforming many of its international peers (the S&P 500
- [Why communication is crucial in the great sports M&A boom](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/why-communication-is-crucial-in-the-great-sports-ma-boom/) - Another week, another clear sign of investors’ growing appetite for the sports industry. This week, the Financial Times reported that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had now invested more than $2bn in football sponsorship deals. Shortly after, new research published showed the value of sports M&A had risen from £1.8bn last year to nearly £10bn
- [Sustainability, made for tough times ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/sustainability-made-for-tough-times/) - Business leaders globally are reassessing their priorities in the face of a deteriorating external context - cue hackneyed predictions that executives are backing away from ESG. Some no doubt are reigning in spend on ESG ‘initiatives’. There are natural trade-offs for those seeking to balance short-term performance with long-term value. But if these initiatives can
- [Tech trends to watch from the 2022 Sifted Summit ](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/tech-trends-to-watch-from-the-2022-sifted-summit/) - Last week founders, operators, investors and suppliers from across the technology ecosystem gathered in London at FT Sifted’s first ever in-person summit – and one of the biggest London tech events of the year. Here’s your guide from the Headland tech team on the conversations and trends that matter TLDR - A one-liner on every
- [The shape of things to come on obesity](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/insight/the-shape-of-things-to-come-on-obesity/) - Since details of a call between the Prime Minister and industry where a warning shot was fired over the issue of obesity, all the talk has been of it being “back on the agenda”. While that is on one level correct, it lacks nuance. In particular, four points specifically relating to the policy area and

## People

- [Alex Jones](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/alex-jones/) - Alex has spent his career helping private capital firms and their portfolio companies build and protect value through strategic communications and marketing. He joined Headland from Triton Partners, the mid-market private equity firm, where he was Head of Communications. He was responsible for all aspects of external and internal communications and led the firm's portfolio
- [Andy Payne](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/andy-payne/) - Andy is a seasoned board-level adviser, operating at the intersection of the environmental agenda and corporate reputation. His work spans clean energy, regenerative agriculture and water stewardship, with clients including Diageo, Nestlé, King’s Cross Group, Agratas, Soil Capital, Ardian and Generate Capital. He specialises in shaping compelling narratives that advance business strategy, and in mobilising
- [Jack Doyle](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jack-doyle/) - Jack has held positions at the highest level in both government and the media. A journalist by trade, he spent ten years at the Daily Mail covering news, home affairs and reporting from Westminster. As the Mail’s Associate Editor, he wrote the newspaper’s editorial column, as well as features and political analysis. In 2020, he
- [Jess Frost](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jess-frost/) - Jess is the co-head of Headland’s public affairs practice. She has worked in consultancy for over 20 years, supporting senior executives to use public affairs as a lever for business growth. Jess has worked with organisations across tech, life sciences, financial services, energy, infrastructure, retail, leisure and entertainment, helping them to identify and navigate political
- [Jane Hadden](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jane-hadden/) - Jane heads up our Leadership Coaching Practice and specialises in helping CEOs and senior leaders prepare for and effectively manage their highest-stakes communications moments. From front page media interviews to keynote conference speeches, capital markets days, select committee appearances and major change announcements, her aim is to build confidence and skill in the individual in
- [Janine Lloyd-Jones](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/janine-lloyd-jones/) - Janine joined Headland after a career at the heart of UK government, most recently as Director of Communication at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). There she served on both the Executive Committee and Board, with Board responsibility for reputation and oversight of strategic risk across one of the UK's most complex global organisations.
- [Jim Houghton](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jim-houghton/) - Jim leads Headland’s finance team and is responsible for corporate and strategic development.
