SIMON DODD.
MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING CONSULTANT
A multi-disciplined professional with a proven record in starting, running,
growing and selling successful businesses.
Currently retained in a range of senior Management and Marketing assignments - specific projects, interim and ongoing Non Executive Director support.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY...
“Simon was brought into the business to add his creative expertise and drive to a key strategic project that we were running. The speed with which he forged relationships and galvanised a team was testimony to his management skill and his engaging personality. We needed input into the creative and campaign process and Simon’s dynamism mixed with organisational flair and a sound business first mindset was instrumental in each achieving our goals. Strong and effective consultants need a mixture of skills and Simon has what’s needed in his locker. He will challenge, he will listen and he will deliver”.
ALAN CAPEL, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, ALAMY
"It's not surprising that Simon has great marketing and communications depth. But for us, almost more important, was his passion for professionalising every detail of the business from finance to HR to IT management and beyond. He’s also just really good at leadership – building a collegiate environment where people trust each other and enjoy working together. I’ve personally learned a lot, and the whole company has come a long way".
HARRY BINGHAM, OWNER, JERICHO WRITERS
“Simon is one of those rare individuals who can add value to nearly any business, fast. I have worked with him on a number of occasions through the years and I can safely say that he brings customer and commercially focused insight and action to the case in hand. His breadth of experience in different sectors and business models brings a trustee perspective to complex situations. Seasoned, pragmatic and charismatic. Simon adds a great deal of value to any Board agenda”.
KEVIN STYLES, MANAGING DIRECTOR, VUE CINEMAS
“I have had the pleasure of working with Simon during his last few weeks consulting at Sticky. He has always been on hand to provide skilled and objective advice and his experience speaks for itself. More generally, he has had a significant impact on our approach to how we work as an agency and has substantially re-engineered the method we have for developing insights and market knowledge. We wish him every success in the future. Thanks Simon”!
CHRISTIAN HARRIS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, STICKY
“With invaluable experience, industry knowledge and wisdom, Simon remains instrumental in assisting our leadership team with setting the course while we steer the ship. He encourages us to take bold and ambitious steps that are positively out of our comfort zone, while challenging our thinking in a way that ensures that we are steadfast and confident in our strategic direction”.
JON BIRD, MANAGING PARTNER, SQUAREBIRD
“Simon is something of a rare breed. Not only does he understand the need for a fantastic creative product, but he also understands intimately the business of creativity. He’s built and led some amazing businesses in his time, which have added real value to the brands i’ve been responsible for. Charismatic, pragmatic and dynamic he gets reals stuff done and adds real energy”.
MARK FELLS, CHIEF CUSTOMER OFFICER, PREMIER & RESTAURANTS, WHITBREAD
“Since joining the Board of Outpost we have seen real results from Simon’s involvement. Simon has brought focus, professionalism and good governance to our company. He has brought out the best in everyone he has dealt with and always with a calm supportive demeanor”.
DUNCAN MCWILLIAM, CEO, OUTPOST VFX
“Simon’s decades of agency experience means he has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping companies involved in any creative process. His professional demeanor and very human approach to our Management Team means he’s aligned in every way with Outpost VFX and our ethos. Happy to help in any way he can, I feel lucky to have Simon on board and very excited for the growth of the company with his help”.
DANNY DUKE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, OUTPOST VFX
“I want to thank Simon for all his help chaperoning us through getting the new Engage brand and website. I do think we have made a step change in this new website and now really represent what we are all about – our people. We would not have made that change without his support and guidance for which I am very thankful. I know Engage will continue to go from strength to strength and this new branding and website will be key to underpinning that growth”.
DAVID GAGEN, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ENGAGE TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
“Simon was our CEO during Livingbridge’s ownership of the PLA Group. He developed the business strategically and successfully grew the business under private equity ownership through to the eventual exit”.
MARK TURNER, PARTNER, LIVINGBRIDGE
“We worked with Simon, as we came out of Covid, to agree a new way forward for the agency. Simon’s experience and straight talking, honest approach was invaluable. He was thorough, considered and inclusive, and the recommendations enabled us to focus our efforts and energies on the areas which would have the greatest impact. We’re far from finished and very much a work in progress, but our trajectory is highly influenced by Simon’s input and expertise”.
BEN DUHIG, MANAGING DIRECTOR, BLUESOUP
“If you have built a successful London or regional agency over the last couple of decades and now consider it is time to cash in and retire to the sun. What do you do? Call Simon Dodd. He can review all aspects of your business and prepare it for sale. He can put it in front of the right City of London grandees and negotiate the sale all the way until the funds are in your personal bank account. He might even give you a bottle of factor 50 sun cream”!
