Meet the team
Karen Browne
Chief Executive Officer
Karen’s knowledge of the industry comes from her long career in foodservice. Before joining William Murray in 1998 as managing director, Karen worked for Unilever, Allied Lyons, Douwe Egberts and Brasilia UK ltd as their marketing director.
After two years at William Murray Karen led a management buy-out. Under her leadership the agency has confirmed its leadership position as the UK’s number 1 agency in food, drink and hospitality.
Everyone knows Karen, which is testament to her dedication to the industry – not only through working with some of best known brands but also for her time she gives to support industry associations and charities.
Since 2008 Karen’s been listed in the ‘Who’s Who of Britain’s Business Leaders” and in 2011 was voted as one of the top 100 most influential women in industry.
Greatest passion outside work?
“Cats, dogs, horses – virtually anything with four legs.”
Anita Murray
Managing Director
Since receiving PR week’s ‘Young Achiever Award’ aged 26 Anita has continued to stand out in the industry as someone who really understands the power of good communication.
Anita gained her stripes in the food and drink industry working with Saga tycoon Peter de Haan as the communications director of leading wine importer HH Bancroft.
It was during this time she led the company rebrand across six of de Haan’s companies and working with high-profile drinks brands like Dom Perignon, Cristal and Laurent Perrier developed her love of wine!
Anita is passionate about creating campaigns that can be measured against the bottom line and after working on a high profile recycling initiative with sustainability guru John Elkington she has a particular interest in sustainability issues.
Anita gives her time mentoring women in food, drink and hospitality and sitting on industry committees.
Next challenge on the horizon?
“To learn to sail – despite the fact that I will have to abandon my hairdryer and nails!”
Stephen Browne
Director
Stephen has a wealth of experience under his belt. One of his greatest achievements was introducing Pizza Express pizzas to supermarket customers and creating a £30m brand in its first year of sale.
Stephen developed a number of innovations in the UK retail chilled market that included soups, pizzas, salads and sauces, making Geest Prepared Foods Plc the market leader in each category and over £250m a year from Tesco, Sainsbury and Waitrose.
His ability to spot a new product opportunity led to a number of awards including the highly coveted Gold Q Award and a Grocer Award.
If there’s one thing we could find fault with Stephen is that he’s a life long Luton Town fan – we wish them better luck next season!
Claim to fame?
“Introducing the PizzaExpress brand into supermarkets, with fantastic results for the manufacturer, the restaurant group and the retailer.”
Dave Greenwood
Associate Director
Dave brings with him bags of hospitality and media experience. He started his career at the Financial Times before taking a gamble to head up PR for Ladbrokes.
During his time at Ladbrokes Dave was responsible for working with NSPCC and generating just over £1m in charity fundraising during the year-long corporate partnership, was part of the management team that lobbied government on the abolition of betting duty and acted as company spokesperson for TV and radio.
Dave is a qualified marketeer who understands brands. His love of the hospitality industry comes from his time with IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, most famous for its Holiday Inn brand. Dave left IHG to become a consultant and after four years returned to IHG as global internal communications director responsible for engaging the company’s 350,000 employees.
Most surreal moment?
“Sitting down for a coffee and biscuit with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in 10 Downing Street to talk about a charity initiative. The biscuits were terrible!”
Daren Bach
Digital Director
Making the complicated simple.
Daren specialises in digital communications, with a proven track record over the past 12 years with successful campaigns in Food, Drink, Hospitality, Legal, Technology and Financial sectors.
He is a regular author on Social Media Today as well as many other industry related publications and an active advocate of the positive role social media can play in business.
Daren successfully delivered online solutions for Unilever, Cadbury, Electrolux and Environmental Agency amongst many others.
Thoughts
“Social Media has evolved and the age of Social Business is here.”
John McCarron
Creative and Brand Consultant
John is a senior brand consultant with 20 years’ experience in the communications industry across advertising, broadcasting and brand consultancy.
He uses his academic background and professional experience as a creative director and copywriter to help organisations define and communicate valuable difference.
John was creative director and co-owner of the UK’s leading brand consultancy (Source: Design Week). His rebranding credits include Honda Motor Europe, Teletext, Castrol, NTL, Pukka Pies, £663, Girlguiding UK, MOD, Bentley Motors, S A Brains, ITV and the Conservative party.
