Strategic Communications & PR Counsel

Who I work with

Sectors:

• Marketing services businesses and agencies - both independent and group-owned - i.e. the range of services a CMO needs to do their job

• Tech-enabled businesses e.g. retail tech, data, adtech, martech etc.

And within those businesses:

• The entrepreneurs or founders that run them

• Leadership teams/C-suite

• In-house comms teams - who require flexible on/off or regular support from a seasoned professional

The 20 plus years building my own PR consultancy have shaped how I operate: honest, practical, effective, supportive and empathetic.

Rapport matters to me. I care deeply about the businesses and people I work with and want them to thrive!

A truly flexible approach

I support clients in different ways depending on their needs and stage of growth.

Some require ongoing, light-touch strategic counsel. Others need structured, hands-on PR delivery.

Some have in-house teams who can execute but require access to a seasoned practitioner like me who can offer guidance as and when needed.

My role is often to bring perspective, to cut through the noise, to simplify what feels complicated and help leadership teams ensure their PR and comms support their business strategy.

The working relationship often evolves over time, starting with one task or project, then building.

A seasoned professional without agency overheads

Strategic Communications Counsel

Working closely with founders and leadership teams to:

• Clarify positioning and an accompanying comms narrative

• Support high-stakes announcements or crisis scenarios

• Act as an external sounding board, providing an experienced, objective viewpoint

• Fractional PR support for in-house comms teams who can deliver but need a guiding hand

PR Programme Delivery

Experienced, senior-led execution when proactive visibility matters:

• Campaign development including creative idea development

• Thought leadership strategy and making the most of your thinking and assets

• Media relations and rapid fire commentary tactics

• Ongoing PR management

Engagements are flexible and bespoke, shaped around what is genuinely required.

Pressure on the bottom line and constant disruption mean that not every business wants or can afford a traditional PR retainer.

While I can work to a retainer model, I've seen a growing demand from businesses wanting a more flexible, bespoke PR and comms offer. My mission is to make experienced counsel more accessible. Here's a flavour of how I can work with you, with more details in the FAQ section

About me

I’ve spent more than 20 years working at the intersection of marketing, communications and technology.

In 2003 I founded Velvet, a specialist B2B consultancy supporting marketing agencies and professional services firms in the sector as well as adjacent technology companies across adtech, martech, data and retail.

At Velvet I worked closely with founders and leadership teams navigating growth, investment, M&A and momentous change. I've supported tech entrepreneurs as they build successful businesses.

I've worked with some of the biggest names in the marketing services industry, both holdcos and incredible independent agencies.

My longevity in the industry gives me context and a rich understanding of how they these businesses operate, how they grow, how investment and M&A works and how reputation and visibility drive opportunity and success.

Today, I work independently, offering strategic communications counsel and PR support to clients across these industries.

Jo has supported us on some of the most significant M&A deals in our sector. She understands the landscape deeply and brings commercially grounded insight that informs leading journalists and shapes sector commentary. She isn’t just PR support, she’s a true strategic partner.

Jim Houghton
Partner, Waypoint, M&A advisors to the knowledge economy

What my clients say

Jo and her team at Velvet have been incredible partners to us. They understand our brand, move quickly, and secure coverage that genuinely shifts our perception and visibility across thought leadership, timely commentary and bigger strategic narrative pieces. They’re proactive, sharp and genuinely invested in our success. It’s a joy to work with people who just get it, and they truly feel like an extension of our team.

Milly Liechti
Marketing director, Northern Europe + US, SAMY

Working with Jo brought much-needed objective focus to our external messaging and helped raise our profile well beyond what we could have achieved alone. She’s also a dream to work with.

Bob Sheard
Co-founder, FreshBritain

Jo brings a rare mix of strategic clarity and imaginative thinking. She quickly understood our market and came up with fresh ideas that made last-mile delivery and the tech around it feel far more interesting than it has any right to be!

Chris Mason
Group customer director, Gophr