- [Rosheeka Field](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/rosheeka-field/) - Rosh joined us from Brunswick in 2020 where she was a Financial Situations and Crisis comms specialist. Before that, Rosh worked as an M&A lawyer for Linklaters. Rosh has advised clients in some of the biggest and most contested financial transactions and crisis in recent times. She brings strong experience advising listed and unlisted UK
- [Steven Grainger](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/steven-grainger/) - Steven advises senior leaders of listed and private companies on navigating complex political and regulatory environments. He leads public affairs programmes that shape policy debates, build trusted relationships with decision-makers and secure influence across Westminster and Whitehall. He has deep experience across financial services and global technology and media platforms, advising businesses on market entry
- [Oliver Tilley](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/oliver-tilley/) - Oliver is a strategic communications specialist who believes in a tailored approach to reputation that gets to the heart of a client’s commercial challenges and opportunities. He has particular expertise in strategic thinking and runs our Strategy & Insight function, leading our approach to narrative development, positioning and insight generation. Oliver brings that perspective to
- [Ben Wright](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/ben-wright/) - Ben is a corporate communications and financial specialist with a 25 year career as a journalist and editor. He latterly spent a decade at the Telegraph, including seven years as Business Editor, during which time he was responsible for the paper’s corporate, economic and financial output. Ben was previously the City Correspondent for the Wall
- [Josh Butler](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/josh-butler/) - Josh is a Director at Headland with almost a decade of experience advising on complex political and legislative challenges. This has involved work across sectors, including for energy infrastructure providers, FTSE 100 consumer goods champions and financial services businesses. Josh has particular expertise on technology policy and M&A situations. This has included supporting the largest
- [Siobhan Shea-Simonds](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/siobhan-shea-simonds/) - Siobhan is a corporate communications specialist with over 20 years’ experience in building and protecting the reputations of some of the world’s most complex and scrutinised businesses. Drawing on a wide breadth of private sector experience – as well as her work leading several award-winning UK Government public information campaigns – she is passionate about
- [Ewa Lewszyk-Howes](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/ewa-lewszyk/) - Ewa leads corporate communications teams that deliver proactive campaigns, as well as advising clients through knotty reputational issues. She has worked with clients in tech, retail, FMCG, telecoms and professional services, including overseeing TikTok’s UK safety & policy communications, promoting and protecting PepsiCo’s reputation, and building Arup’s profile as a sustainability leader. Ewa is also
- [Clare Field](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/clare-field/) - Clare is a Director at Headland with over a decade of experience in corporate communications, including for a listed multinational and several UK public bodies.
- [Claire Rumbellow](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/claire-rumbellow/) - Claire specialises in financial and professional services corporate communications, helping companies build and protect their reputation. Her experience to date spans a range of industries, including banking, insurance, pensions, institutional asset management, private equity and management consulting. Having lived and worked in London, New York and Singapore, Claire has run cross-border communications campaigns for a
- [Jack Smith](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jack-smith/) - Following nearly a decade working in roles across comms, stakeholders, and strategy for leaders of the Labour Party and wider the labour movement, Jack joined Headland in 2019. He splits his time over two parts of the Headland offer. Within the public affairs offer, along with heading up Labour Party engagement and counsel, he leads
- [Tom Bage](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/tom-bage/) - Tom leads the technology team at Headland and is a campaigns, corporate comms and issues management specialist withnearly two decades of experience delivering reputation change. He started his career in 2007 – the year the financial crisis began, the iPhone was launched and Twitter and Facebook started to reach scale. This sparked a fascination with
- [Charlotte Wilkins-Smith](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/charlotte-wilkins/) - Charlotte specialises in planning and delivering campaigns for some of the world’s biggest and most-scrutinised brands across tech, retail and FMCG. Her passion lies in protecting and enhancing the reputations of businesses through integrated campaigning, rigorous press office activity and content partnerships by taking a holistic, multi-channel and multi-audience approach. At Headland, Charlotte leads the
- [Liz Clarkson](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/liz-clarkson/) - Liz leads Headland’s People team, responsible for shaping the culture and ways of working that help the business grow and perform at its best. With more than 20 years’ experience in strategic people leadership, she specialises in building people strategies that strengthen leadership capability, talent and performance, creating the conditions where people can do brilliant
