new hires Archives - Stripe Communications

A new Stripe force in London

By Juliet Simpson julietsimpson
22nd January 2016
#StripeLife

It’s official… We’re excited to announce the opening of our new London office and the appointment of Chris Stevenson as our London MD.

Chris joins us from Emanate and over his career has worked with some of the most respected agencies and exciting brands to deliver PR, digital and communications strategies for clients across consumer tech, entertainment, FMCG and sports. He brings his expertise and innovative thinking to lead the business and nurture and grow our reputation in London.

But that’s not all we’ve been up to, as we continue to develop our strategic, creative and digital offering. We’re excited to announce that we have three further new senior players to add to our team.

Anna Russell, former General Manager, Brand Marketing at Audi of America has joined us as Director of Strategy. Anna will be expanding Stripe’s strategic and creative services and continuing the digital evolution of the agency.

Lesley Morton was part of the original start-up team at Stripe and returns as Head of Brand Entertainment. For the last four years she has been working on global brand campaigns and brings communication specialisms across music, arts, film & TV from her previous role as head of the Music & Entertainment team at CSM Sport & Entertainment.

And last but not least, we announce Hilary Joiner as our new Creative Director. With 20 years’ experience in both traditional and digital arenas, Hilary will be responsible for developing and delivering Stripe’s creative capabilities and ensuring that great ideas continue to be a part of our DNA.

We’re kicking off 2016 as we mean to go on. It’s our tenth year and we’re as ambitious now as we’ve ever been. The demand from our clients for integrated communications continues to grow and at Stripe we’re committed to innovating and differentiating our business.

Watch this space…

Stripe grows our team with four new appointments

Hot on the tails of our recent digital expansion, we’re excited to announce the addition of four new and very talented Stripes to our growing team.

Andrew Boocock is a former senior account manager at Gardiner Richardson managing B2B and consumer accounts, joins Stripe as an senior account manager in our Edinburgh office. Prior to agency life Andrew was a sports journalist for the BBC.

Hayley Angell, an Aussie native, communications specialist and former keynote speaker, has taken up the role of account manager in our Glasgow office. Hayley brings with her a wealth of experience and passion for integrated marketing campaigns, social media strategy and great writing.

Elaine Cowan joins Stripe as PA to the Board. Drawing on her experience of juggling commercial property marketing and raising a fearless toddler, Elaine is set to bring more than a little order to the Stripe board.

Ana Zamora, a seasoned receptionist and paella-maker extraordinaire joins Stripe in our fast-paced front of house role.

Find the edge of your comfort zone and then jump

By Andrew Boocock acboocock
9th November 2015
#StripeLife

A good friend once told me that life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.

Wise words for a copywriter you might say, but particularly poignant in my current circumstances. This year I decided it was time to test my nerve by leaving the familiarity of home behind for a brand-spanking new adventure.

Now fear of the great unknown is a very normal human characteristic. We are wired to be risk averse. But is trying something new really all that scary?

The answer is of course, no.

In fact being brave and throwing yourself into what seems like uncomfortable experiences is the best thing you can do to develop and grow. It’s all about adapting to your surroundings (this is especially true as a PR).

Broadening my personal and professional horizons was a core motivation for leaving home comforts behind and joining the crew at Stripe.

I’ve always harboured the ambition to work with a team of adventurers – exploring new creative possibilities for inspiring change and doing things differently. And on the evidence of my first few weeks at the agency, the team strives to be bold with its ideas and brilliant in its delivery in all that it does.

Of course starting a new job is a unique and compelling challenge. Unfamiliar surroundings, alternative processes and different ways of thinking can be bamboozling at first.

But thanks to the warm welcome I received by my new creative partners in crime I’ve soon felt at home. A bag full of bounty and a haul of locally brewed ales obviously help.

However, it’s the friendly personalities of the team that make this new chapter in my PR story worthwhile. If the measure of a successful team is its people, then Stripe’s glass is more than half full.

Suddenly being out of my comfort isn’t all that bad. In fact I’d recommend it.

So be bold and dare to be brilliant. It’s the only way to earn your stripes.

