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Consultant
Charles Laidlaw
,
Gullane, United Kingdom
Experience
Other titles
Skills
I'm offering
I am a writing and PR professional, and my business link is http://**********.**
David Gray PR won Best International Full-Service PR Agency 2020 in the SME News awards.
I am also the author of 4 published novels. My author page is http://**********.**
I also teach a Diploma course in Creative Writing for an international online school.
David Gray PR won Best International Full-Service PR Agency 2020 in the SME News awards.
I am also the author of 4 published novels. My author page is http://**********.**
I also teach a Diploma course in Creative Writing for an international online school.
Markets
United Kingdom
Language
English
Fluently
Ready for
Larger project
Ongoing relation / part-time
Available
My experience
2002 - ?
job
Senior Partner, David Gray Marketing & Communications
unknown.
David Gray Marketing & Communications is a partnership agency offering public affairs, new media and PR consultancy. I set up the agency and am its senior partner. We specialise in handling marketing communications internationally and are currently handling communications programmes for clients in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Saudi Arabia, working across some 40 countries and regions worldwide.
Our task is to develop thought leadership strategies that identify market issues and create compelling content that finds resonance in regional and world markets
In the past year, we have won several business, HR and CSR awards for one client and are currently developing a thought leadership strategy across the UK and APAC region.
My overall role involves the development and implementation of integrated communications strategies across platforms and global regions, tailoring messages for local markets, and working within management and marketing functions to cover territories from the USA to Scandinavia through the Middle East to the Asia Pacific and Australasia.
Our task is to develop thought leadership strategies that identify market issues and create compelling content that finds resonance in regional and world markets
In the past year, we have won several business, HR and CSR awards for one client and are currently developing a thought leadership strategy across the UK and APAC region.
My overall role involves the development and implementation of integrated communications strategies across platforms and global regions, tailoring messages for local markets, and working within management and marketing functions to cover territories from the USA to Scandinavia through the Middle East to the Asia Pacific and Australasia.
Marketing, Leadership, SoMe, Management, Pr, CSR, Public affairs, Content, Implementation, Development, USA, Asia, UP
1997 - 2001
job
Head of Media and External Affairs
Scottish Rugby Union.
David Gray PR won Best International Full-Service PR Agency 2020 in the SME News awards!
1997 - 2001: Head of Media and External Affairs, Scottish Rugby Union, Edinburgh
At the time, this was perhaps the highest-profile communications role in Scotland, at a time of unprecedented turbulence within northern hemisphere rugby as the game went professional. I was the Union's first full-time Head of Media and External Affairs, with corporate responsibility for the development and presentation of policy, internal and external communications, engagement with government and public agencies at local and national level, and for two-way communication with clubs, sponsors, debenture holders, customers and rugby supporters at all levels. There was also a high degree of crisis management around such issues as the sale of TV rights and threatened club breakaways across the UK and Ireland.
Following extensive international research with Unions worldwide, I wrote the strategy for the introduction of professionalism in Scotland and, later, for fundamental changes to SRU governance. In addition, I worked closely with local authorities and sponsors to develop initiatives at the grassroots. The post, reporting to the chief executive and President, involved working closely with all stakeholders and required exceptional news and event management skills, presentational excellence and political sensitivity.
I was also the Union's primary spokesperson, both for corporate affairs and for all international teams, from the 1st XV downwards, and advised senior executives on the Executive Board, including the President, on personal and corporate media strategy. As part of a wider group, I was also an advisor to the Five Nations and its management team.
1997 - 2001: Head of Media and External Affairs, Scottish Rugby Union, Edinburgh
At the time, this was perhaps the highest-profile communications role in Scotland, at a time of unprecedented turbulence within northern hemisphere rugby as the game went professional. I was the Union's first full-time Head of Media and External Affairs, with corporate responsibility for the development and presentation of policy, internal and external communications, engagement with government and public agencies at local and national level, and for two-way communication with clubs, sponsors, debenture holders, customers and rugby supporters at all levels. There was also a high degree of crisis management around such issues as the sale of TV rights and threatened club breakaways across the UK and Ireland.
Following extensive international research with Unions worldwide, I wrote the strategy for the introduction of professionalism in Scotland and, later, for fundamental changes to SRU governance. In addition, I worked closely with local authorities and sponsors to develop initiatives at the grassroots. The post, reporting to the chief executive and President, involved working closely with all stakeholders and required exceptional news and event management skills, presentational excellence and political sensitivity.