- [Dan Mines](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/dan-mines/) - As co-founder of Headland, Dan is responsible for the management of the company and the development and delivery of the agency’s strategy. The agency sector has for too long been built on forced integration, often resulting from acquired and merged operations, or a siloed structure. Headland was created from scratch to offer an alternative to
- [Suzanne Morris](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/suzanne-morris/) - Suzanne specialises in building and protecting corporate brands through strategy and narrative development, proactive storytelling and executive profiling. She supports clients to enter new markets, attract investment, launch products and services, and through periods of significant change, with a particular focus on retail and institutional financial services, leisure and retail, and tech. She also has
- [Joanna Trezise](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/joanna-trezise/) - Joanna is a specialist in corporate communications and has worked with businesses facing a range of immediate and long-term reputational challenges. She earns clients' trust by providing advice that is grounded in commercial realities, yet achieves results that have a positive impact on their varied set of stakeholders. Working equally well with business leaders and
- [Matt Denham](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/matt-denham/) - Matt helps companies to build reputation with equity capital markets and business media audiences. This includes advising on communications through all the events of the financial calendar, as well as during transactions, capital raisings, bid defence, crisis and other special situations. His advice is underpinned by a strong understanding of investor attitudes, including towards sustainability
- [Simon Burton](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/simon-burton/) - Simon has more than 30 years’ experience in corporate reputation management and public affairs where his work has consistently helped consumer-facing businesses to create and protect value. During his career he has helped corporates and brands in their decision-making so that they use external affairs to secure competitive advantage. Simon is also expert in reputation
- [Nathalie Tamam](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/nathalie-tamam/) - Nathalie is a corporate and public affairs specialist with over 20 years’ experience across Whitehall, Westminster, and consultancy. Prior to joining Headland, she spent five years at another agency advising clients across a range of sectors. Before that Nathalie spent two and a half years working for the UK Government across several Whitehall departments including
- [Tracey Foschini](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/tracey-yong/) - Tracey advises consumer and B2B brands on navigating complex reputational challenges and building long-term credibility. She has extensive experience across food, FMCG, retail, technology and entertainment, with a blended background spanning corporate communications, campaigning, financial communications, crisis management, stakeholder engagement and digital. This breadth enables her to provide clear, rounded strategic counsel in fast-moving and
- [Elle Macgregor-Chatwin](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/elle-macgregor-chatwin/) - At Headland, we know that powerful communications start with talented people. As Talent Acquisition Director, Elle leads our hiring strategy — ensuring we attract individuals who bring curiosity, expertise and a collaborative mindset to everything they do. Elle brings over a decade of experience in the communications industry, having worked as a consultant before moving
- [Jack Gault](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jack-gault/) - Jack is a Capital Markets and Strategic Communications specialist with experience advising FTSE 350, private and international companies across a range of sectors. He works closely with leadership teams to define a clear and compelling story and to ensure it is delivered effectively to investors, media and other stakeholders. He also has strong experience advising
- [Joanna Clark](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/joanna-clark/) - Joanna started her career in the Sainsbury’s corporate affairs team, working across financial results and the press office. Since joining Headland in 2017 she has specialised in financial and corporate communications, with a particular focus on the food and retail sectors. She advises senior leadership teams on complex reputation turnarounds, high stakes transactions, financial reporting,
- [Scarlett Yianni](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/scarlett-yianni/) - Scarlett is a campaigning and corporate specialist with over 15 years of strategic communications experience working across a range of clients with reputational issues at their core. She combines strategic rigour with creative thinking and is adept at leading integrated campaigns from creative development through to delivery. Current and past clients include Coca-Cola, DS Smith,
- [Rosie Metcalfe](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/rosie-metcalfe/) - Rosie is a specialist in corporate communications, campaigns, media relations, and issues management, with over a decade of experience advising some of the world’s most well-known global brands. She has worked across a range of sectors - including entertainment, technology, FMCG, and energy - with current and former clients such as OpenAI, Iberdrola, PepsiCo, and
