Working as a marketing director and as a consultant, I have acquired a wide range of expertise that spans branding, marketing, communications, market research and proposition development.

Most recently I worked as Marketing Director of Weatherbys Bank where I built the marketing function from scratch.  Working closely with the management team, board and CEO, we developed a clear vision of the future, changed perceptions of the business and created much greater awareness of the Weatherbys Bank brand.

Prior to that I worked as a Marketing Director for Virgin Management where I used my market research, proposition development and marketing skills to help set up three new businesses: Virgin Pulse, Virgin Health Bank and Virgin Care. 

The first ten years of my career were spent at the business and marketing strategy consultancy SRU.  Projects ranged from working with McKinsey to define the role of technology in schools to helping Virgin Management to decide if and how to enter the mobile phone market.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Managing a project commissioned by the Labour Party to create a policy blueprint for the use of technology in schools.
  • Playing a key role in the development and launch of three new Virgin branded companies: Virgin Pulse, Virgin Care and Virgin Health Bank.
  • Creating and organising a fundraising event that raised £236,000 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
  • Creating an effective marketing function from scratch for Weatherbys Bank in less than three years.
  • Project managing a hugely successful new conference for Weatherbys that fundamentally changed perceptions of the brand.
  • Realising my childhood dream to play tennis at county level aged 46.

“Over the years I have attended many, many conferences – some where I have been a speaker – and I never go with high expectations. As such, my bar may not be high, but yesterday’s conference was, without doubt, in a different league, quite simply the finest conference I have ever attended.”
Conference Guest

Strengths

Creative: As well as being good at devising an overall strategy, I am a particularly creative thinker.

“The robust thinking, structure and detail of the marketing plan put together by Clare for Weatherbys is far in advance of any of the work we see from our other clients across financial services.”
White Marble Marketing Consultants

Charismatic:  I am a natural leader.  This is partly down to energy, determination and charisma.  I break down barriers, get buy in and make stuff happen. 

“Thank you for all the support you have given the Ambassador team, gathering us together  and inspiring us to keep going.”
Judith, Brand Ambassador at Weatherbys Bank

Conscientious:  I was brought up to believe “If a job’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”  I am extremely diligent, never rest until something is perfect and I don’t make mistakes.

“Thanks for the update for the Board.  You’ve clearly been working very hard to get us to this point and have a number of very positive initiatives in place for the coming months.  And all of the new material looks terrific. Good job!”
David Bellamy, Chairman, Weatherbys Bank

Persuasive:   I’m good at persuading people to adopt new ideas necessary to create change.

“Clare’s work to define the brand values at Weatherbys and then solicit feedback from staff through her new brand ambassador programme as to how the staff were and were not able to deliver against the brand values, permanently changed the culture and the way the business is run for the better.” 
Steven Robinson, Chief Operating Officer, Weatherbys Bank

Caring:  I’m good at managing people largely because I care so much about my colleagues and enjoy supporting them.

“You have been an invaluable asset to Weatherbys and I admire how you have been  generous with your time, valuing and really listening. You recognised my potential and motivated me, even when I had lost some self belief.” 
Vivienne, Junior Banker, Weatherbys Bank

Honest: Where some people shy away from what they see as potential for confrontation, I see open and honest conversations as an opportunity.

“Clare has a passion for driving success, she works hard in taking the stakeholders on the journey with her.  A person who cares about both the people and the delivery, she is a great asset to any executive team”
Mark O’Connell, Interim Head of HR, Weatherbys Bank