Russ Lidstone

CEO

Starting his career at Coca-Cola, Russ has over twenty-five years’ experience in marketing communications as an agency strategist and CEO.

He has held planning and leadership roles in blue chip integrated advertising agencies including McCann, Butterfield Day, HHCL, Lowe, JWT and most recently Havas Worldwide, where he was CEO for over six years.

During his time at Havas London he won the accolade 'Media Employer of the Year' – his biggest point of personal pride.

David Sharrock

COO

David trained as an accountant with Ernst & Young before spending four years as a management consultant working mainly with clients in the media and creative sector.

He joined Guardian Media Group where he spent twelve years in financial and operational roles before he became Managing Director of MEN Media. He joined WRG’s leadership team as part of the acquisition of the business by LDC to support its growth. Somehow, he manages to coach a youth football team too.

Chris Gosling

Director

With international experience in providing original communication solutions, Chris specialises in defining global vision and strategy and building teams to successfully achieve business objectives profitably.

His career began in the marketing and communication at AstraZeneca. Having originally formed WRG, he now leads a team of healthcare specialists that endeavours to find new and engaging ways for clients to communicate. A leader and strong decision maker who’s unafraid to carry responsibility, he enjoys the atmosphere of a team environment.

Chris also enjoys testing his skills on the cricket pitch.

Carl Halliday

Director

Carl has over 20 years’ experience in the events industry, having produced events on every continent of the world. From product launches and fashion shows to exhibitions and international congress, Carl has delivered events with audiences up to 5000 people. Carl works across every aspect of an event, from its inception to its completion.

Graeme Beavers

VP, North America

Graeme has been with WRG for nine years, following successful careers in sales and customer marketing at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals and general management with the National Health Service in the UK.

As a client director in London, Graeme used deep healthcare insight to build a number of successful client accounts and some outstanding campaigns and events. Having moved to Philadelphia early 2014 to set up WRG’s presence in North America, he quickly established the office as a key part of the global network.

When not hard at work, Graeme can be found running the streets of Philly.

Mark Gass

Executive Creative Director

As group Creative Director, Mark’s responsible for the overall direction of all creative departments across the network.

Having spent over twenty years in advertising, creating international campaigns for the likes of Nivea as an Executive Creative Director at TBWA, he now sits comfortably at the evolving intersection where brand and experiential meet.

An advocate of our ‘Create Unforgettable’ ethos, he helps the team to deliver impactful and engaging experiences for the likes of Nokia, adidas, HP and Shell, right across the globe. Mark loves visiting art galleries - especially the gift shops - and is a sucker for anything handmade.

Kath Goodson

Client Engagement Director

Based in our London office, Kath joined WRG over 5 years ago, bringing with her a wealth of experience from a number of sectors to lead some of our global accounts.

Always putting clients’ best interests at the forefront of her mind, she is steadfastly committed to helping them achieve their objectives. She ensures consistency across all aspects of events and is devout in her pursuit of value for the client’s money, qualities that have made her a valued contact for clients including Nissan and HPE.

A lover of photography, Kath harbours an ambition to one day enter the World Photography awards.

Tim Williams

Operations Director

Since joining WRG eleven years ago, Tim has worked his way through the business to his current position.

In this role, he has direct responsibility for the UK Production, Logistics and Congress teams as well as playing a central role in overall direction and operational efficiency of the company as part of WRG’s Global Management Team.

Outside of work, Tim loves the outdoors, particularly anything that involves two wheels and going fast.

Tim Collett

Head of Live Events

A graduate of the Event Management degree program, Tim has over fifteen years’ experience in the live events industry, including over 11 years at Jack Morton as an Executive Producer.

Tim has led the creation and delivery of brand experiences across many industry sectors, and has operated around the world; from product launches, to roadshows, conferences, and meetings

In addition to his work in the corporate events arena, Tim has been instrumental in the coordination of some of the UK’s largest public events and spectacles.

When he isn’t leading the events team, Tim spends much of his spare time handling events schedules for his three young daughters – at swimming lessons, dance classes, and children’s parties.

Chris Brogan

Digital Creative Director

Chris has spent the majority of his career in advertising with McCann-Erickson, BJL and BDH/TBWA, designing campaigns for major brands in both traditional and digital advertising.