- [Hattie Beaumont](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/hattie-beaumont/) - Hattie specialises in public affairs and corporate reputation, helping clients navigate the volatile UK political environment. She has spent the last nine years in consultancy advising clients, primarily in the food and drink, financial and professional services and infrastructure sectors. Her work at Headland has ranged from select committee training, direct Bill lobbying, crisis preparedness
- [Henry Wallers](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/henry-wallers/) - Henry is a Capital Markets and Corporate Communications specialist with experience spanning a wide range of sectors throughout his career. He advises publicly listed and private companies on all aspects of their strategic communications, and supports clients in their engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders. Henry's work has included numerous special situations including cross
- [Jonathan Blake](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/jonathan-blake/) - Jonathan is a specialist communications coach, drawing extensively on his experience as a former BBC News correspondent. He has held postings in Westminster, Washington D.C., and Brussels, reporting on countless major stories for TV, radio and online and gained a deep understanding of the media landscape. As an accomplished live broadcaster and presenter, Jonathan helps
- [Charlie Twigg](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/charlie-twigg/) - Charlie is a Capital Markets and Strategic Communications specialist, who advises a broad range of FTSE 350, private and international companies across a variety of sectors, including infrastructure, financial services and media. He has strong experience in supporting companies through the financial calendar as well as high profile M&A situations and crisis communications.
- [Antonia Pollock](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/antonia-pollock/) - Antonia is a financial communications and corporate reputation specialist with more than a decade of experience working with both listed and private companies. Antonia is sector agnostic but has a strong focus on consumer-facing businesses. She provides counsel to companies through IPO, fundraisings, trade sales, financial reporting, M&A, defence, fundraisings and crisis and issues management.
- [Will Carnwath](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/will-carnwath/) - Will has 25 years of experience in advising boards and leadership teams on corporate reputation, crisis and licence to operate issues, leveraging his background as an analyst and later investment banker. Will joined Headland in 2025 after 16 years at Brunswick Group, which included establishing and growing their presence in Southeast Asia. He has successfully
- [Tom Lawless](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/tom-lawless/) - Tom is a strategic communications advisor who, in the last decade, worked with David Attenborough to make Mission Innovation at reality at the Paris COP, created the ‘nature is everyone’s business’ platform for Business for Nature, and created the ‘Don’t tell me climate action isn’t happening’ impact narrative for London Climate Action Week 2025. He
- [Carley Sparrow](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/carley-sparrow/) - Over 15 years Carley has worked with brands and businesses to protect and build their reputations. She helps organisations across sectors to take a holistic view of their audiences and join up the dots between corporate, brand and sustainability to develop insight-led strategies and creative activations that achieve commercial outcomes, whether nurturing trust, driving differentiation
- [Rachel Deevey](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/rachel-deevey/) - Rachel specialises in corporate comms, media relations and issues management for consumer facing brands. Rachel has particular experience in the retail and hospitality sectors, having delivered integrated multi-channel campaigns and managed high-profile issues for brands such as KFC, Boohoo Group, Pret a Manger, eBay, Mango, and TikTok. Rachel joined Headland from the M&S PR team,
- [Lucy Legh](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/lucy-legh/) - Lucy leads Headland’s Capital Markets and Financial Communications practice, and over the past two decades has advised high profile executives and multinational businesses on navigating the complex landscape of financial and capital markets communications to both protect and enhance reputation. Lucy has particular specialism in consumer-facing companies and has provided strategic counsel on a wide
- [Tom James](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/tom-james/) - Tom has more than a decade of experience of advising both private and publicly listed businesses on managing their reputation. His work has spanned corporate campaigns and profile-raising programmes to capital markets activity and crises. He has worked for businesses operating in a number of different sectors, including technology, sports, gaming, media and advertising, private
- [Dan Smith](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/dan-smith/) - Dan has been at Headland since 2012, developing the agency’s offer as it has scaled. He is a corporate reputation specialist with over twenty years’ experience in leading agencies. His experience spans corporate and financial communications, strategy and planning, campaigning, stakeholder relations, sustainability and crisis communications. Dan develops and delivers impactful reputation and communications campaigns,
