Today we can reveal Prolific North’s inaugural Top Northern Brand Marketers list, showcasing 28 of the North’s rising stars and established leaders at brands across the region.
The list was exclusively revealed in Leeds yesterday (25 June) to wrap up day two of Northern Marketing Festival before a panel discussion delved into how to raise the bar in the North when it comes to marketing and creativity.
The panel featured four of the leaders named on this year’s list with Caroline Huntley, partner marketing manager at Virgin; Laura Kenny, VP of marketing at BOXT, Dan Mortimer, head of marketing at Nimble Approach; and Angela Cameron, European brand and portfolio director at Mars. Read more about the discussion here.
Although it is not definitive or a ranking, this brand new list has been compiled from a combination of nominations from the marketing community along with a considerable amount of research from Prolific North’s editorial team.
There’s a real mix of leaders on the list, from rising stars leading international or challenger brands from the North to those working at VCs, SMEs and directors at homegrown Northern brands. Check out the full list below.
Prolific North’s Top Northern Brand Marketers 2024
*This list is not a ranking and has been compiled alphabetically.
Amy Jones, Marketing communications manager at Warburtons
A driven and passionate marketer, Amy Jones initially joined Warburtons as a marketing & comms assistant in 2019 and has since risen through the ranks to marketing communications manager at the well-loved bakery brand. Working across above the line and social advertising for Warburtons’ core and gluten free brands, she’s worked on projects such as the recent TV advert with Samuel L. Jackson and the Good Stuff sustainability advertising campaign.
Andreas Nicolaides, Head of customer planning and channels, John Lewis
Currently based in Cheshire as head of customer planning and channels at John Lewis, Andreas Nicolaides has previously driven marketing strategies for some of the most well-known consumer brands in the UK, including MoneySuperMarket, MBNA and N Brown Group. A marketing leader with a proven background in brand building and creating through-the-line campaigns that deliver results, he is currently responsible for the marketing budget and customer plan at John Lewis whilst driving for customer outcomes.
Angela Cameron, European brand and portfolio director, Mars
As the European brand and portfolio director for Mars-owned Pedigree based in Harrogate, Angela Cameron leads a team of marketers and is accountable for the European demand strategy and P&L delivery. A passionate marketer, Cameron has held local, global and regional marketing roles at Mars over the past 13 years and is known as an expert brand-builder and for leading diverse teams across functions, cultures and geographies to deliver breakthrough results. She’s also an alumni of The Marketing Academy, having been selected as one of 30 emerging leaders in Brand, Marketing and Advertising in the UK 2023 cohort.
Antony Peart, Director of brand and communications, Haier (owner of Hoover and Candy)
Hoover and Candy owner Haier has UK headquarters based in Warrington and is currently changing its strategy to involve emotional storytelling as a major feature in how the company communicates with customers. As a key part of the senior leadership team, director of brand and communications Antony Peart is responsible for all aspects of marketing strategy and previously had an 18-year stint rising through the ranks at Brother Europe.
Arafa Heneghan, Director of brand, AO
Arafa has been with AO for over seven years and is responsible for the brand marketing function of the group, which includes brand strategy, insight, sponsorship, media and social. With nearly 20 years of experience in brand and marketing at household names such as Nestle, The Co-op and The Yorkshire Building Society, she firmly believes that a brand must be ‘authentic’ and ‘believed in’ right across the organisation to make a difference to customers.
Ben Davies, Marketing director, Praetura Group
Based in Manchester, Ben Davies oversees marketing for Praetura Group, a group of companies providing alternative equity and debt funding solutions for ambitious SMEs in the North of England and across the UK. The marketing team has almost doubled in size in two years and has since ‘reimagined’ what an investor’s role is within the tech ecosystem, now looking to move from being a ‘challenger’ brand to creating a ‘new normal’ for the sector. Having held a variety of marketing roles in the last ten years, he has been part of several industry-first campaigns across a variety of sectors and previously headed up the marketing for the media arm of Social Chain.
Caroline Huntley, Partner marketing manager, Virgin
An established marketer based in Newcastle with over 10 years of brand marketing experience at the likes of at Newcastle Building Society and Comparethemarket.com, Caroline Huntley has covered everything from managing multi-million pound TV campaigns and shoots, negotiating partnership deals to launching mobile reward apps. At Virgin Red, the loyalty programme and centre of the Virgin Group, she currently oversees the strategic marketing efforts of several Virgin companies, and co-creation of marketing plans including Virgin Money in the UK and several US financial services partners.
Charlotte Dewhurst, Director of marketing, Matalan
Charlotte Dewhurst joined Matalan in April to shepherd through the second part of the new brand launch and has since spearheaded the strategy and development of the Matalan Brand design system. Matalan’s new design language will inform channels like display, OOH and DCO from June before continuing its roll out across owned channels. A proud Northerner, she was formerly VP group marketing at RS Group, leading a team of 45 to deliver and execute group marketing strategy across 32 markets during a period of change and growth within this FTSE 100 omni-channel global business.
