Newcastle creative agency, Jump, has made three key appointments, including a new head of design, as it pushes towards its next growth phase.
Annabel Furness has moved North from London to work alongside creative director Andy Baxter, and help to oversee the seven-strong design team.
With a background in illustration and experience working as a freelance designer for leading London agencies, as well as in-house at organisations including national charity Stonewall, Furness will support the day-to-day running of the design team and the delivery of design projects.
She is a versatile graphic designer who specialises in communications and brand development for both print and digital platforms, while also creating campaigns, branding and identity development, animation and video.
Baxter will continue to deliver strategic advice and creative direction for brands including North East Ambulance Service, NE1, Newcastle College, and Marlish Water. He will also oversee the highest standards of design excellence across Jump’s portfolio of national and international clients.
The senior leadership team at Jump has undergone leadership training with 360 Growth Partners to help strengthen their skills and attributes. As Jump grows and expands, it has been important to remain focused on providing development for all employees throughout the business, which in turn supports the delivery of high-quality results for clients.
Other recent appointments include content marketing assistant Lucy Middleton and designer Connor Reed. Middleton joins having spent two years working in the education sector, most recently with Education Partnership North East. She will assist the marketing team at Jump with content creation, having studied Fashion Marketing at Northumbria University.
Reed spent over three years working for global engineering consultancy Arup, delivering design solutions in-house, across a wide range of sectors including energy, sustainability, transport and urban planning. He is particularly skilled at translating technical subjects into visual assets and campaigns that audiences can easily engage with.
The three hires bring Jump's total headcount to 18 working across design, development and marketing as the company continues to see strong demand for its end-to-end services across all three areas.
Furness said; “Jump’s longstanding reputation within Newcastle and beyond is what initially attracted me to the role. I wanted to work with like-minded people who are passionate, creative and willing to challenge themselves and improve their skills.
“Many of Jump’s clients have been with the agency for a long time, having built a trusted partnership with the team. This allows us to immerse ourselves in brands and use our expertise to support their organisational growth and development. I’m also excited about working with such a talented group of designers, and look forward to supporting them to progress in their careers.”
Rob Brown, managing director at Jump, added: “We’re pleased to welcome Annabel, Lucy and Connor to the business, it’s great to have them onboard. Head of design is an important role that is needed to help us grow and continue to provide quality deliverables. Annabel’s expertise adds strength and depth to our existing team.
“Connor’s appointment supports the needs of our clients seeking design expertise, whilst Lucy joins our marketing team, bringing a strong skillset in content creation. The trio are very welcome and I’m excited to see their development within the business.”
Jump recently refreshed its website to showcase all of the services provided within these areas, as well as new work.
