Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Websites
Timeline
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Caroline Lidington

Caroline Lidington

Summary

Dynamic Sales leader with 20 years + experience, a solid reputation and a proven track record of driving sales teams to deliver growth. A career starting in Broadcast, Caroline was an early digital pioneer, from local to global and from start up to scale brands, with the intellectual rigor, creativity and determination to develop winning strategies. High energy, tenacious. Accomplished leader; hiring, coaching and motivating sales managers to effect the most productive and cohesive teams that deliver against aggressive targets.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience
1996
1996
years of post-secondary education

Work history

MD UK & General Manager APAC & MENA

Invibes
04.2020 - 06.2025
  • Launched the UK territory from scratch during pandemic
  • Recruited sales team, devised sales strategy, UK policies and vision, curated publisher network - growing and developing both demand and sell side to supersede targets
  • From £0 to multi million-pound profitability in under 18 months
  • Developing strategic senior partnerships on both sides and cost-effective operations
  • Thought leadership and Marketing/ PR lead for UK
  • Business Workflows and Market Research
  • Ensuring best practice and response to complex market needs, link to trade bodies

Commercial Director - EMEA

lastminute.com
03.2016 - 03.2020
  • Delivering multi-million-pound global annual budgets, 40% growth across 4 years, leading multi-national sales team (located globally), who consistently exceeded challenging targets
  • Set up contracts with wallet providers such as Masterpass, Visa Checkout and Amazon Pay to implement a seamless checkout experience for users
  • Leveraging e-commerce data to develop strategic deals with tourist boards, hotels and airlines
  • Managing data strategy and innovation in programmatic - launched trading desk
  • Negotiating Trading Agreements with all main UK & DE agency groups

Sales Director

Rubicon
06.2015 - 01.2016
  • Go to market strategy for the intent marketing solution, borne out of the acquisition of the search retargeting business, Chango, to advertising agency, trading desks and clients
  • Leveraging robust intent data, to deliver successful display, video, social, native and mobile ads across all inventory sources, responsible for full sales cycle
  • As part of the extended leadership team representing Rubicon at key industry events
  • Driving client strategy, account profitability and business growth for existing client portfolio

Head of Audience Sales

Hearst
09.2008 - 05.2015
  • Launched Hearst Audience digital network sell in Europe
  • Lead commercial strategy on programmatic efforts including working with 2 SSPs- Rubicon and Adx, DSPs, re-targeters, exchanges and DMP - Lotame to maximize yield and profit
  • Editorial and Commercial alignment and strategy, digital acceleration
  • Maximizing yield from an array of audiences, titles and multiple platforms
  • AOP Digital Publishing Awards Winner - Commercial Team of 2014

Group Head

Bauer
08.2005 - 08.2008
  • Revenue growth across all 22 digital titles FHM, Kiss, Closer, Heat and many more
  • Managed team of three as well as having strategic input into overall team management
  • Implemented Zed trading deal and renegotiated deal for 2007 and 2008
  • Promoted following prolific success as Client Sales lead on women's and lifestyle portfolio - 150% growth in strategic and innovative partnerships with Cosmetics & Toiletries and Fashion clients on New Women, More and Bliss digital platforms.

Senior Agency Sales Manager

Yahoo
06.2001 - 05.2002
  • Proactively pitched and presented new business ideas
  • Worked closely with the Client, Strategy and Marketing teams to move the business forward competitively
  • 2 successful year long deals of note - Direct Line and Virgin Money totally over £350,000, responsible for pitch, activation and project managing these deals throughout year

Senior TV Buyer

Universal McCann
06.1996 - 03.1997
  • Explored new opportunities in the market to maximise reach and impact.
  • Developed innovative media strategies with a focus on optimising return on investment.
  • Monitored industry trends to stay abreast of competitors' activities.
  • Recommended allocation of budget across different channels based on analysis of past performance and future forecasts.

Sales Executive

SKY TV
05.1995 - 05.1996
  • Developed customer loyalty with excellent customer service, leading to repeat business.
  • Drove high-level B2B sales meetings to secure large scale contracts, enhancing market presence significantly.
  • Increased customer engagement by delivering high-quality product demonstrations.
  • Crafted compelling pitches for securing high-value deals with clients.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies and Marketing

London Guildhall University

Skills

  • Mentoring and training
  • Strategic thinking
  • Complex negotiation
  • Project budgeting
  • Business analysis
  • CMO level interaction
  • C-suite experience
  • Change management
  • Business development
  • Employee management
  • Problem solving skills
  • Forecasting & pipeline planning
  • KPI management
  • Performance management, career structure, compensation knowledge
  • Operational management
  • Entrepreneurial mindset

Timeline

MD UK & General Manager APAC & MENA

Invibes
04.2020 - 06.2025

Commercial Director - EMEA

lastminute.com
03.2016 - 03.2020

Sales Director

Rubicon
06.2015 - 01.2016

Head of Audience Sales

Hearst
09.2008 - 05.2015

Group Head

Bauer
08.2005 - 08.2008

Senior Agency Sales Manager

Yahoo
06.2001 - 05.2002

Senior TV Buyer

Universal McCann
06.1996 - 03.1997

Sales Executive

SKY TV
05.1995 - 05.1996

Bachelor of Arts - Business Studies and Marketing

London Guildhall University

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