Thomas Burke
Branding and Market Research Consultant
Thomas advises organisations how to deliver real commercial advantage through their brands. His philosophy is that a brand is much more than a logo or colour – it’s the beating heart that drives a business and its people.
Thomas spent 12 years at Fujitsu in various marketing roles including marketing director for their European financial services division. He was later at the forefront of the dotcom boom to create Motorola’s first global ecommerce platform.
Thomas has worked on major projects for brands such as Levi Strauss & Co., British Gas, Jumeriah (hotels) 3663, Design Council, Hawkins Bazaar, Logica Yell and Santander.
Elaine Felix
Finance Manager
Elaine has been a vital part of the William Murray team for 20 years. An experienced bookkeeper, she processes our invoices and payments and makes sure we keep our costs tightly under control.
Thanks to her good management, William Murray Communications has remained on a sound financial footing all this time.
Busiest time?
“June – when everyone else is winding down for their summer holiday, I’m tying up all the loose ends ready for our financial year end.”
Sue Meeson
Associate
Despite now living in Melbourne, Australia, agency founder Sue is still on call. A journalist by training, she moved into PR in 1986 and launched William Murray PR a year later.
Since selling the business in 2000 to spend time with her young family, she has freelanced in the City and for government departments, while maintaining a keen interest in the hospitality sector.
With husband Ian McKerracher, the former chief executive of the Restaurant Association, she has first hand operational experience. For five years they owned a multi-award-winning gastro-pub in the idyllic Somerset village of East Coker.
Favourite new saying?
“No worries.”
Alan Coates
Special Advisor
Alan spent 30 years with United Biscuits running everything from factories to private label (for UB, McVities and KP). In 1995, he became group corporate affairs director of the company, which, in itself, would have qualified him for our special adviser role, but it’s what he has done since then that has really wowed us.
After leaving UB in 2001, he joined Business in the Community and made a new career out of corporate social responsibility as vice chair of Refugees into Jobs, director of One Stop Shop School Governors, chair of London Business Link, director of Industry in Education, chair of Park Royal Partnership, director of West London Business, chair of Ealing Education Business Partnership and chair of FareShare 1st.
Alan has also served on the board of One London, the LDA Production Industries Commission and West London Economic Development Strategy Committee.
Bigger buzz than business?
“A really tense game of cricket.”
Clare Basire
Account director
With 8 years’ agency experience, Clare has successfully turned her hand to all areas of the marketing mix. After gaining a degree in communication studies Clare joined an integrated marketing agency where she developed communications plans for leading international housing developers. After another stint at a top London agency working with a range of consumer and B2B clients, Clare joined William Murray where the taste for the food and drink industry was too tempting.
Never losing her passion for marketing, Clare gained her Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma in 2009 and is now the account director for Unilever Food Solutions working on well-known brands such as KNORR, PG tips, Hellmann’s and Flora.
Favourite work-related saying?
“Let’s get it done.”
Rachelle Baldwin
Account director
Rachelle is an all rounder in food, drink and hospitality with PR, event and marketing roles under her belt. She has more than ten years’ experience that started at Caterer & Hotelkeeper organising high profile events for the magazine.
In 2004, Rachelle joined William Murray and quickly began to thrive on the ‘other side’, taking on new challenges with a variety of clients including, P&G Professional, HP Foodservice, Lyons Coffee and ISS Eton among others. Rachelle then took on the role of events director running a successful Education Road Show.
Unfortunately in 2007 Rachelle moved to a marketing agency working on strategic planning projects, returning to William Murray three years later.
Happiness is?
“Lots of things, but knowing every day is a fresh start and seeing my daughter smile at me every morning.”
Charlotte Davies
Account director
After graduation, Charlotte joined one of the big London agencies and was rapidly promoted from PR assistant to senior account executive, all the while working for high profile food and drink clients.
Charlotte gained a huge amount of experience, but after three years was ready for a move. She joined another agency that specialised in interiors, but it just wasn’t her. So she stayed for a year, and then came to William Murray Communications. “I was so pleased to be back in food and drink. No two days are ever the same.”
Dream holiday?
“A road trip around the Golden Triangle in California.”
Fiona Hamilton
Senior account manager
As an ex-journalist Fiona has a keen eye for a story – and the inside track on what journalists do (and don’t!) want.
After completing a BA honours in journalism, she joined the Courier Group in Oxford as a reporter securing interviews with the likes of Keith Floyd, Boris Johnston and Gucci’s Tom Ford, before taking a year out to travel Australia and Fiji.
