The team here at Polhill Communications is made up of outstanding individuals. It is these individuals and their skills that help Polhill to continue to deliver the results our clients have come to expect.
Our Senior Team
- Julian Polhill, Chairman and Founder, is an Oxford alumnus, with 20 years’ experience in financial business communications. Prior to founding Polhill in January 1990, Julian was a director of financial PR firms Binns Cornwall and Hill Murray. Julian was formerly personal finance editor of Investors Chronicle. He has a wealth of experience on blue chip financial services and business brands across vertical sectors.
- Sally Biggs, Director, graduated in public relations at Bournemouth University, before joining investment house BZW as a public relations consultant in their corporate communications department. Sally joined Polhill in 1997 and has since built up a loyal and extensive client base. She currently heads up Citibank and GAM, which have remained clients since she joined, and has led a number of high profile clients such as Henderson and First National Mortgages.
- Andrew Sharkey, Director, has 25 years experience in communications consultancy and has held directorships at 3 other major PR consultancies. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. His main areas of interest are the financial services and corporate sectors. Andrew has worked with a host of major financial services brands over the years including Aviva, HFC Bank, Scottish Amicable,Norwich Union, GAM, GAN, HSBC Asset Management, Abbey Life, AIFA and Aberdeen Asset Management.
- Gug Kyriacou, Partner, joined Polhill in August 2006. He has extensive PR experience, having worked in the communications team at Abbey for over seven years, with responsibility for the promotion of personal finance products to intermediaries and clients. He also oversaw the launch of Abbey’s internet banking subsidiary cahoots and managed the PR activity for Link, the cash machine operator. He has also co-produced a television programme offering advice on sound financial management.
- Jenette Perry, Partner, joined Polhill in August 2004 to head up the business to business and institutional team. She has worked on an extensive range of clients including fund manager Axa Investment Managers, pensions provider Scottish Life and credit insurer Atradius. She has ten years’ experience in PR and communications and prior to joining Polhill, spent seven years in corporate communications at Gartmore Investment Management. She has a BA in English & History and an MA in Marketing Communications.
- Karen Wagg, Partner, is an investment specialist with nine years experience of the UK retail and institutional markets. She formerly worked in-house in marketing and marketing communications for AIB Govett, M&G and prior to joining Polhill in November 2006, was marketing communications manager for rlam. She has strong relationships with the press, is known for her technical expertise as well as her creative ideas and has a diploma from the institute of direct marketing as well as experience as a freelance journalist.
- Marlene Scott, Account Director, joined Polhill seven years ago from Prudential, where she worked in the Corporate Press Office. She has since amassed a wealth of experience on blue chip brands such as New Star Asset Management, AXA Investment Managers, GAM, Edinburgh Fund Managers and the Investment Management Association.
- John Fryer, Corporate and Regulatory Counsel, spent 20 years at the BBC, where he was Industrial and Business Correspondent for BBC News, before becoming Editor, Radio and New Media. Prior to this, John was the Labour Correspondent on The Sunday Times for 13 years. He also spent two years as Head of Press Office and Web Communications at the FSA. John has handled a variety of accounts including New Star, rlam, RZB, Aberdeen Asset Management, law firm Herbert Smith and Fund Distribution Ltd.