Experience

Twenty-four years across national newspapers, magazine publishing and automotive classifieds. The constant has been deadline-critical delivery across teams that do not naturally speak the same language.

Oct 2025 – Present

The Observer

Ad Operations Manager

National Sunday newspaper

  • Manage all print advertising across the Observer newspaper, Observer Magazine and the New Review.
  • Established independent advertising operations following the title’s separation from its previous owner.
  • Coordinate commercial, editorial and production teams to weekly press deadlines.
  • Own booking-to-page workflow, specification compliance and final quality control.

Aug 2021 – Aug 2025

Rhapsody Media

Senior Account Manager

Content marketing agency, Hearst UK portfolio

  • Delivered classified and advertorial advertising across the Hearst UK magazine portfolio.
  • Led onboarding and training of a new production team in Poland through to independent operation.
  • Secured additional production work on Delicious magazine, expanding the account.
  • Acted as the escalation point between client commercial teams and the production studio.

Nov 2011 – Jul 2021

Hearst Magazines UK

Production Designer

Esquire, ELLE, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Good Housekeeping

  • Produced advertising artwork to publisher and printer specification across the brand portfolio.
  • Designed reusable ad-feature template systems adopted across multiple brands, cutting setup time substantially.
  • Advised commercial teams on technical feasibility and specification at the booking stage.
  • Maintained colour and pre-press standards across concurrent monthly production cycles.

Jul 2006 – Nov 2011

Hachette Filipacchi UK

Advertising Production Controller

Magazine publisher

  • Controlled classified advertising production and trafficking across the magazine portfolio.
  • Managed material deadlines, chasing and copy compliance with agencies and direct clients.
  • Liaised with printers on scheduling, proofing and delivery.

Nov 2002 – Jul 2006

Midland Auto Trader

Desktop Publishing Operative

Weekly automotive classified publication

  • Produced classified and display advertising to weekly deadline.
  • Supported pagination and page layout across high-volume editions.
Earlier roles (1999 – 2002)

Jan 2001 – Nov 2002

Transco Metering

Customer Accounts Assistant

  • Managed regulatory queries and maintained the national gas meter database.
  • Implemented an employee mentoring scheme for new starters.

Jan 1999 – Dec 2000

Peters Booksellers Ltd

School Orders Clerk

  • Processed book orders for UK schools and libraries.

Education & qualifications

NVQ, Mechanical Engineering
Vocational qualification
8 GCSEs
Including English and Mathematics