- [Edward Young](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/edward-young/) - Since joining Headland in 2018, Edward has supported a range of consumer brands going through business turnarounds. For the past seven years, Ed has advised the leadership team at Pret A Manger as the business recovered from a series of crises, including the deaths of two customers as the result of anaphylaxis. He has also
- [Carl Leijonhufvud](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/carl-leijonhufvud/) - Carl has spent his career advising leading financial institutions, professional services and fast-growing businesses on their reputations, focusing on corporate and financial communications. High profile clients that Carl has advised include Accenture, Ardian, EQT Partners, Goldman Sachs and Permira. His experience also involves leading the Global Communications & Marketing team at Permira, the private equity
- [Mark Wainwright](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/mark-wainwright/) - Mark is a digital and social media specialist, with a proven track record of helping companies utilise creator-led media to reach the audiences they care about. Mark focuses much of his time on supporting clients with social media strategy, content planning, and creative concepting. He has additional experience in crisis management and organisational design. Mark
- [Orla Chapman](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/orla-swindells/) - Orla specialises in corporate communications and campaigning – spanning a variety of sectors; from retail and tech through to financial services. She has worked with Arthritis Research UK to raise awareness of the impact arthritis has on UK society, and with Sport England on its award-winning This Girl Can campaign to encourage women to be
- [Martin Sparey](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/martin-sparey/) - Martin is a technology comms specialist, with over a decade of experience working in the sector. His client experience spans a range of B2B technologies from SaaS, cloud, analytics and infrastructure to data management, connectivity and security. Building campaigns on clients varying from challenger brands to large multinationals, he has a strong ability to understand
- [Bryony Sym](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/bryony-sym/) - Bryony is a corporate affairs specialist, helping clients build and protect their reputation across various stakeholder groups such as consumers, policymakers, employees and the media. She has particular experience advising clients on issues or special situations impacting their reputation and managing media relations. Clients include tech firms, multinational FMCG companies and professional services firms.
- [Becca MacSwiney](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/becca-macswiney/) - Becca is a corporate affairs specialist who helps clients to anticipate and manage regulatory, policy and reputational challenges. At Headland, she advises organisations across FMCG, food, retail and tech, managing issues and building advocacy around policy positions. Becca is also a member of Headland's Sustainability team, with a focus on the ESG policy and regulatory
- [Chloe Francklin](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/chloe-francklin/) - Chloe is a financial and corporate communications specialist with over ten years’ experience. She advises both public and private clients on reputation management and strategic communications, and her work involves counsel on financial results, M&A, special situations, management change, issues and crisis management. Her current portfolio includes clients across TMT, logistics, industrial and retail sectors.
- [Dan Freedman](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/dan-freedman/) - Dan is an expert in helping CEOs and their teams tell their story. A former radio and TV correspondent at LBC, Sky News and the BBC, he is a key part of Headland's Leadership Communications Coaching team and now uses that perspective to create narratives and messages that land, for leaders at TikTok, eBay, Pret
- [Andy Rivett-Carnac](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/andy-rivett-carnac/) - Andy has more than 20 years experience advising clients on their corporate reputation. Formerly a journalist across print, broadcast and online, he joined Headland in 2017 from Brunswick where he had headed up the digital team in the London office. At Headland he advises a range of listed and unlisted clients across financial, corporate communications
- [Dave Chambers](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/dave-chambers/) - Dave is a corporate reputation and digital specialist with a strong focus on designing multi-channel communications programmes. He has over 15 years' experience advising clients on both proactive and defensive reputational work, and has worked in both London and New York. Dave primarily advises clients in the financial services, clean energy and infastructure sectors, though
- [Del Jones](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/del-jones/) - Del is a financial and professional services specialist with experience working with clients in banking, asset management, private equity, hedge funds, fintech, consultancy and financial data. His areas of focus are corporate positioning, leadership communications, capital markets, proactive press office activity and issues management. He takes an interest in economic research and has originated several
