Kate
Wild
Managing Director
With over 20 years' experience in consumer and business to business
public relations, Kate Wild started her career at Hill & Knowlton,
having graduated from Exeter University. She spent six years in the
consumer marketing division at H&K working on accounts such as
Kellogg's, St Ivel Gold, The Post Office, The National Dairy Council
and Baxter's of Speyside.
Kate left Hill & Knowlton to help set up a small consumer
and corporate PR consultancy, Wearne Associates. There she
directed accounts such as
RHM Foods (encompassing, amongst others, the Bisto, McDougalls
and Robertson's brands), Marlow Foods (the launch of the meat
alternative, Quorn), John
West and Tupperware. Directing the work across all aspects of
these accounts, she had particular input on strategic consultancy
and brand development.
Kate was also responsible for issue consultancy and management
across all clients and worked with the company principal, Alison
Wearne, on the
development and execution of crisis management contingency plans.
In
1994, Kate left Wearne Associates to start working as an independent
PR consultant from her home. Early clients included Merchant
Gourment, KitchenAid and John Cullen Lighting (still clients
of Wild Card today).
Wild Card was established in May 1997 and incorporated in April
2000.
Lindsay
Stewart
Director
Lindsay served her PR apprenticeship in the Consumer Department
of The Communications Group. In 1986, aged 25, she set up Conal
Walsh & Stewart
Limited with one of her colleagues and successfully specialised
in the food and drink sectors for the next ten years. In 1996
she was appointed first to the board of Richmond Towers and
the following year to the board with The Grayling Group where
she headed up accounts
including the Glenfiddich Food & Drink Awards, Le Creuset cast iron
cookware and Screwpull wine and champagne accessories. Lindsay
joined Wild Card in September 2003. Here she oversees the Food & Restaurant
Division and is responsible for developing new business.
Nish
Assomull
Divisional Director
Having joined Wild Card in 2000 as an account executive, Nish is one
of the longest serving members of the team. She cut her teeth at the
Public Affairs department of the National Farmers Union where she
helped to launch the Little Red Tractor and managed campaigns to 'Bring
Back British Beef' and World Rural Women's Day. As luck would have
it, she left just before the foot and mouth crisis!
She is now a Divisional Director and is responsible for managing
a number of food and event accounts. Nish is also involved in the
strategic development of the company, heading up the new business
drive, and looks forward to growing with the company.
Celia
Clark
Senior Account Director
Celia started her working life at Louis Latour Ltd, the UK subsidiary
of Burgundy house Maison Louis Latour, having graduated with a music
degree from Oxford University in 1993. After a brief spell in advertising,
she gravitated back to the wine trade, joining Laurent-Perrier Champagne
as Marketing Manager.
Celia joined Wild Card in November 2000 and since the birth of Holly
and Jemima works three days a week, but is a dedicated Senior Account
Director for clients in the homes, luxury and lifestyle sectors.
Louise
Sansom
Senior Account Director
Louise began her career working at an international PR consultancy
where she gained a wealth of experience in the food and drink sectors.
As an Account Director at Wild Card, Louise is responsible for the
strategic direction of campaigns for brands including Ketel One Vodka,
Union, Merchant Gourmet, Discovery Foods and the iconic KitchenAid
collection to name a few. Louise also manages the prestigious Glenfiddich
Food & Drink Awards.
Jen
Eveleigh
Account Director
Jen joined Wild Card in July 2001 as receptionist and account assistant,
and moved up the ladder to Account Director in 2006.
After completing a degree in English Language and Literature at The
University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Jen traveled round the world
and fulfilled a dream of working a ski season in the Alps, before
embarking on the world of work.
Jen has taken a Wine & Spirits Education Trust Certificate and
looks after clients on the wine and luxury/lifestyle arm of Wild Card.
Fiona
St. George
Account Director
After completing an MA in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University,
Fiona pursued a career in publishing, starting out with cookery book
publisher Quadrille. Promptly falling for all things recipe-based,
Fiona spend the next few years working in the publicity departments
for the UK’s most reputable cookery publishers, handling the
book campaigns of top chef and food writers. Fiona joined Wild Card
in July 2007 as a Account Manager and works on a range of food and
lifestyle clients.
