Claire Everett
Rainham,Kent
Summary
An articulate and inspiring communications professional with a diverse career background including BBC radio news, global freight transport, professional motorsport and insurance. A strong team leader with the ability to bring others along on a journey and the confidence to work at the highest level across industry and government.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
Media Relations Manager
AXA UK
London
2022.05 - 2026.05
- Part of a small team responsible for media relations, reputational risk management and crisis comms for one of the UK's leading insurers. I respond to enquiries from trade, national and international journalists and proactively place AXA at the heart of key conversations in the media.
- I focus on high-profile issues such as flammable cladding in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy, the impact of climate change on UK homes and the advent of automated vehicles. AXA has been insuring self-driving trials for more than 10 years and I was closely involved in work to petition the Government for a regulatory framework for insurers.
- In my role it’s crucial to collaborate with colleagues across the business, from the public affairs and brand teams to legal and technical experts. I lead on campaigns, managing relationships with PR agencies to create topical and thought-provoking content that achieves prominent national coverage.
- I’ve built strong relationships with journalists in relevant fields, such as working with Bloomberg Global Business Editor Jamie Nimmo on a feature on self-driving vehicles and promoting AXA’s report in partnership with the road safety charity Brake exploring the safety benefits of AVs.
Head of Communications
British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM)
2020.11 - 2022.05
- BCAM is the UK body that represents doctors and dentists practising aesthetic medicine.
- I took this role after being made redundant during Covid and elevated the organisation’s PR activity to raise awareness of the lack of regulation in the UK for treatments such as Botox and fillers – we’re one of the worst regulated countries in the world.
- I sourced opportunities for BCAM spokespeople to appear on radio and TV to discuss issues such as beauticians performing medical treatments without training and the increasing prevalence of serious complications.
Head of Media & PR
Motorsport Vision
2017.08 - 2020.10
- Motorsport Vision owns and runs the majority of the UK’s race circuits including Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Oulton Park, plus venues in France and Spain.
- I led all media and PR activity across the group, managing a team of four press officers, liaising with journalists, hosting celebrity visits and promoting events. Crisis communications was a key element of this role with the potential for serious injury or death on circuit every day.
PR Manager
Freight Transport Association (Now Logistics UK)
2015.05 - 2017.08
- FTA is the UK’s biggest transport trade association, representing businesses that ship goods around the world by road, rail sea and air.
- My role involved writing press releases and magazine features, monitoring the daily news for media opportunities, training senior staff for media interviews, managing relationships with journalists and key influencers and running all social media accounts.
- I led on some of the more technical elements including regulations for container shipping and innovation in road freight, including self-driving ‘follow-me’ trucks.
Additional experience
BBC Radio Kent, The Jermain Defoe Foundation
- I trained as a newspaper journalist and moved into local BBC radio news, where I read live news bulletins and produced the breakfast and drive time shows. I also worked as executive assistant to the England footballer Jermain Defoe, launching a charity in his name and raising his philanthropic profile. Soon after, he received an MBE for his charity work.
Skills
Calm under pressure
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Strong news sense and storytelling ability
A strategic thinker and meticulous planner
Certification
- National Council for the Training of Journalists Certificate in Newspaper Journalism
- CIPR Diploma in Crisis Communications (underway)
Timeline
Media Relations Manager
AXA UK
2022.05 - 2026.05
Head of Communications
British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM)
2020.11 - 2022.05
Head of Media & PR
Motorsport Vision
2017.08 - 2020.10
PR Manager
Freight Transport Association (Now Logistics UK)
2015.05 - 2017.08
Additional experience
BBC Radio Kent, The Jermain Defoe Foundation