Returning to the UK, Fiona’s cocktail bar experiences landed her a job with William Reed’s glossy drinks magazine CLASS and from there she joined William Murray Communications. Fiona has been with the team since November 2006 and has experience on brands including Elior, FCSI, 3663, Greene King, Lyons Seafoods and Britvic.
Best headline ever?
“Without any doubt…The SunSport’s headline in 2000 when Celtic got thrashed 3-1 by Inverness CT in the Scottish Cup. Super Caley go ballistic, Celtic are atrocious. Love it!”
Claire Abercrombie
Senior account manager
After completing a degree in communication studies, Claire spent an eventful period at a West Midlands radio station where duties ranged from chaperoning Girls Aloud to fending off unruly school kids while dressed in a giant bear costume.
Normal service resumed soon after with a move to London to pursue a career in PR. Claire quickly gained a mix of consumer and B2B experience working with a range of big brand clients including Heinz, Red Bull, Vodafone and Barclays.
Claire’s experience and passion for food meant an opportunity to join William Murray at the start of 2011 was too good to miss.
Dressing up or dress down Fridays?
“Definitely dressing up… Not that I need an excuse!”
Donna White
Account executive
After gaining a first class honours degree in Journalism and English language, Donna is always looking for a new angle to get our clients’ names and brands in the headlines.
She started her career in PR as a graduate trainee at Kindred Agency, the UK’s number one public sector agency. During that time, Donna worked on a number of PR and social media campaigns with clients like the Department for Education and the School Food Trust.
In Sept 2010, Donna joined the William Murray team, keen to learn new skills and apply her knowledge to the hospitality sector.
Biggest PR achievement?
“Helping to secure 300 pieces of coverage on the first day of a campaign launch.”
Bhakti Gajjar
Account executive
From an early age, Bhakti always had a love of food. After starting her career working with top London restaurants, her love of the UK’s fantastic food and drink scene grew. Following this, she worked with a number of global brands, gaining experience in all aspects of consumer media.
So when an opportunity came along for her to work with some of the most recognised brands in food, drink & hospitality she couldn’t believe her luck. Now she gets paid for what she loves most – learning more about the food, drink & hospitality industry, working with fantastic clients and being part of an amazing team.
MasterChef or struggle to boil an egg?
“Is that hard or soft boiled? When it comes to cooking I think I’ve cracked it – I always manage to come up with something eggciting!”
Natalie Beard
Account executive
After 11 years spent helping people find their perfect homes (ok, we mean estate agent!) Natalie felt she’d got as much as she could from her successful career in property and felt it was time for a change.
Turning 30 felt like a crossroads and spurred her into turning her dream of a career in communications into a reality. Natalie brings her meticulous planning and negotiating skills to the team and has added value to her clients from day one.
What are you saving up for?
“Lots of things… I want to build a house in Croatia – we have the land, now the bricks just need to follow!”
Louise Tabor
Junior account executive
Louise graduated from the University of Manchester in 2010 with a degree in History and keen to discover what to do next.
She spent the summer pulling pints for Shepherd Neame and a couple of weeks with a small foodservice PR company. This led her to believe that communications was for her and she jumped at the chance to join William Murray for work experience. Once here we haven’t let her go and she’s now a valuable member of the team.
Louise is a keen horse-rider and reckons William Murray perfectly combines her love of all things food and drink with work.
Perfect pub food menu?
“Fresh, delicious and heart-warming.”
Judith Williamson
Office Manager
Judith brings more than 15 years of office management to William Murray Communications. She’s our anchor and our pivot. Knowing she is back at base taking care of things enables the rest of us to spend our time looking after clients.
Starting her career in law and banking firms, Judith moved on to be PA at the Political Lobbying Society. Here she organised national conferences and events including seminars, media conferences and a mass lobby. She joined William Murray in 2007 and keeps us all up to the mark. She’s especially hot on recycling.
Gordon Ramsay – spit or swoon?
“Swoon.”
Belinda Unasing
Office assistant
Having spent the past three years child minding and bringing up her own young sons, Bel has returned to the world of PR. Before starting her family she worked for a leading London PR Agency for 10 years, progressing up the corporate ladder from receptionist to project coordinator and personal assistant to the director.
Bel is a key player in the smooth running of the office, juggling diaries and dates and managing the features process so we never miss an opportunity.
Greatest passion outside work
“My family and cooking.”