With a passion for design and innovation, Chris spends his time looking for insight into digital trends and exploring what is possible.

Chris enjoys the outdoors where you can find him hill walking, mountain biking – and above all other pursuits – snowboarding.

Madelaine Allen

Client Engagement Director

A passionate and dedicated account director with a wide experience of the pharmaceutical industry, she’s skilled in communication engagement and maximising impact and value of client investment.

With experience of leading global accounts and a variety of internal and external meetings in the UK, Europe, America and Asia, she’s overseen everything from small intimate brand forums, to large international congresses. Few know that she’s also a qualified ski instructor.

Charlotte Smithson

Creative Director

Charlotte thrives on the breadth of creative work we cover at WRG, and directs projects across the creative departments at our Manchester office.

She enjoys the challenge of changing behaviours in a memorable way, and the scope of creative possibilities in experiential marketing.

Charlotte plays a key role in our healthcare offering – yet in her 7 years at WRG, she has worked for a huge range of clients in various industries, and has spent time working in all of our global offices.

A little known fact about Charlotte is that she has the greenest balcony in Manchester.

Jen Robison

Creative Director

As Creative Director in our Philadelphia office, Jen oversees creative projects for a broad spectrum of clients and industries.

While driving great creative work for existing clients and developing new business in this key region, she also coordinates with the global creative team and seeks exciting opportunities to be taken up across The Creative Engagement Group.

Jen started her career at the boutique advertising agency Rawle Murdy, and quickly found her way to the experiential realm at Jack Morton. In 2008 Jen started her own agency, developing creative programs for clients including Google, Sharp Aquos, AbbVie, Sanofi and Proctor & Gamble. Most recently, she served as Executive Creative Director at the agency MKTG working on projects for MSNBC, ESPN, Marriott, Diageo and Nike. On weekends, Jen can be found wandering the streets of Brooklyn with her husband and pet pug.

Mark Jackson

Head of Environments

A trained Industrial Designer, Mark spent three years designing commercial interiors before joining WRG.

Having designed and delivered many of our largest international projects for clients such as adidas, Ricoh, Nokia and Orange, he’s now heading up a talented and expanding team. Under his stewardship, it’s seen a period of rapid growth globally, particularly in North America.

A keen mountain biker, his growing family have meant an ever larger bike collection.

Karen Milligan

Head of Film

Karen spent ten years with the BBC, ITV and Endemol, working as a Producer/Director across various TV formats including documentaries, travel series and entertainment programmes.

She later moved into the corporate sector working for a leading UK agency to deliver a wide variety of TV commercials, online video content and internal comms films for a global client base.

A passionate photographer and film-maker herself, she now leads the creative output of the Film department. Karen's non-film based interests include playing the saxophone and salsa dancing.

Steve Kinsey

Commercial Finance Director

As well as legal and commercial operations, Steve principally looks after the group finances.

He joined WRG in early 2007 and has been part of the team and the changes that have seen WRG expand since. Steve grew up in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe and qualified as a Chartered accountant before moving to the UK in 1985. His passions are family, craft ales, his dog and the outdoors.

Liz Nassari

Head of Human Resources

Liz supports our HR teams in The Creative Engagement Group, as well as overseeing our HR approach in all areas of our business – including the US.

Responsible for all things HR within the agency, she ensures that WRG, The Moment and Just Communicate can attract, retain and develop the best people in the sector.

Liz has experience in various international sectors within global agencies, focusing on talent management and development to meet employee and client needs on a global scale.

Outside of work, Liz likes to be… outside – on camping trips in the UK.

Andrew Gilkerson

Client & Procurement Director

Andrew has been in the events industry for over twenty years, in both agency and corporate roles.

As well as operational and account management positions, Andrew spent ten years with global Pharmaceutical, Pfizer. He led the Meetings and Congress Procurement category for Europe, designing and delivering a regional strategic meetings management programme. As Client & Procurement Director at WRG, he uses his corporate procurement background to create value for clients in all areas of the client-supplier relationship.

When he gets the time, you'll find him out and about on his road bike.

Ben Atherton

Client Engagement Director

Ben joined WRG after 14 years at Nortel, Cisco and EY where he held a variety of senior marketing roles with a focus on global events and sponsorship.

