Brooklyn, New York, United States
Highly experienced, versatile communications executive with 18+ years of experience, in the US and UK, in all aspects of strategic communications and public relations activities for both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Excellent brand management skills combined with strategic mindset allow for successful campaign development regardless of the media vehicle, organization, or celebrity. Ability to proactively manage end-to-end publicity campaign operations from design to implementation to measurement. Skilled at conducting crisis management for high-profile talent and executives, strategically utilizing journalistic and industry contacts to influence public opinion and ensure consistent brand management. Adept at establishing respected and long-term professional relationships with journalism outlets and industry professionals. Demonstrated management skills to enhance team morale, efficacy, and learning, keeping team members fully apprised of greater objectives and any scope or strategy adjustments.
Headed up the ‘Planet Earth: Blue Planet II’ consumer and awards campaign strategy while seeking to build on the awareness, critical reviews and multi Emmy-winning predecessor ‘Planet Earth II’. Mindful of the audience demo that watched ‘Planet Earth II’, focused on primarily placing stories in media outlets that would immediately engage with that same audience. With a rich array of stunning footage, clips, photos and ‘never-before-seen’ facts the campaign was able to offer something unique to a wide range of outlets from traditional tv/culture coverage in newspapers and magazines to specialist publications and online communities focusing on nature, science, surfing and the environment among others. - Profile piece on Sir David Attenborough in the Washington Post; features on CBS Sunday Morning and ABC’s Nightline; several NPR interviews with the Executive Producer and team and a wide range of critical reviews across A-list media outlets. Key role in managing the publicity campaign for spy thriller ‘Killing Eve’, BBC AMERICA’s latest production, starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer with showrunner Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The campaign has achieved huge impact and ranks as one of the most critically acclaimed shows in the channel’s history. The campaign began at Winter 2018 TCA through to appearances at the Sundance Film Festival and press interviews in the run-up to premiere in April 2018. - Coverage achieved across numerous outlets including interviews with Sandra on the Today Show, Live with Kelly & Ryan and NPR’s Morning Edition as well as features and interviews with Jodie and Phoebe in Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Time, New York Magazine, Variety, Forbes and more.
Worked across a number of film projects - including award campaigns - and corporate accounts as well as on-the-ground PR activity at the major film festivals – Toronto, Sundance and Tribeca. Key titles included ‘The Promise’, ‘Lion’ and ‘Silence’ as well as documentaries ‘It’s Not Yet Dark’, Joe Berlinger’s ‘Intent to Destroy’ and ‘From the Ashes’ produced by RadicalMedia with Bloomberg Philanthropies. Other clients included Miramax and Kodak. - Reviews and red carpet coverage from ‘The Promise’ at TIFF in all major trades as well as the New York Times, NPR, Vanity Fair and EW/People. - Coverage for ‘It’s Not Yet Dark’, narrated by Colin Farrell in key trades for its Sundance premiere including an exclusive in the Hollywood Reporter featuring an interview with Colin.
Led on corporate communication strategies to raise the external profile, and help deliver on the business goals, of the company and its executives. Tactics included speaking opportunities, working with partners to ensure timely press announcements for key business divisions, maximizing talent opportunities and maintaining relationships with key trade journalists. Also worked on publicity strategies for BBC Worldwide-distributed indie documentaries including Academy Award short-listed 'We Come As Friends' and 'They Will Have To Kill Us First'. - President BBC Worldwide, Ann Sarnoff speaking at the Next TV Summit, June 2016 - San Francisco - Secured trade coverage for: BBC/SundanceTV co-production 'Top Of The Lake' Season 2; exclusive Amazon multi-year deal for 'Doctor Who'; 'Banished', the first BBC show to have its US premiere on iTunes and Netflix acquiring global rights to produce 'Scrotal Recall'.
Developed and implemented strategic consumer press strategies for IFC's slate of comedies such as 'Documentary Now' featuring Bill Hader, Seth Meyers and Fred Armisen as well as Emmy-nominated 'Portlandia' starring Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen. Also led on the IFC presentation at TCA Summer Tour as well as handling awards, including Emmys.
Co-managed the in-house PR team, as well as an external PR agency and unit publicist, to focus on strategic consumer press and award campaigns for key SundanceTV shows including Rectify and The Honorable Woman. Also handled events and talent relations. - Impactful coverage for The Honorable Woman in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall St Journal among others and a Golden Globe win and Emmy nomination for its star Maggie Gyllenhaal as well as three other nominations for the drama.