Georgie Upton
Account Director
Georgie Upton is an account director in our Truro office. She worked with Wild Card London in 2002-2006, before leaving to work at consumer lifestyle agency Lexis PR. In 2009, after having a baby, Georgie was tempted back to Wild Card and now works primarily on food, travel and lifestyle. Her experience is varied having worked on a large cross section of FMCG and retail brands including Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Coca-Cola and diet Coke, TK Maxx, Baileys, Hellmann’s Mayonnaise and Tassimo - to name but a few. When not at work, Georgie enjoys the Cornish lifestyle with her hubby and baby Ernest – plenty of walking, enjoying the incredible scenery, followed by eating some of the best food in the world.
Laura
Gray
Senior Account Manager
Laura's interest in PR was sparked by a yearlong work placement in
a top Manhattan hotel, undertaken as part of her degree in International
Hospitality Management at the University of Surrey.
After graduating in 2004, Laura started at travel specialist PR agency
McCluskey International, where she spent over three years working
with travel and lifestyle media to promote her tourist board, hotel
group and airline clients. Whilst at McCluskey, Laura had the opportunity
to travel extensively, with highlights including trips to South Africa
and Uganda.
Having moved to Wild Card in July 2007, Laura now works on a range
of food, restaurant & lifestyle clients.
Amanda
Parkinson
Senior Account Manager
After studying German at The University of Manchester, which included
a year living in Heidelberg, Amanda began her career in PR in Los
Angeles working for the British American Business Council. She then
went on to work at a consumer PR agency where clients included Beverly
Hills Chamber of Commerce, Make A Wish Foundation and Wham-O Toys.
When she returned to the UK she joined an agency which specialised
in food and worked on a range of accounts including Jazz™ apples,
Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Tetley tea. Amanda then completed a short
stint as a freelancer working on big brands such as Bosch and Lindt
Hannah Kent
Account Manager
After gaining a 2:1 in Public Relations at Bournemouth University in 2006, which included a years internship in-house at the John Lewis press office, Hannah began her agency career at The Red Consultancy. Working on a diverse range of generalist consumer clients, ranging from Nokia, Debenhams, The AA and Heinz, Hannah left in 2008 to specialise in food, drink and travel PR. After a year working at a specialist restaurant and hotel agency on leading accounts such as The Royal Garden Hotel and Gidleigh Park, Hannah joined the Wild Card team in August 2009. Hannah works on a range of food, drink and travel accounts, which fits in nicely with her love of eating out at top restaurants and travelling whenever possible!
Charmaine Peterson
Account Manager
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in America,
Charmaine embarked her PR career in a small travel PR firm in the Midwestern
US before setting off to London where she received a Master's degree in
Marketing Communications with an emphasis in PR and Advertising. Since she's
worked in fashion PR on luxury brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo, Pronovias
and Sharpham Park, moving onto consumer PR and working on brands such as
Blue Dragon, Ryvita, Kingsmill and Patak's. Charmaine joined Wildcard in
November 2009 and finds it a perfect fit with her love of food and travel.
Rosie
Halloran
Senior Account Executive
Rosie graduated with a 2:1 degree in PR and communications from Southampton
Solent University. She is also a graduate of the Unlocking Cornish
Potential programme. Rosie has international business experience acquired
when working in South East Asia for 5 years before embarking on her
career in PR.
Back in the UK Rosie took a PR and events role handling food, drink,
charity and professional services accounts. Her particular passion
for food, drink and lifestyle PR led her to joining the Wild Card
team in March 2008.
Shannon
Green
Senior Account Executive
Shannon graduated with an 'A' from Auckland University of
Technology where she received a Bachelor of Communications, majoring
in Public Relations. Before moving to London from New Zealand, Shannon
worked for two top New Zealand consumer public relations agencies,
and was awarded by the PR Institute of New Zealand for her work with
a national charity. She joined Wild Card in April 2009, where she
works on a range of food and drink clients.
Roxanne
Newton
Senior Account Executive
Roxanne graduated with a 2:1 degree in English Literature from Queen
Mary’s University of London in 2006. Whilst studying for her
degree she also worked within the restaurant and drinks trade, gaining
over six years experience in the process.
This passion for food and drink led Roxanne to join the Wild Card
team on work experience in July 2006 before moving to Inspirit Brands.
Roxanne became a permanent member of the Wild Card team in March
2007 and uses her knowledge and previous experience on a range of
food, drink and event accounts.
Edwina
Harrison
Account Executive
Edwina graduated from Cardiff University where she received
a 2:1 in Psychology. After completing her degree, Edwina traveled
around South America and Australasia before settling on her career
in PR. Prior to joining Wild Card in August 2008, Edwina gained valuable
work experience at Linaker Ltd and Ensham Resources (Australia).