I was also the Union's primary spokesperson, both for corporate affairs and for all international teams, from the 1st XV downwards, and advised senior executives on the Executive Board, including the President, on personal and corporate media strategy. As part of a wider group, I was also an advisor to the Five Nations and its management team.
Research, Management, Pr, Event, Service, Crisis management, TV, Development, International, President
1992 - 1997
job
Director, Citigate Scotland, and Chief Executive
Scottish & Westminster Communications.
I joined Citigate as its sole Scottish director, with the task of positioning the company as a major player in the Scottish market. From largely a standing start, this was achieved through the launch of Scottish & Westminster Communications, a joint venture between the Citigate Group and Westminster Communications, developing a successful corporate and B2B business, and through the acquisition of consumer PR and design capability. I was headhunted to the SRU, a Citigate client, when rugby union turned professional. Being a passionate supporter of the game, and of Scotland, it was an offer I couldn't turn down.
At Citigate, I retained key account management for, for example, the Police Federation, Association of Chief Police Constables, several local authorities, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and British Waterways, helping to drive corporate and CSR and outreach programmes across Scotland. In its first year of trading, the public affairs team alone won over £300,000 of new business.
Key responsibilities included direct management of teams of corporate and public affairs consultants, and Key Achievements included successfully growing the business, winning a broad spectrum of new clients, and successfully managing client objectives - including winning £50 million of Lottery funding for British Waterways to reopen the Lowland canals, changing government legislation on police rank structure and local authority boundaries, and preventing the merger of two Scottish and two English infantry battalions.
At Citigate, I retained key account management for, for example, the Police Federation, Association of Chief Police Constables, several local authorities, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's and British Waterways, helping to drive corporate and CSR and outreach programmes across Scotland. In its first year of trading, the public affairs team alone won over £300,000 of new business.
Key responsibilities included direct management of teams of corporate and public affairs consultants, and Key Achievements included successfully growing the business, winning a broad spectrum of new clients, and successfully managing client objectives - including winning £50 million of Lottery funding for British Waterways to reopen the Lowland canals, changing government legislation on police rank structure and local authority boundaries, and preventing the merger of two Scottish and two English infantry battalions.
Design, B2B, Account management, Management, Pr, CSR, Key account management, Public affairs, It, Winning
1989 - 1992
job
Director
Burson-Marsteller.
I was headhunted from RWA as a main UK board director of Burson-Marsteller and Burson-Marsteller Financial, with particular responsibility for clients in the water and electricity industries. Other clients included the Boeing Aircraft Corporation, British Gas and the Association of British Factors.
I was responsible for three teams of consultants (some 15 consultants and support staff), with a fee income of some £600,000, and also sat on the company's marketing committee.
From work I carried out during this period, I was nominated for Debrett's People of Today.
I was responsible for three teams of consultants (some 15 consultants and support staff), with a fee income of some £600,000, and also sat on the company's marketing committee.
From work I carried out during this period, I was nominated for Debrett's People of Today.
Marketing, SoMe, Support
1988 - 1989
job
Group Account Manager
Reginald Watts Associates.
I was headhunted to lead an account team in what was a new venture. RWA was a strategic PR firm that combined management consultancy, marketing with corporate PR. Larger clients included Kodak and Stoy Hayward. At RWA, I managed two teams of consultants, and was part of small and successful senior management team that helped to build and establish the RWA brand in a relatively niche market.
Marketing, Account Manager, Management, Pr, Manager
1985 - 1988
job
Account Executive and Manager
Good Relations Public Affairs.
As part of an account team, I had responsibility for clients in the charitable, medical and defence sectors, helping to develop and deliver public policy campaigns. Key accounts included the British Medical Association, for whom we changed government policy on doctor deputising services, The Booksellers' Association, for whom we won major concessions on the net price agreement, and GKN for whom we successfully secured a lucrative defence procurement contract.
Procurement, Net, Manager
1980 - 1985
job
Intelligence Officer
Defence Intelligence.
In several published articles on security issues, including The Scotsman, I have written about security issues. However, it's not a part of my career that I wish to discuss.
Security, It
1975 - 1980
job
Journalist
DC Thomson & Sunday Express.
Glasgow and London
I started my career as a news and features journalist, first in Glasgow with the DC Thomson group, then as a group political correspondent based at Westminster. I subsequently worked as a general reporter for The Sunday Express.
I started my career as a news and features journalist, first in Glasgow with the DC Thomson group, then as a group political correspondent based at Westminster. I subsequently worked as a general reporter for The Sunday Express.
Journalist, Express
My education
University of Edinburgh
Bachelors, Scots Law
Bachelors, Scots Law
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