About
Professional Summary
I am an experienced PR & Communications professional, a brilliant communicator with a track record in influencing multiple stakeholders. I am a 'do’er', not a delegator. I see the big picture but I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty and approach projects in a collaborative manner working in cross-functional teams within a matrix Global business. I execute with excellence and care about the teams that I lead.
As Director of PR & Communications in the UK and EMEA I am responsible for:
• Developing and executing internal and external communications strategy for the UK and EMEA business.
• Developing and implementing strategic and tactical communications plans to build the brand and promote key messages across all media - print, broadcast and social
• Advising senior leadership on communications reputation management and developing a media engagement programme that supports key business lines.
• Media evaluation and reporting objectives, targets and successes across the business.
• Leading on the delivery of strategic communications programmes for all our M&A activity in EMEA
Management:
- Manage the UK in-house PR team
- Provide strategic direction to the PR teams across EMEA
- For a year (2013/2014) I was Acting Head of EMEA Marketing & Communications (maternity leave cover)
- I am a member of the EMEA Marketing Leadership and Global PR & Social teams
- I lead the EMEA PR Leadership team
Accomplishments
I bring a wealth of corporate communications and PR experience in the real estate sector to any team. My expertise spans both agency and in-house PR roles and prior to joining Colliers International I managed my own PR consulting firm, Sidecar Communications. I was also EMEA PR Director for JLL for eight years; and worked for BDO Accountants, London Docklands Development Corporation and the Atomic Energy Authority. PR agencies that I have worked for include Bell Pottinger, Edelman and Tamesis (now FTI).
As EMEA & UK Director of PR & Communications at Colliers I am responsible for developing and executing our internal and external communications strategy; and advising executive management on reputation management. My digital media credentials are highly rated, I have often presented at conferences and I have years of experience in broadcast media.
Education
London College of Communications
York College of Arts & Technology
Whitby School
Memberships & Involvements
CIPR
Clients
Atomic Energy Authority, London Docklands Development Corporation, Grant Thornton, BDO LLP, Quadrant, Gensler Architects, , Gunwharf Quays, Edelemaan,
Testimonials
Peter Evans, Wall Street Journal Europe: "Charlotte and Claudia both have their fingers on the pulse and can help out with research and sourcing. Perhaps more importantly, both are excellent for property gossip and news."
Mark Valentine, Re-order
Business Development Director
"Charlotte was a very proactive, creative and strategic PR senior. I worked with her on a number of projects including the flagship event for our tax practice. Our media exposure and value was the best it ever had been and key stakeholders commented as such. A charismatic engaging individual I'd recommend Charlotte to anyone." August 6, 2010, Mark worked directly with Charlotte at BDO LLP
Stuart Smith, CEO, EAME Ogilvy Public Relations
"Charlotte showed an unparalleled knowledge of the communications environment in her sector and had an unstoppable enthusiasm for trying new strategies and getting results. She was a delight to work for as a client and knew how to get the best out of her agency and teams. An around great professional.
February 1, 2011, Stuart was a consultant or contractor to Charlotte at Jones Lang LaSalle
Services
My Team
My Team
Suzy Simpson
Associate Director
London - West End
As Acting Head of PR & Communications for UK and EMEA, I am currently covering maternity leave for Director of PR & Communications, Charlotte Williams.
In this role I am responsible for:
• Developing and executing internal, external & digital communications strategy for the UK and EMEA business.
• Developing and implementing tactical communications plans to build the brand and promote key messages across all aspects of the mdeia - print, broadcast and social
• Advising senior management on communications and developing a media engagement programme that supports key business lines.
• Media evaluation and reporting objectives, targets and successes across the business.
• Reputation management and crisis management
• Media training
Managment:
- Manage the UK in-house PR team and oversee the work of our external PR agencies and consultants
- Provide strategic direction to the PR & Digtal Marketing teams across EMEA
- I am a member of the EMEA Marekting Leadership and Global PR & Social teams
- I lead the EMEA PR Leadership team
Prior to taking on this role, I was an Associate Director with my main responsibilities being to oversee PR strategy for the UK regions, my key resiponsibilities include:
Developing and implementing PR campaigns for service lines across the UK/EMEA regions as well as on ongoing profile raising of our UK regional offices.
Delivering creative PR campaigns and distributing news from across the business, including new instructions, transactions, research reports, new starters and new business initiatives.
Developing relationships between key individuals and relevant journalists through our strategic media engagement programme.
Drafting and managing industry award entries.
Supporting PR Director Charlotte Freeman on EMEA M&As and major corporate annaouncements to ensure that the brand is properly represented externally.
Media Training for key spokespeople
Currently on maternity leave.
As PR manger in the UK, I am responsible for media relations and generating coverage in top tier media. I work across a range of Colliers’ UK & Pan-EMEA business lines (residential; licensed and leisure; planning; hotels; retail; healthcare and automotive) advising on their strategic and tactical PR needs.
My role includes:
· Developing and executing PR plans for the various business lines to help promote their key messages across all aspects of the media - print, broadcast and social.
· Media evaluation and reporting objectives, targets and successes across the business.
· Reputation management and crisis management.
