Media release: Shine founder, Rachel Bell, becomes chair of creative agency, Wire

Announcement comes as Glasgow agency scoops coveted Best Agency Outside of London award at PR Week Awards

SHINE founder and marketing entrepreneur, Rachel Bell (pictured), has been appointed as chair of creative agency, Wire, while Brendan O’Connor, who worked with Rachel at Shine for 14 years, has been appointed as the agency’s first financial director.

Brendan also joins the Wire board, alongside founders and managing partners, Lee Beattie and Pam Scobbie, acting GM, Emma Koubayssi (ex-Ogilvy Australia) and operations director, John Collins (ex-Grey London).

Based out of Glasgow, with a 28-strong team, Wire was launched by Beattie and Scobbie almost ten years ago.

Last night, the agency was recognised with the coveted Best Agency Outside London award at the flagship, PR Week Awards ceremony.

Rachel and Brendan’s appointment to the board comes as the pair make changes to their own roles and invest in developing a new leadership team at the agency. As well as running the day-to-day operations, Beattie will take the executive lead on strategy, while Scobbie continues as executive creative director.

The newly-formed leadership team at the agency is formed of Strategy & Story director, Tom Hills (Joined from MHP in October 2018) and creative director, Dave Everson (ex-King James II, South Africa), while Wire-grown talent, Fiona Hayes and Victoria Irvine become associate directors, each running their own business unit.

The team is further strengthened by Melissa Rynn, head of Audience Insights & Digital and Gillian Lamont, head of Events & Experiential.

Says Lee Beattie: “Our ambition for Wire has always been to deliver stand-out creative work with impressive ROI, while building an inspiring, flexible workplace for exceptionally talented people.

“As we approach our tenth birthday, it’s the right time to formalise our board and work with someone to support us though the next stage of our growth. Last night’s PR Week Award is fantastic recognition of the work we’ve been producing so far and the perfect way to kick off this new and exciting chapter for Wire.”

Pam Scobbie adds: “We met Rachel at an awards ceremony and emailed her the next day hungover on the train to say: ‘How about it?’ and luckily she replied: ‘Lift your kilts up and let’s bloody do this.’

“She’s already been an absolute powerhouse to work with, combining an almost supernatural gut instinct with impressive commercial acumen and masses of energy.

“Plus, Rachel introduced us to Brendan, who has already proven to be an invaluable asset to our business.”

Says Rachel Bell: “Wire has the passion and energy of a start-up, with big agency thinking and creativity – it’s no wonder they are already Marketing Agency of the Year for Scotland. I’m really excited to help Pam and Lee take their business to the next level.”

Delivering a range of work – across earned media, events, digital, OOH and ATL – for clients including Tennent’s Lager, Magners, Whyte & Mackay, Old Pulteney, Orchard Pig, BOE gin, the SFA and DC Thomson Media, Wire has grown to become one of the north’s most exciting creative consumer shops. In the past year, the agency was also the first outside London to win the UK Creative Shootout competition and was also named Agency of The Year at PR Moment Awards (North), The Nods and the Marketing Society Scotland Star Awards.

Rachel Bell founded Shine Communications in 1998 building it into one of the UK’s most successful consumer PR agencies. The agency rebranded as The Academy in 2016 where she remains chair, along with interests in her wider portfolio of companies including youth marketing agency John Doe and specialist agency shortlist 2019, Aduro Communications.

For more information, contact Lee Beattie M: 07855367922 E:
lee@wearewire.co  www.wearewire.co @wearewire

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Contact: Victoria Irvine

Email: victoria@wearewire.co