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
Group Account
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 Group Account 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.
Rhona
Templer
Group Account Director
Rhona started her PR career at award-winning agency Jane
Howard PR working across consumer and fashion accounts. Then, after
working on big brand accounts at Jackie Cooper PR including Pretty
Polly, L’Oreal and Procter and Gamble brands, she set up her
own consultancy, tonic pr. It was here that her agency developed her
proudest campaign to date – the Fast Lane Campaign on London’s
Oxford Street – that achieved international notoriety! Her food
and events experience includes Caffe Nero, California Prunes, Danone
brands as well as Elle Style Awards, Pride Festival and London Mens
Fashion Week. Rhona joined Wild Card in December 2007. Here she is
responsible for a number of events, food and drink accounts and plays
a leading role in driving Wild Card's new business campaign.
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.
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.
Louise
Sansom
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.
Nina Plowman
Senior Account Manager
When Nina joined Wild Card in 2005, she brought with her a diverse
range of consumer experience spanning the arts, travel, retail,
motoring and government campaigns. Previous clients include Waterstone's,
Piaggio,
Vespa, the Royal Garden Hotel and the Olympia Fine Art & Antiques
Fair.
At Wild Card, Nina looks after clients on the wine and luxury/lifestyle
side of the business.
Nina read
English Literature at University of London, and trained as a journalist following
graduation. She has worked on numerous publications including The
Times, Sunday Telegraph and Press Gazette.
Emily
Thoubboron
Account Manager
Emily graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2003 with a degree in European
Business with French having spent 6 months in Sydney and 12 months in Toulouse
as part of her studies. During her time at university, Emily gained extensive
work experience at a number of large companies including Unilever and Coca-Cola
where she developed a passion for brands. Her career in PR started in 2004 with
Articulate Communication where she worked across a number of design and consumer
lifestyle events including New Designers, London Design Festival and The Chelsea
Crafts Fair.
At Wild Card, Emily works as an Account Manager across a diverse
range of accounts.
Laura
Gray
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.
Fiona
St. George
Account Manager
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.
Amanda
Parkinson
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
before arriving at Wild Card in 2008 as an Account Manager.
Alex
Irving
Account Manager
Alex joined Wild Card in 2007 to follow her interest in food and drink,
and luxury lifestyle brands. With a passion for PR, Alex decided to
develop her chosen career by completing an MA in Communications Management
after she graduated in Psychology from The University of York.
Moving to Stretch PR in 2005, Alex worked on various clients in architecture,
design and food. Focusing on markets and access to fresh food, she
worked on various projects including London’s Borough Market
and the London Architecture Biennale.
Alex is currently working on design, lifestyle and food clients at
Wild Card.
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.
Sophie McCartney
Senior Account Executive
Sophie graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University in 2005 after
gaining a BA (hons) in Public Relations. She continued to live
in Leeds after graduation and worked in marketing and PR recruitment
before
heading down to London to pursue her PR career further.
She started
work at 360 Communications in 2006, and worked on a variety
of accounts such as Ryvita, New Covent Garden Food Co. and Gillette.
Sophie joined Wild Card in January 2007 as an Account Executive working
on the food and drink team.
Lucy
McGonigle
Account Executive
Lucy graduated from Northumbria University with a BSc (HONS) in Communication
in 2006. She first came down to London for a work placement at Vogue
following her passion for fashion, before returning to Newcastle to
start a PR career at Golley Slater.
Lucy joined Wild Card in September 2007 and works on the food and
drink side.
Roxanne
Newton
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.
Natalie
Dunbar
Account Executive
Natalie graduated from Exeter University where she received a 2:1
in English. Before embarking on her career in PR, she spent some time
travelling around Australia and Asia. Natalie completed work experience
at Rebel and the PR department of Moet &Chandon. She joined Wild
Card in September 2006 where she works on a range of food and drink
clients.
Kim
Atkins
Account Executive
Kim graduated with a 2:1 degree in Sociology from the University of
Leeds in 2003. After graduating, Kim embarked on a round the world
trip, ending in Buenos Aires where she lived for two months, completing
a diploma in Spanish from the University of Buenos Aires. On return
from travelling, Kim spent the winter season working in the UK promoting
a new Ski Simulator and then spent the summer managing a Vietnamese
restaurant and champagne bar. Kim then set off to France for the 05/06
ski season, managing a hotel restaurant in Val D’Isere.
Back in the UK, Kim took a PR and events role at the University of
Kent before moving to London to a financial PR agency. Kim’s
love of travel, food and drink and lifestyle products led her to Wild
Card and she joined the team in March 2008 working on a range of food,
drink, fashion and travel accounts.
Laura
Peal
Account Assistant
Laura joined Wild Card as an Account Assistant for her university
placement year in September 2007 to expand her knowledge and experience
in a consumer PR agency. As a Marketing and Management student from
Newcastle University, Laura opted to spend a year in industry, before
she returns to the North this September to complete her degree.
Laura's interest in PR and Marketing began during her gap year when
she worked at integrated ad agency Ware Anthony Rust. She worked on
brands including Visa, Multiyork and Trader before spending a ski
season in the Alps and teaching English in Africa.
Laura works on a mixture of food and luxury clients and, after university,
Laura hopes to pursue her career in food marketing and PR.
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.
Amber
Organ
Office Manager and Receptionist
After studying for her A levels in English Literature and
Drama, Amber decided to take a gap year and started off working in
the leisure industry. She then set off to travel around Europe, eventually
settling in Spain where she worked in financial services and at a
coastal radio station.
On her return to England she joined one of the most prestigious department
stores in England, culminating in running an Italian Designer fashion
franchise.
In 2007 she moved into Office Management, working for luxury Serviced
Offices, which prepared her for her move to Wild Card in January 2008
as Office Manager and Receptionist.
Ruth
Kneller
Finance Manager
Ruth has a background in accountancy and has run several successful
companies with her husband. She was financial director of a communications
company before taking a sabbatical. Having a restaurant was on the
Œlife list¹ and after successfully running a critically
acclaimed restaurant Ruth joined Wild Card in February 2008 as finance
manager.
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.
Accounts
team
The Wild Card Accounts Department is run by Sharon Mills and Margaret
Davies, assisted by Jenny Norman. All work part-time, but flexibly
to meet the challenges of the accounting function in such a dynamic
and growing company. They are based in Wild Card’s Northamptonshire
office.
Luxury and
lifestyle
Food and drink
Exhibitions
and events