Tim Priestman
Birmingham,West Midlands
Summary
A seasoned professional with expertise in media relations, PR campaign planning, and strategic communications. Demonstrates proficiency in pitching stories, writing press releases, and crafting reactive comments. Skilled in client reporting and corporate PR, with a strong ability to develop comprehensive communications strategies. Adept at analysing data to inform decision-making and enhance public relations efforts. Committed to leveraging skills in media relations and strategic planning to drive impactful PR initiatives.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Media Communications Specialist
Gowling WLG LLP
06.2016 - 08.2024
- Lead and primary point of contact for daily reactive and proactive media opportunities
- Assessing the media agenda on a daily and weekly basis to identify planned have and spontaneous opportunities to comment on important sector and regulatory developments – to broadcast, national, regional and trade media outlets
- Providing different practice groups with key comment placed in the construction building and property management spaces – as well as relevant real estate and planning announcements within government announcements such as The Autumn Statement
- Securing local coverage for any real estate related deals secured within practice groups
- Spotting, ghost drafting comments on a daily basis relating to breaking news, including focuses on Brexit and trade, retail, natural resources, intellectual property, employment law, financial services, real estate, technology and banking
Consultant (Level: Account Manager)
Pearl Communications (previously Smarts PR)
07.2011 - 05.2016
- Lead media contact across all consumer and corporate accounts including law firms, tyre manufacturers, fashion and jewellery brands and real estate-based businesses.
- Secured front page Financial Coverage for law firm, Shakespeare Martineau relating to a major HR law change
- Generated coverage for key fashion and jewellery brands within titles like FHM and Elle
- Secured widespread broadcast national and trade media coverage for Office Depot’s ‘Dirty Desks’ campaign
- The successful placement of a poster of the services offered by a sustainability-focused client in shot on the TV soap opera Coronation Street
- Provided excellent support were the timely sporting of breaking news stories for multiple clients to respond to and crucially, develop the comments and media contacts needed to achieve the desired results
- I left the firm to work for Gowling WLG, where Pearl’s head of Communications had moved to take up a similar role – and was looking for a media specialist to assist the team.
Freelance Communications Manager
PR4Media
03.2011 - 05.2011
- Media relations on behalf of key B2B clients, including financial services and tech firms on a contract basis
Account Manager (Contract)
Topline Communications
09.2010 - 02.2011
- Working in the capacity of account manager for three clients: XLN Telecom, Foresite (digital agency) and Diskeeper Corporation
Senior Account Executive
MHP Communications
03.2008 - 05.2010
- Providing regular selling in support key accounts such as British Marine Tech and AMEX
Internal Communications Adviser (Fixed-term contract)
Balfour Beatty Power Networks
07.2007 - 11.2007
- Project: The Eastern Electricity Alliance, a project to replace the electricity pylons in the East Midlands
- Developing and maintaining an internal newsletter for employees
- Creating and circulating vital signage and safety information via the approve project templates
- Working on key events (one of which I won an award for)
Education
BA (Hons) - Marketing and Human Resource Management
University of Wolverhampton
09.2001 - 05.2004
A’LEVELS - English Literature, Media Studies, Business Studies
Shenley Court Sixth Form Centre
Birmingham 09.1994 - 05.1997
GCSE(s) - English Language, Literature, History, Business Studies, Home Economics, French, Maths, Science (Double Award)
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School
Birmingham 09.1989 - 05.1994
Skills
- Media relations savvy
- PR campaign planning and strategy
- Pitching stories
- Press release, features and reactive comment writing
- Client reporting
- Corporate PR
- Communications strategies
- Analysis
Personal Information
Date of birth: 1978-05-20
Affiliations
- Swimming
- Reading
- Volunteering
Timeline
Media Communications Specialist
Gowling WLG LLP
06.2016 - 08.2024
Consultant (Level: Account Manager)
Pearl Communications (previously Smarts PR)
07.2011 - 05.2016
Freelance Communications Manager
PR4Media
03.2011 - 05.2011
Account Manager (Contract)
Topline Communications
09.2010 - 02.2011
Senior Account Executive
MHP Communications
03.2008 - 05.2010
Internal Communications Adviser (Fixed-term contract)
Balfour Beatty Power Networks
07.2007 - 11.2007
BA (Hons) - Marketing and Human Resource Management
University of Wolverhampton
09.2001 - 05.2004
A’LEVELS - English Literature, Media Studies, Business Studies
Shenley Court Sixth Form Centre
09.1994 - 05.1997
GCSE(s) - English Language, Literature, History, Business Studies, Home Economics, French, Maths, Science (Double Award)
Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School
09.1989 - 05.1994
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