ROLAND LONG, PAST CHAIRMAN, RLA MEDIA GROUP
"Simon is one of the brightest and nicest guys I've ever met in the world of 'agency'. He has contagious enthusiasm and energy packaged up with broad business acumen and is more often than not the sharpest mind in the room. He's a grafter too and knows that hard work is as important as the smarts. He has a very strategic business brain and culture that stretches beyond 'agency' and into the world of enterprise. Simon's a senior, heavy hitter. Thinker, doer, creator".
SIMON BARBATO, CEO, MR B & FRIENDS
"Simon has over 30 years experience of helping businesses to grow, from start-ups to blue chips. He understands how business works and where the opportunities and pain points are, getting to the core of the issue to creatively solve business problems. Simon's experience spans London, regional, PLC's, start ups, international groups, agency sales, private equity and client-side. If your business is going on a journey, Simon makes a great guide".
BEN QUIGLEY, GROUP CEO, EVERYTHING DIFFERENT.CHAIR IPA ENGLAND AND WALES
"Simon is a true agent of change. He's an all-round Nice Guy with a solid line of commercial gold running through his veins. So while he's great to work with, you know he's going to get results. Outside of the wider business stuff which he's great at, I also found him an excellent mentor - he challenged me to make increasingly bold choices, while giving me a safety net".
LIZ BROCK, DIGITAL & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP
"Having worked with Simon to restructure my business recently I can’t recommend him highly enough. He understands how business works and grows and his experience in the marketing communications business, both agency and client side, is unrivalled. His enthusiasm, energy and positive outlook is incredibly inspiring".
WALTER DENNY, OWNER, THEM LONDON
"I worked with Simon during his time at EMO Unlimited where he redeveloped our approach to new business development and client retention. I found his process refreshing and he demonstrated many inspiring qualities when enacting change within our business. His wealth of global experience is an asset many business can benefit from".
ADRIAN BRYERS, HEAD OF DIGITAL PERFORMANCE, PROPHECY UNLIMITED
"Simon is a great listener with a high EQ, very personable and likeable".
BRUCE HUTTON, MD, COGENT ELLIOT
"Simon is a highly consummate professional with over 20 years experience in advertising and marcomms. His particular strengths lie in his easy inter-personal skills, able to carry people with him and an arch persuader"!
MIKE LEESON, GROUP MD, GOLLEY SLATER
WORK THAT WORKS
BRANDS I'VE BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH...
Click on each logo to find out more about the client
A ground-breaking virtual MarComms alternative to the traditional model
KEY EXPERIENCE
2016 - 2017
PICSOLVE INTERNATIONAL
Global Chief Marketing Officer - Interim
The world's leading creator of image content for world class visitor attractions. Wholly owned by Fidelity Investments. Creation of global digitally-led Marketing Strategy, review of global team, agency roster review.
2017 - PRESENT
WWH CONSULTING
Non Exec Director and Consultant
Supporting CEO’s and Management Teams of 5 SME’s - Chairing, Board structure and governance, strategic planning, strategic partnerships, succession planning, MarComms, corporate/brand/product insights and positioning’s, Leadership training, profile raising, investment structures and potential Exit routes.
2016
OAKWOOD AGENCY
Managing Director - Interim
Well established integrated agency. Clients - Mattel, The Royal Mint, Warner Bros, Castrol, PDSA, Weatherford, Gulf Oil. Agency structure, offering, process and New Business Programme.
2014 - 2016
EMO UNLIMITED/CRESTON PLC
Managing Partner
Digitally-led "local" agency within Creston plc. Clients - BMW, Vue Cinemas, Toyota, Jaguar, McCarthy & Stone, CCS Govt. roster, Bosch. People function, New Business and pan PLC projects.
2009-2014
THE DIGGER AGENCY
Founder and Director
Virtual network of 45 people providing digitally-led integrated MarComms outside of the traditional agency model and overheads. Clients - american golf, ATS Euromaster, Premier Inn, De Bortoli, Holiday Autos.
2004-2009
RLA GROUP
CEO
Led transformation of ownership from founder to Management Team, and from Private Equity to PLC. Achieved record growth (t/o, EBITDA, clients, staff) in 4 years. Clients - Volkswagen Audi Group, Kingfisher plc, Kia, Bowlplex, Goodyear Dunlop, Direct Wines.
2000-2004
TBWA/LONDON - MBA
Partner to Managing Director
Led PlayStation UK and Thomas Cook accounts. Award-winning strategy and creative for both. Invited to be MD of group agency, MBA. Management of Dept Heads, Finances and profile. Also led EDF and Marie Curie clients.
