Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Helen Milligan

Liverpool

Summary

Commercial leader with a strong track record in partnership strategy, client leadership, and high-impact delivery. Proven success in global, award-winning brand collaborations. Skilled in aligning stakeholders, driving execution, and delivering ROI. Known for building agile teams and solving complex challenges with creativity and precision.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work history

Partnership Director & Head of Agencies

Mail Metro Media
Manchester
08.2016 - 06.2025
  • Lead the commercial team across Mail Online, Metro.co.uk, inews.co.uk, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Metro paper, the i paper and all associated social and audio platforms.
  • Oversee all UK agencies and clients outside London. Increased partnership revenue by 500% during tenure and driven 25% digital growth.
  • Delivery and P&L ownership of £30M+ annually, direct responsibility for partner servicing, campaign strategy, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Spearhead cross-platform partnership strategies (print, digital, video, audio, social, experiential, sponsorship) for all £1M+ partnerships nationally alongside responsibility for all display advertising.
  • Successfully renewed Mail Metro Media's largest cross-platform partnership for fifth consecutive year, proving commercial value and relationship depth.
  • Negotiated high-value licensing and rights deals with ITV, Channel 4, and Global Radio unlocking collaborative value for major clients.
  • Lead and mentor high-performing commercial team of 10 driving cultural transformation towards solution-oriented, client-first mindset in an evolving media landscape.
  • Clients include: Jet2, Co-op, AO.com, Vodafone, Mastercard, Elizabeth Arden, Post Office, Bet365, BMW.

Group Account Director

The Guardian
London
03.2014 - 07.2016
  • Led one of three commercial teams at Guardian Labs, the Guardian's in-house full-service partnerships agency.
  • Directed end-to-end campaign strategy, partner servicing, and delivery across integrated content, live events, and off-platform sponsorships.
  • Doubled annual revenue and increased margin profitability from 36% to 52%.
  • Led development of Meta's first ever global off-platform paid partnership setting a precedent in media innovation.
  • Built and retained key partnerships with global brands, increasing retention from 30% to 65% through proactive client management.
  • Clients included: Barclaycard, NatWest, Kia Motors, BT, Vodafone, Facebook, Instagram, Diageo, HP, UPS, Unilever, Santander, World Pay, eBay and Lexus.

Sales and Sponsorship Director

UBM PLC
London
01.2010 - 02.2014
  • Promoted to lead commercial operations across UBM's flagship events.
  • Delivered over £10M in annual sponsorship and content revenue; managed full P&L, team of 8, and agency relationships.
  • Launched and delivered The Asian Awards, targeting high net worth individuals from the international South Asian community, an event outside UBM's usual operating markets securing £3m+ in new revenues and national media partnerships (Guardian, Telegraph).
  • Created custom publishing and content partnerships division across blue-chip financial, FMCG, and telecom sectors outside of role remit.
  • Clients included; Lloyds TSB, Royal Mail, RBS, Diageo, BMW, Barclays Wealth, Vodafone, O2, Coutts and 3i.

Sponsorship and Project Director

UBM PLC
London
01.2006 - 01.2010
  • Leadership and management of event and sponsorship portfolio.
  • Revenue responsibility of +£10 million.
  • Managed annual budget, all financial reporting and forecasting.
  • Managed sales and delivery team of 8.
  • Managed relationship with global delivery team to ensure effective campaign delivery.
  • Clients included Carlsberg, Coca Cola, Budweiser (AB) Deutsche Bank, Heinz, Ladbrokes, KPMG, Guinness, PepsiCo, Premier Foods, Sky, Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Nestle.

Education

B.A. (Hons.) - European Marketing

Leeds Metropolitan University

Diplome D'Etudes - Marketing et Vente

Ecole Superieur de Commerce

A Levels - English, History, French

AS Level - Classics

GCSEs - 9 Grade A including English and Maths

Skills

  • Partnership Strategy
  • Client Leadership & Relationship Management
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Partnership & Sponsorship Evaluation
  • ROI Evaluation & Reporting
  • Team Leadership and Mentoring
  • Integrated Campaign Delivery
  • Revenue Growth
  • P&L Ownership & Budget Control
  • Media Planning & Mixed Media Modelling
  • Collaboration with Rights Holders & Media Owners
  • Integrated Campaign Management
  • Briefing & Collaboration with Creative, Production & Strategy Teams
  • Timeline & Resource Planning
  • New Business & Pitch Development

Accomplishments

  • HP Ryder Cup : Worked with HP to leverage their sponsorship of the Ryder Cup. Created integrated editorial solution, which showcased HP capabilities in a live environment during the Ryder Cup. Increased HP's share of voice to 1st in the market.
  • Silent Circle, Power of Privacy . Created and delivered campaign which was awarded a pencil at the D&AD Awards. The D&AD awards celebrate the finest creative work in the world. In the words of the D&AD, 'If you win a D&AD award you are exceptional'.
  • Jet2, delivering no1 tour operator status. developed a trusted relationship with C-Suite from CEO to CMO over several years via continued creative partnership evolution. Was cited as having a clear understanding of Jet2's business goals. Strategic partnership directly contributed to a 40% increase in brand consideration.

Timeline

Partnership Director & Head of Agencies

Mail Metro Media
08.2016 - 06.2025

Group Account Director

The Guardian
03.2014 - 07.2016

Sales and Sponsorship Director

UBM PLC
01.2010 - 02.2014

Sponsorship and Project Director

UBM PLC
01.2006 - 01.2010

AS Level - Classics

GCSEs - 9 Grade A including English and Maths

B.A. (Hons.) - European Marketing

Leeds Metropolitan University

Diplome D'Etudes - Marketing et Vente

Ecole Superieur de Commerce

A Levels - English, History, French

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