Charlotte Geoghegan, Head of brand marketing, REFY
Charlotte Geoghegan joined REFY, a Manchester-based beauty brand founded back in 2020 by Jess Hunt and Jenna Meek. With cult-loved products Brow Sculpt, Brow Pomade and Brow Pencil, REFY now has 59 staff with impressive sales of £24m despite only operating for four years. Geoghegan has helped launch the REFY concealer, complexion brush and eye balm and recently returned from the US to plan a brand partnership with SEPHORA for the next two years.
Dan Mortimer, Head of marketing, Nimble Approach
With over a decade of experience in marketing across B2B, B2C and education brands, Dan Mortimer’s focus and dedication to brand marketing has helped to drive significant growth and visibility for Sheffield-headquartered Nimble Approach. In two years, the B2B tech consultancy has expanded from 50 to 150 people and has a growing client base that includes ITV, Asda, Ebuyer, NHS, BrightHR, MyTutor, and the Department for Education. He is committed to supporting the North’s growth and has started to volunteer with Venture.Community to support promising tech start-ups in the Sheffield region.
Dom Dwight, Strategy & innovation director, Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate
Dom Dwight has seen lots of change in his 16 years at Taylors of Harrogate, particularly during his eight years as marketing director where he helped Yorkshire Tea to become the UK’s number one brew through consistently creative comms. Now as strategy and innovation director at Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate focusing on strategy and innovation, Dwight is currently exploring new ideas that could shape the future for one of Yorkshire’s most successful independent businesses.
Fiona Mills, Brand communications lead, Greggs
As brand communications lead at Newcastle’s savoury and sweet treat favourite Greggs, Fiona Mills has previously been described as ‘leagues ahead on pushing boundaries’ and has played a part in developing award-winning marcomms, PR and above-the-line work during her 10 year stint at the brand. She has played a part in helping to shape and lead on some of Greggs most talked about campaigns and partnerships, including the launch of the Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll, Greggs Bistro with Fenwick and the Greggs X Primark collaboration.
Gareth Maritz, Director of marketing, Flutter UK & Ireland
Since leaving South Africa following the end of his professional rugby career for Leeds, Gareth Maritz has been hailed as a ‘pioneer’ in the performance marketing space, working for some of the world’s largest brands such as Dell, Booking.com and most recently Flutter UK&I. He now manages a team of marketing professionals to deliver cross brand change initiatives, introduce a holistic approach to marketing services, drive experimentation and maximise ROI and has established and implemented a brand-new measurement framework for the business.
Harriet Hughes-Payne, Marketing director, Stagecoach
Throughout her career, Harriet Hughes-Payne has worked on brands such as London Stock Exchange, Mercedes, Claridges, Barclays, Arla, AstraZeneca and Proctor & Gamble. Based in Leeds, she is currently group marketing director at Stagecoach and is responsible for leading the entire UK marketing team to strategically deliver growth and meaningfully grow the Stagecoach brand. She is currently driving the company’s first step in a ‘bold new marketing approach’ with a fresh, modern perspective on bus travel.
Helen Potter, Cereal brands marketing lead – UK & I, Kellogg Company
Joining Kelloggs in 2019, Helen Potter has been instrumental in driving team success, partnerships and brand strategy across the Kellogg Company’s marketing team across Manchester and the UK, including striking a multi-year partnership between Kellanova and Manchester City Football Club. Prior to joining Kellogg’s, she worked in a number of senior marketing roles for Mondelēz International, overseeing a £50m portfolio of the Oreo and Mikado brands in the UK.
Jason Dowling, Head of marketing, Applied Nutrition
Liverpool-based Applied Nutrition, creator of sports supplement brands including the Body Fuel sports drink, is targeting a £500m float in London and has the backing of JD Sports. With previous roles at Myprotein and Gymshark, Jason Dowling joined Applied Nutrition in 2022 where he has since redeveloped the company website from the ground up to increase website sales by 92% and traffic by 77% through CRO techniques. He was responsible for the ideation and execution of the multi-channel marketing campaign ‘Baddy the Baddy vs Logan Paul’ (BODYFUEL vs PRIME) which hit more than 30m social media views.
Katy Paris Royce, Head of Brand Marketing & PR, Craftd
Men’s jewellery brand Craftd is part of entrepreneur Danny Buck’s Liverpool-based Brandbuildr, which houses a number of ecommerce brands. The brand was set up in 2018 by Buck and former Big Brother contestant Alex Cannon. Since Katy Paris Royce joined Craftd in 2021 as head of brand marketing & PR, the company has soared with over £18.4m sales as of 2022 and named one of the fastest-growing companies by The Sunday Times.