  He led customer projects at the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games and whilst at EY, worked with the UK’s leading entrepreneurial growth businesses.  He’s married with two children and reluctantly accepts he will never make it as a professional footballer.

Fiona Barwell

Commercial Director, Medical Communications

With almost twenty years’ experience working in medical communications and leading large account teams, Fiona provides strategic client leadership across a range of our communication, medical education and advocacy programmes for the Medical Communications arm at WRG.

Fiona believes in building truly collaborative relationships with her clients and with the rest of team, constantly strives to ensure the pursuit of better. The Ireland rugby team rates highly in Fiona’s list of loves but has now been usurped by her ‘chaos twins’.

Rob Bagust

Client Director

A seasoned events professional with over 20 years of experience mixed between agency, client, venue and association roles.

Heading up teams at AstraZeneca and Goldman Sachs, combined with agency experience which includes 3 years in Dubai with the Emirates Group, Rob has extensive strategic as well as operational expertise. When not at work Rob likes to head into the great outdoors camping, walking and in search of great country pubs, always in the company of his dogs Eddie and Murphy.

Laura Thomas

Strategic Planner

Laura works with teams across the group, bringing deep insights into the business environment of some of the agency’s largest accounts.

Laura brings an analytical approach to projects, from over twelve years’ experience in marketing communications – specialising in account development, strategy, and collaboration with live experience teams. In her spare time she enjoys trying out all the latest exercise classes, including trampolining!

Lisa Stevens

Client Director

Lisa loves working with her clients to understand and develop a brief, and how it can be brought to life.

Lisa has over 12 years’ events experience working on both corporate and agency side. She has delivered a wide range of global events from 50-2000 delegates, across a range of sectors – retail, finance, automotive, and particularly healthcare.

When not working, Lisa loves running, spending time with her family and friends, and is always up for a glass of fizz!

Gemma Lowry

Senior Account Manager

Gemma joined WRG in 2013 with 10 year’s events experience and a portfolio stretching over several varied event types and sizes.

It is the exposure to incentives, international congress, road shows, sales meetings, ad boards and internal conferences that has given Gemma the bug for surpassing every event with the next one and challenge the meeting norm.  Time spent away from the world of events is all about life’s little luxuries…good food, exploring the world and a decent northern cuppa!

Tasha Barnes

Client Director

Tash specialises in the development, strategy and relationship of the Shell account. Leading the internal teams and client in a variety of internal and external experiences from events, incentives, experiential, digital, comms and design. In her hay day she used to have a music deal with her twin sister but now spends her spare time looking after her 15 month old son who is the size of a 12 year old.

Hannah Parkinson

Marketing Manager

As marketing manager, Hannah coordinates the communication strategy for WRG and The Creative Engagement Group, to drive their digital presence.

Working across the agency and its network to maintain a consistent marketing approach, Hannah promotes our marketing stories through internal and external communications channels.

She brings with her ten years’ experience as account manager at WRG – handling multiple communications projects for a range of clients.

Hannah has a real passion for food and spends most of her spare time cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

Sallie Coventry

Client Engagement Director

Sallie leads the account strategy for our biggest pharmaceutical client internationally, looking for opportunities across The Creative Engagement Group.

She has worked in the events industry for 20 years – most of her career she has spent working for healthcare clients, which she finds massively rewarding. For Sallie, there is no better buzz than delighting clients with a brilliant idea. Sallie brings with her experience in logistics management, account direction, and delivering trade shows as portfolio lead for Reed Exhibitions.

Beyond her work life, Sallie enjoys hiking, swimming, and cooking. But not all at the same time.

Kristen Waddell

Client Engagement Director

Kristen is responsible for client engagement on a range of WRG’s global healthcare, technology and retail clients.

As well as taking our unique offering to existing clients, Kristen develops new markets for the agency across The Creative Engagement Group. She joined WRG after 6 years in the corporate pharmaceutical world, bringing her expertise in strategic change management. She joined WRG from the pharmaceutical industry, bringing her expertise in strategic change management, innovation, business process optimisation and global congresses.

Outside of work, Kristen enjoys interior design, hosting dinner parties, and skiing.