Stripe expands digital skill set

To strengthen our integrated communications offering we’re excited to announce some new players that have joined the team.

Stripe has appointed a Digital Strategist, Designer and Digital Account Manager to further enhance the digital experience for our clients across all sectors and specialisms. Reporting into Digital Director, Darcie Tanner, the new roles are a strong mix of adding both new digital expertise to the mix, as well as increasing the skill set within the current team.

Emily Puddephatt joins Stripe as our Digital Strategist. Emily was previously at DigitasLBi/Lost Boys, bringing five years’ experience working on award-winning cross-digital projects, ranging from community management, influencer outreach and social operations through to full social and integrated strategy for clients such as Nissan, Interactive Investor, SAB Miller, BBC Worldwide and UGG Australia.

Hannah Murray joins Stripe as a Digital Account Manager, also from DigitasLBi where she spent three years working across the search (SEO) side of the business, with a focus on social search campaigns for UK and international clients such as Danone, Europcar and award-winning work for Premier Inn.

Rachel Patrick, designer (with digital design expertise), joins the team after working in the Digital Directorate of The Scottish Government, prior to which she worked agency side and has experience working with IRN-BRU, The Royal Mail, Glasgow 2014 and Nandos.

Our digitally integrated accounts have more than doubled in the last 12 months and there is no doubt in what direction the market is going. These new appointments allow us to continue to exceed client expectations and deliver a strong, creatively driven approach that builds upon and broadens our capabilities in today’s increasingly competitive and connected world.

Stripe’s expertise in digital has been recognised most recently with shortlistings in the Social Buzz Awards and UK Social Media Communications Awards and our addition to The Drum’s Digital Census.

You can see a full list of the Stripe crew on our Stripe People page.

Stripe strengthens digital proposition

We’re kicking off 2015 with a further strengthening of our digital team and a big welcome to our newest Stripes – Darcie Tanner and Kris Robb.

The appointment of our new Digital Director Darcie supports our strategic growth plan to further develop and invest in our digital proposition to match client demand. Darcie joins the Stripe Management Board with responsibility for strategic business development, digital delivery and revenue growth.

Coming from Lost Boys (part of the DigitasLBi network), where she most recently held the position of Head of Social Operations, Darcie has wide-ranging experience in Scottish and global markets working on campaigns for clients in the FMCG, automotive, sports, online retail, travel & hospitality, finance, food & drink, technology, telecoms, insurance and beauty sectors.

Kris joins us as Digital Account Manager and was also previously with Lost Boys as Community Manager. Having worked on a range of global brands, Kris brings expertise and insight in social media management and cross-digital projects to Stripe where he will focus on boosting clients’ digital presence.

Texan-born Darcie and Kris, a Business Information Systems graduate of Edinburgh’s Napier University, will support the wider agency team on digital and social consultancy, content generation and delivery.

Managing Director of Stripe Communications, Juliet Simpson, said: “2015 is gearing up to be our most ambitious year yet and digital is undoubtedly a key strategic area for us with client activity continuing to grow. Both Darcie and Kris are hugely experienced and talented digital players who will help us take our clients to the next level.”

Warm Stripey Welcome to Kara & Georgia

Here at Stripe Towers, we’re thrilled to welcome our new Stars and Stripes – the lovely Kara and Georgia joined us earlier this month and have got stuck right in!

Both have hit the ground running and are already contributing to the busy Stripe life.

Over the next 6 months, Kara and Georgia will be given the opportunity to work with a number of different clients and sectors, undergo a structured training and development programme and benefit from weekly coaching sessions.

Kara joins us after completing a journalism course at Napier University and is a food and fitness fanatic. Georgia gained a degree in Literature from Edinburgh University and we love that she is a self-confessed bookworm who enjoys baking. The Stripe team are already hoping for book recommendations and office cakes!

Now in its fifth year, our ‘Stars and Stripes’ programme is open to all recent graduates and offers a six-month full paid trainee account executive position with UK’s leading consumer PR agency.

For details on Stars and Stripes 2015 please keep an eye on our website or follow Stripe Communications on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Blog : new hires