Northcoders has promoted Steven Oakes to chief marketing officer with immediate effect.
As part of his promotion, he has joined the strategic board and will now play a pivotal role in helping to shape the firm’s ongoing growth and development alongside Chris Hill, CEO and co-founder; Amul Batra, chief partnerships officer and co-founder; Sam Caine, chief operating officer, and Charlotte Prior, chief financial officer.
Oakes joined Northcoders in September 2022 as director of marketing. Since his arrival, he has overseen a major overhaul of the customer journey and revamped all marketing activities which has resulted in a 92% increase in course applications over the past 12 months. Steven has also led on the launches of two new courses: Data Engineering and Cloud Engineering; played an integral role in Northcoders’ acquisition of Tech Returners, and ensured the company has gained an initial foothold in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Oakes is also a champion of diversity in tech. This focus has seen the launch of a new Gender Diversity Fund to help with cost of living while on Northcoders’ courses and increasing the accessibility of Northcoders onboarding and learning platforms, doubling the number of women and gender minorities on its courses in 2023.
Oakes joined Northcoders from STM-GRP where he was group digital director across the five-agency group. He has also worked at Red C Marketing, Bauer Media, BMG and Universal Music. In 1999, he founded a digital marketing agency creating websites for the likes of Elbow, Stereophonics and Underworld. He also worked with Sony Music, Universal and EMI on a broad range of digital marketing campaigns for artists.
Northcoders CEO and co-founder Hill said: “Over the past 18 months, Steven has made a hugely positive impact on the business. His experience, insight and expertise has ensured a near 100% rise in quality applications to our courses. His unwavering commitment to Northcoders, and his shared passion for promoting diversity in tech, means this promotion is well deserved. Myself and the rest of the board are looking forward to him becoming an integral part of the senior leadership team as we continue to grow and expand our offering over the coming years.”
Oakes added: “In a world where technology and more recently, AI continually reshapes our landscape, I’m excited to step into a role where I can directly contribute to moulding a future that reflects the diversity of our society. At Northcoders, we’re not just teaching code; we’re crafting a more inclusive digital tomorrow. This promotion enables me to amplify our commitment to breaking down barriers, ensuring that the transformative power of technology is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance.”