· Media training.
· Media engagement: setting up meetings with top tier media and various internal spokespeople to continuously expand and build a presence with property and vertical media network.
· Consistently delivering service excellence, meeting with business heads of a regular basis and trying to influence the research as much as possible to ensure our content has a strong enough news hook.
· Key campaigns that I work on include MIPIM; MAPIC; REVO; Midsummer Retail Report; IHIF; Cities of Influence in addition to a host of all alternative property sector research reports.
Helen O'Reilly
UK Head of Marketing and Digital
London - West End
As UK Head of Marketing and Digital Helen is responsible for building a marketing strategy that grows brand awareness; drives lead generation; works across business lines to help influence customer experience and ultimately helps us meet our growth and revenue targets.
Previously, Helen led the Digital team in the UK & EMEA from May 2017 and prior to that she was Head of Marketing and PR for Colliers in Ireland.
Helen studied at University College Cork where she has a bachelor degree in Law and French, and at Dublin Business School where she has a diploma in Marketing and Event Management.
Having worked in Marketing and PR across various industries including the Motor Industry with brands such as BMW, Mini, Citroen and Hyundai as well as leading the marketing for Ireland’s most prestigious theatre, the Gate Theatre Helen has a passion for creative digital marketing strategies. Prior to this, Helen worked as a Production Manager for Independent TV production companies for over 5 years, at which time she managed the web and social media platforms for several TV shows, and produced spin on online shows to compliment TV broadcasts. Helen also has experience in managing and coordinating large scale events including awards shows, pop-up events, launches and small festivals.
Esther Maraite
Associate Director | EMEA Marketing
EMEA Headquarters
I started my career working on marketing and re-branding projects for Swiss and HSBC Private Bank. Post-MBA I was a strategic marketer for six years at Euroclear, a financial institution looking after banks, central banks and major corporations. I joined Colliers in August 2015 from Knight Frank where I looked after the EMEA regions and UK Residential Development.
Throughout my career I have been involved in developing marketing plans and strategies for B2B and B2C companies. I am a creative thinker, with strong experience in brand management and the creation of sales angles. Campaign measurement, reporting, and marketing research is also something I have been involved in. I am client-focused with strong communication and presentation skills. I have always worked in a global environment, both as part of a team as well as leader of cross-department working groups, and liaised with creative stakeholders, such as advertising agencies, and senior stakeholders including CEOs or CFOs. Through acquiring an MBA, I gained a broad understanding of general business practices, and continuous improvement, lean management, agile methodologies/Scrum for marketing.
I am the Head of Bids and Pitches for the EMEA region. I have over 15 years experience within the property industry. I have extensive knowledge of bid and pitch management across all commercial and residential service lines.
My role includes new business generation, bids, pitches and proposals, delivering creative and innovative proposals to win new work, presentation coaching for senior stakeholders and undertaking extensive feedback/ review sessions with internal and external clients.
Claire Holmes
Director | Head of Bid Team
London - West End
Head of Colliers’ Bid Team, an award-winning business development service to deliver successful bids. Member of the Management team for the UK business. Co-leads on business development and marketing strategy. Framework Account Director (public sector frameworks and financial services panels).
Member of Colliers Corporate Responsibility (manages Social Value Charters on behalf of the UK business): Diversity & Inclusion Steering Group & Programme and Sustainability Steering Group. Works with Compliance regarding Clients' Supplier Audits and Certifications (i.e. ISO 27001). Account Manager in maintaining annual compliance of clients' supplier audits on Hellios (financial and retail services) and Avetta (financial services). Claire coaches people to pitch and is involved in Colliers training and development programme. Claire is a bid writer; manages pitch design and film production. Specialist Multi-lingual marketer with extensive global real estate track record in property marketing.
Awards: Colliers Bid Team won the "Business Services" EMEA 2018 awards. Claire won the UK 2017 "Client Service" award. 2019 Colliers Bid Revenue and Win-rate were a record high, following a 6-year continuous year-on-year increase.
Previously worked in transactional teams: Office Agency & Investment; Development Consulting and Destination Consulting (Place making). Prior job appointments with CBRE and Savills.
Member of the British Property Federation (BPF) Business Development Forum; Winmark Marketing Directors Network; Corporate Executive Board (CEB) Marketing Leadership Council and Association of Proposal Management Professionals (APMP). Claire is involved in mentoring fellow bid personnel. Outside of work, Claire has been involved in chairing counselling calls for ladies support groups and stress management.
Colliers International is a global leader in real estate services with more than 18,000 professionals in 68 countries. It is a subsidiary of Colliers International Group Inc. (CIGI) which is listed on the NASDAQ and TSX as CIGI. In the UK and Ireland, Colliers has 900+ staff across 16 offices.
uk.linkedin.com/in/claireholmes
Rachel Bunney
Head of Client Engagement
London - West End
I am responsible for implementing our client engagement programme and advancing our major markets strategy. By driving CRM activity for identified targets my role is to ensure that we have accurate client intelligence fueling Salesforce and business development plans; as well as measuring client satisfaction levels to ultimately improve our client engagement. I also provide strategic marketing advice to our London Offices Division.