- [Neil Hedges](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/neil-hedges/) - For more than 40 years as a consultant Neil has advised across all sectors, practice areas and in most situations. At Headland, his current sectoral focus ranges from property and energy through to financial and professional services. As a consultant, he is as committed to doing, as well as advising, and believes firmly that, whatever
- [Rob Alexander](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/rob-alexander/) - Rob is strategic communications specialist who develops campaigns to build reputation, create value for businesses and even help win elections. Over 20 years in advertising as a global planning director at TBWA and J Walter Thompson he helped create award winning global campaigns for HSBC, Shell, Vodafone and Apple and advised the Labour Party on
- [Matt Horrocks](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/matt-horrocks/) - Matt leads our Strategy & Insight team, working across clients to set their reputational strategies, on the basis of deep qualitative research and data analysis. Our clients increasingly need to understand the expectations of their consumers, stakeholders, investors and employees, and to deploy that understanding across their businesses. Insight answers those questions. Matt uses a
- [Pilar Teixeira](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/pilar-teixeira/) - Pilar is a corporate affairs adviser with extensive experience working in financial journalism and strategic communications across multiple geographies. Pilar provides corporate reputation advice to Headland’s international client base with a focus on strategic investor narrative, leadership changes, critical issues management, restructurings, M&A, IPOs and crisis communications. She joined Headland from Brunswick, where she acted
- [Chris Salt](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/chris-salt/) - Since Chris co-founded Headland, the agency has rapidly evolved from its origins in financial PR to one which now seamlessly brings together a combination of corporate, financial, public affairs, digital and sector specialists. In that time Headland has not lost the things that matter most; meaningful relationships with leadership teams, and complete dedication to delivering
- [Toby Pellew](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/toby-pellew/) - The impact of government, regulators, and parliament on both the reputation and commercial decisions made by businesses has never been more acute. Over the last fifteen years Toby has helped companies to mitigate this political risk while using public policy and stakeholder engagement to gain competitive advantage. It’s been fast-paced, complex and business critical. Clients
- [Stephen Malthouse](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/stephen-malthouse/) - Stephen has worked in communications for the last two decades. He joined Headland in 2018 after spending nearly 15 years at a financial PR agency. During that time, Stephen has advised a broad range of FTSE, private and international companies on financial and corporate communications. In addition to his retained clients, Stephen led the Headland
- [Susanna Voyle](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/susanna-voyle/) - In almost 20 years in communications, Susanna has advised Boards, executives and their teams on how to build, enhance and protect reputation. She has worked on most challenges, covering everything from managing the financial calendar and M&A, to profile building and crisis. A former senior Financial Times journalist, Susanna is particularly expert in supporting consumer-facing
- [Pippa Murphy](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/pippa-murphy/) - Pippa specialises in corporate communications, brand building, and campaigning, delivering work for some of the world’s best-known brands and businesses across tech, retail and FMCG. She currently works with TikTok on its B2B proposition, helping to raise awareness of the platform's offer among the business community. She was also part of the team that helped
- [Rob Walker](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/rob-walker/) - Rob is a financial PR and corporate communications specialist, providing counsel on reputation and issues management to a range of listed and private companies in sectors including retail and TMT. His experience includes advising clients on financial results, M&A, restructurings, IPOs, high-profile corporate crises and executive change. His client experience includes Watches of Switzerland, Future,
- [Yvonne Keal](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/yvonne-keal/) - As Finance Director, Yvonne oversees the budgeting and day-to-day management of the agency’s numbers; as well as leading the negotiation on client contracts. Prior to joining Headland in 2015, Yvonne was Financial Controller at Fishburn Hedges. As a CIMA-qualified chartered accountant with more than 20 years agency experience, Yvonne believes that the financial health of
- [Will Smith](https://www.headlandconsultancy.com/people/will-smith/) - Will is a specialist in financial and corporate communications. He has over a decade of experience in working with private and listed companies both in the UK and internationally. During that time he has advised clients through financial results and high profile moments including M&A, IPOs, crises and corporate restructurings. Will has broad sector expertise,

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