Kenyatte Nelson, Chief Membership & Customer Officer, Co-op
Kenyatte Nelson has worked in marketing for more than 20 years, 13 of which were managing national and international marketing for major brands at Procter & Gamble. His career includes previously working at Shop Direct (now The Very Group), Missguided and most recently N Brown Group, where he was chief brand officer from 2019 until 2023. A former colleague at N Brown praised Nelson as a “really inspiring” leader. Now at Co-op, Nelson is responsible for Co-op’s membership, marketing and brand strategies with CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq hailing him as a “huge asset” to the brand, at the time of his appointment.
Laura Kenny, VP of marketing, BOXT
With over 10 years of experience in marketing and business development, Laura Kenny currently oversees the strategic direction and execution of all marketing initiatives at BOXT, which has recently ignited its plans to become go-to platform for the heating industry. One of the proudest moments of her career was recently seeing BOXT emblazoned around Elland Road at Leeds United, after striking a winning partnership between the brand and football club.
Liam Shannon, Head of Marketing, Represent
Represent is a fast-growing menswear brand, founded in 2011 by Bolton-based brothers George and Mike Heaton, and is set to reach £250m in revenues in 2025. Liam Shannon joined Represent in 2021 initially as senior digital marketing manager, before being promoted to his current role in 2022 and has played a key part in the brand’s growth ever since.
Lucy Gledhill, Brand director, Joanie
Lucy Gledhill is brand director at Joanie, a Manchester-headquartered DTC womenswear brand. Joanie celebrates its eighth anniverary in business this year and became a certified B Corporation in October 2023 and is now venturing into footwear with a debut 24-piece collection. The Joanie brand is built around an ethos of nostalgia with loyal customers named ‘Joanie Gals’. Everything at Joanie is designed in-house at the brand’s Manchester HQ and is shipped worldwide. Gledhill is invested in slow fashion and believes in sustainable styles for everyone.
Mark Cummins, Head of commercial marketing, Booking.com
Mark Cummins joined Booking.com in 2017 as head of direct marketing, before being promoted to head of commercial marketing in 2019. As a major employer in the North, Booking.com has actively cultivated the Manchester tech scene through a range of talent programmes and partnerships, including working with Tech Returners to help fund a 15-week course for individuals who were looking to return to the tech industry following a career break.
Mark Platten, Senior brand manager, Fentimans
Headquartered in Hexham, Fentimans is a brand that is ‘proud of its North East roots’ and the business is still in the Fentimans family, owned by the great grandson of Thomas Fentiman, Eldon Robson. Joining the business in 2021 initially in the role of customer marketing manager – route to market, Mark Platten is now senior brand manager at Fentimans looking after the Out of Home channel and the marketing for the brand’s international markets.
Naomi Horan, Social media & influencer manager, CLOUD NINE
Naomi Horan is social media and influencer manager at CLOUD NINE, a global hair and beauty brand born in Yorkshire. She joined in 2021, and is always on the go capturing endless social content plus organising and running influencer events across the globe.
Olivia Mae Hanlon, Founder, Girls in Marketing
Olivia Mae Hanlon has over seven years of digital marketing experience, previously working in-house and as a freelancer for international clients. Her expertise lies in organic marketing, focusing on SEO, content marketing and ecommerce and she has trained over 12,000 marketers both virtually and in-person over the last five years. She founded Girls in Marketing, a ‘six-figure female-led business’ in Leeds, with the company now a learning provider and community specifically for marketers looking for up-to-date and accessible content and resources.
Ruth Gresty, Regional Marketing Director – UK, Ireland, Middle East, Africa, Essity
Ruth Gresty has over 25 years of experience in both strategic brand and commercial marketing roles within FMCG food and non-food, home appliances and personal care & healthcare. With former roles at the likes of Kellogg’s and Spectrum Brands, Gresty currently leads Essity’s marketing team in Manchester overseeing the key consumer goods brands in the UK, Ireland, Middle East and Africa. From tackling period poverty to busting the taboo around bladder weakness, she’s been part of driving some very important campaigns.
Sarah Brownrigg, Senior global marketing manager, Barbour
Formerly a senior marketer at Fentimans, Sarah Brownrigg joined Barbour as global marketing manager in 2020 before being promoted to senior global marketing manager in 2023. A recent ‘career highlight’ included helping to work on a number of major campaigns such as Barbour’s Gucci Continuum Collection – produced in Barbour’s South Shields factory in the North East – as a partnership celebrating the long-standing heritage of both Gucci and Barbour.
Sarah Munnery, Head of customer marketing, Auto Trader
Joining Auto Trader in 2014, Sarah Munnery celebrates her 10th anniversary at the company this year after being appointed as head of customer marketing in 2023. Auto Trader recently beat market expectations with its full year results and set out a confident outlook statement, sending the shares up by more than 12 per cent.
The full list can be found below!