Joss
Price
Account Executive
Joss graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2004 with
a degree in Real Estate Management. Attracted by a career in the creative
industries he changed tack from property and embarked upon a role
with a design agency, spending two years in London working with a
range of publishing and editorial clients. Having always harboured
a dream to live on the coast Joss relocated from London to Cornwall
in 2007 setting up a business and getting his first taste for PR whilst
promoting his business to travel and lifestyle media.
Building on his growing interest for PR Joss joined the Wild Card
Truro office in January 2009 to work with a variety of South West
food, drink and lifestyle brands.
Emma Pengelly
Account Executive
Emma graduated from Sheffield University where she received a 2:1 degree in Sociology. After completing her degree, Emma attended Tante Marie School of Cookery where she completed a six-month intensive Cordon Bleu diploma. Although Emma loved food and drink she decided a career in catering was not for her, but she wanted to work in the food industry so she decided to pursue a career in food PR.
After finishing her cooking course, Emma worked for the consumer agency Nexus and worked on a range of accounts including Patak’s, Baxters, Bramley apples and Lion Quality eggs. Prior to joining Wild Card she freelanced at Freud Communications and worked at William Murray Communications.
Eddie Everard
Junior Account Executive
Eddie graduated with a 2:1 degree in Geography, Business and Environment from The University of Nottingham in 2008. After graduating she was lucky
enough to travel around South America before pursuing her career in PR. At University Eddie took the opportunity to gain work experience in PR and the media. This included a Press Assistant internship at the BBC Elstree Press Office, which looks after EastEnders, Holby City and Casualty. After graduating Eddie worked for the financial PR firm Lansons Communications as a Trainee Account Executive. Prior to joining Wild Card for work experience in March 2009 she undertook a placement at Freud Communications. Eddie was welcomed into the Wild Card team in May 2009. She works on various lifestyle, food and drink accounts.
Sarah
Kemp
Junior Account Executive
Sarah studied Writing for Media Arts at London Southbank
University. During this time she completed 7 months work experience
in the Marketing Department of MySpace and following her degree worked
for 3 months as a part of the social media specialist team at Entertainment
Intelligence, before setting her sights on the world of PR. She was
brought up by foodie parents, is a self confessed chocoholic and loves
all things food related. She now proudly works on a range of food
and lifestyle clients.
Simon
Holborow
Human Resources and Operations Director
Simon joined Wild Card in May 2006. He was previously a soldier. He
had a number of employments, most recently undertaking strategic research
and analysis for the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign & Commonwealth
Office and other government departments, for which he travelled widely
around the world.
Prior to that he had appointments in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans,
Northern Ireland, Sub Saharan and West Africa and also spent several
years with the Australian Parachute Regiment. He ran the human resources
and administrative component of the Army covering the west of England
and held an appointment for three years working for HM The Queen,
with particular responsibility for assisting in the coordination of
State Visits.
Kath
Teague
Payroll and Staff Manager
Kath joined the company in 2008 and brings a wealth of experience
to the finance department. She comes to Wild Card after having worked
for ten years with a local private company where as Payroll Supervisor
she had responsibility for over 2,000 staff; latterly she transferred
to the Human Resources department to work as part of the senior HR
team. Prior to this, Kath worked for the Inspector of Taxes where
her understanding of PAYE was gained. Kath's knowledge of the HR function
is supported by the qualifications she holds with the Chartered Institute
of Personnel and Development.
Katrina Milton
Finance and Human Recourses Executive
Katrina relocated from London to Cornwall in 1996 for a lifestyle change. She worked as a receptionist with an electronics company for the next nine years, during which time she gained a wealth of knowledge in both accountancy and payroll practice.
Before joining Wildcard she was responsible for the smooth running of the accounts and payroll systems for two companies as the Accounts and Payroll Manager.
Katrina joined Wildcard in November 2009 bringing her knowledge and skills to the finance team to work on the management accounts and enhance the provision of departmental analysis. She will also be supporting the HR function.
Lucy Warne
Placement Intern
Lucy is currently on her placement year whilst studying Events Management at Bournemouth University. After completing the first couple of months of her placement conference organising, she was enticed by the marketing side of the industry and decided that PR was more the route she wanted to go down, so was delighted to be offered an internship at Wildcard. She's quite a jet setter and has been lucky enough to explore many different continents from Africa to Australasia, she also enjoys eating out and being experimental in the kitchen! She is now happily working on a range of food and restaurant
clients.
