Polhill Consultants provide clients with direct access to executives who have worked in senior positions both in and outside of the communications function.
John Cowan has held senior positions in the financial services sector for over 30 years. He has been Sales and Marketing Director of Scottish Amicable, Group Sales Director at Prudential, a General Manager at National Australia Bank and a director of IFA Promotion and Paymentshield. He is currently an advisor to the Boards of Uinsure and Positive Solutions, is a Director of Foresters and is currently Chairman of Mortgage Options. His knowledge of the IFA industry and frontline management experience means his advice is sought regularly by senior executives in the FS industry.
Paul Atkinson has over 20 years' experience of corporate and marketing communications in the financial services sector and he has a good personal track record of delivering effective programmes to help organisations successfully implement strategic initiatives and manage major change projects. His strategic insight is informed by his practical experience of leading in-house communications teams in large organisations. His in-house roles have included EMEA Marketing & Communications Director of Aon, one of the world's leading insurance broking, risk management and human capital consultancies, UK Communications Director of RSA, the major insurance company, and Head of External Affairs of Nationwide Building Society. Paul is now an independent consultant, and in the past he has held senior positions within the agencies Ludgate Communications and Valin Pollen. Over his career his clients have included Aon, Alliance & Leicester, Allied Dunbar, Credit Lyonnais, Flemings, Henderson Global Investors, lv="," NatWest, Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Life Investments, Swiss Life and the Yorkshire Building Society.
Martin Fox is a financial services marketing specialist with over 20 years experience. He has previously been General Manager, Marketing for Pearl Group and was the Managing Director of the Marketing Consultancy Division of Egg Design & Marketing. As a consultant, he has undertaken product launches and campaigns for (amongst others) Prudential, Barclays, Abbey National and the AITC; undertaken the launch of ABN AMRO and Baillie Gifford into the UK retail investment market; and the launch of Just Retirement and PURE, the clean planet trust. Currently, he is deeply involved in climate change consultancy – helping companies to respond to the challenge of climate change, including product development and new fund launches.
Mike Tate has been Director of Corporate Communications with a FTSE 350 company in the support services industry and is a former City Editor of The Times and an Editor, commentator and analyst with The Observer, Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. As Director of Corporate Communications for Jarvis PLC he had responsibility for all Group communications, internal and external, with media, shareholders, public authorities and employees. This was a particularly challenging role, as the company faced high-profile issues such as safety on the railways and the fierce political opposition to PFI schools and hospitals. As a consultant his clients have included John Laing, Capita, Brown Shipley and the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He has particular skills in the provision of crisis pr advice for businesses undergoing financial restructuring.
Maria Darby-Walker has held senior communications’ roles at major international companies, including, Coca Cola Enterprises, Barclays plc, Rolls-Royce plc and Rio Tinto plc as well as having overseen global campaigns for key clients during her time with financial PR agencies.
Maria specialises in managing and building the reputation of companies and senior executives. She advises them on the impact of their actions on different stakeholders, from pressure groups and non governmental organisations, to employees and the wider community.
Mike Lord has been in high level PR consultancy for over 20 years. He was a founder and director of award winning financial services specialist Broadgate where he specialised in advising senior executives in the asset management, pensions and insurance industries. He is an innovator who aims to seek new ways of communicating financial issues. He has particular strengths in issues and crisis management.
Nick Fitzherbert,combines his 20 years of PR and Marketing experience with his membership of the Magic Circle to apply “the rules of magic” to coaching senior executives in creative thinking and presentation skills. This innovative approach based - on the way in which the brain takes in and processes information - has made Nick into one of the most original executive training coaches of his generation.
John Coles has over 20 years experience of financial communications working in leading UK consultancies. He has represented companies ranging from FTSE100s including Abbey National, P&O, Standard Chartered and Friends Provident to smaller companies including Jazz FM, Mavinwood, Kier and Omega Insurance Holdings. His M&A experience includes the defence of both Abbey National and NatWest and crisis management includes the capital restructuring of Marconi. John was also responsible for the award winning campaign on behalf of Institutional Investors against the Government decision to place Railtrack into receivership.