Kai Wong

Web Developer

Kai helps build our client and campaign websites.

Working closely with our design team, he has transformed creative concepts into fully functional sites for the likes of UniCredit, Caledonia Investments and Virgin Group.

Before Bladonmore, he held a variety of tech-focused roles, from designing and creating interactive museum exhibits, researching facial expressions and web development.

Kai has the odd unexpected party trick up his sleeve and can throw a playing card over 25 metres.

Nicodemos Pinto

Producer

Nicodemos takes what we capture on camera and cuts the content for the screen.

He’s on hand from the very first briefing, to provide a technical steer and explore the possibilities of what a narrative can look like – literally.

Above all, Nicodemos makes sure that all of our clients end up with a polished end product. With a wealth of experience, he has helped produce films for clients including Bain Capital, Actis and Fidelity International.

Occasionally, our film projects throw up a curve ball; but, as a professional Tenpin bowler in his youth, Nicodemos is more than capable of handling them.

Richard Rivlin

Chairman

I spend two-thirds of my time helping clients to refine their narrative and verbalise it, as effectively as possible. This means constructively speaking truth to power every day. The other third is spent obsessing about our own organisational development, striving to develop an environment where careers can blossom.

My experience:

• Trusted advisor to Diageo, Philips, Virgin Galactic and numerous other clients.
• Project work with numerous Fortune 500 and Private Capital clients – from BlackRock to Bridgepoint, our very first client who we continue to serve 17 years on
• Extensive international business experience throughout the United States; the Gulf, the EU and Switzerland.
• Award-winning business journalist for the Financial Times and The Sunday Telegraph, working in both London and New York

I’m as ambitious and upbeat for our future, as I was when we set sail on 11th March 2002.

Michael Marijeanne

Creative Artworker

Michael adds the all-important final touch to our creative projects. 

His work is in the detail, the added consideration that makes creative concepts a reality – and good design great.

Whether through thoughtful typography, imagery or slide layout, Michael ensures that the practicalities of presentation never detract from its impact.

With close to 20 years’ experience in both agency and pre-press, he has worked with a range of global brands, including Manchester United and Walt Disney.

The best artwork requires a lot of creative discipline. Michael is certainly not short of that, having once been asked to perform martial arts for the Queen.

Michael Holland

Editor

Michael supports the editorial and post-production elements of our film process.

He spends some time assisting ‘on set’, but his main focus is on the finer detail of how our final productions are pieced together. He is also responsible for maintaining our resource libraries and managing our archived footage.

With an academic background in music and media production, Michael previously spent four years as part of the Arcuro and Videojug Networks.

While he may be the go-to man for accessing Bladonmore’s archives, his real specialist subject is something different; he prides himself on an encyclopaedic knowledge of 90s football.

Sonja Jones

Content

Sonja manages a number of content projects and provides editorial consultancy for our clients.

Working closely with our creative team, she draws on her background as a marketing manager to get inside our client’s world and ensure the work we deliver truly represents their brand.

With over 12 years’ experience working for creative agencies, she has delivered strategic, digital and creative projects for the likes of Pernod Ricard, Vodafone and GlaxoSmithKline.

Originally from Speyside, she’s much like a ‘wee dram’, and can really pack a punch. But you’re always left with her sweeter side.

Hayley Fletcher

Executive Assistant

Hayley is a lifeline to our partners and keeps everyone and everything in the business on track. 

With three offices in three different timezones, she’s always on hand to make sure nothing falls through the cracks, as well as helping run client events from our London office.

Hayley was previously executive assistant to the worldwide president of Burson-Marsteller (now Burson Cohn & Wolfe) and has a decade of experience in events and marketing roles.

Resilience and a global outlook have always been a constant for Hayley; she has travelled a lot of the eastern hemisphere, including India – five separate times.

Sandra Davis

Director

Sandra leads on Bladonmore’s presentation coaching.

As a close advisor to senior management at organisations including Land Securities, Rio Tinto and GE, she helps leaders to articulate their message and ensure it cuts through.

Sandra has spent her entire career in communications – but in different guises. She originally started as a speech therapist, developing a scientific interest and understanding of how we process and respond to language.

Before joining Bladonmore she held directorships at a number of PR firms and was head of corporate communications for a FTSE 250 company.

Richard Carpenter

Managing Partner

Richard is responsible for driving Bladonmore’s strategy and the running of our global business.

Over his career, he has helped a large number of the world’s leading organisations to define and deliver their stories. Covering investor communications, sustainability and employee engagement, he has worked with the likes of Aviva, Facebook, Alibaba, HSBC and the London Stock Exchange.

Before joining Bladonmore, Richard was CEO of MerchantCantos, part of Brunswick Group. A former journalist at the Mail on Sunday, he is also author to various books on corporate governance and investor relations.

Outside of work, Richard likes to sign up for lots of challenging races and then come up with great excuses not to do them.

Vilam Vuong

Creative

Vilam brings stories to life through design.

With over ten years’ experience in the creative industry as a graphic designer, photographer and director of photography, he understands the importance and impact of strong visual content.

Vilam has helped to solve creative challenges for a wide range of organisations, including BNP Paribas, EMI and UNICEF.

Outside of the studio, he loves travel – and his motorbike – and is happiest riding around some of the world’s most beautiful places.

Cathy West

Associate Project Manager

Cathy makes sure our projects are delivered on time, on budget and on point.

Largely focused on our coaching projects, she works with a wide range of our clients as a key point of contact for any questions or queries they may have.

Before becoming part of Bladonmore, Cathy worked as a project coordinator within the energy industry.

In her spare time, she’s a big fan of the open water and enjoys going sea fishing – whatever the weather.

Paul Rush

Financial Controller

Paul is responsible for all financial and management accounts across Bladonmore’s global business.

He helps our client teams manage their projects and maintain good cash flow within the business.

Paul has over 10 years’ accounting experience within the creative and media industries as company accountant at Bell Pottinger Group and group management accountant at AMV BBDO Group.

Numbers and music often go hand in hand – and Paul is no exception. While he used to manage the accounts for the Ministry of Sound Group, he’s also a DJ in his own right.

Ben Shore

Director

Ben delivers communications advice to senior executives

He helps business leaders prepare for the moments when all eyes are on them – scrutinising their messaging, pre-empting tough questions and offering critical advice on their delivery. He supports a range of clients including Nokia, Aviva and UBS.

Ben has a journalistic background, having worked as the BBC’s Europe business reporter in Brussels and as the producer of BBC 2’s Working Lunch.

He is a keen all-round competitor but is yet to better his greatest sporting achievement – becoming the UK Under-11 Chinese Chess champion (for which he still has the trophy).

Tom Brown

Associate Consultant

Tom produces a variety of strategic content, built around clear, creative messaging. 

He helps clients like HSBC, Aviva and Mastercard take control of their narrative – from internal campaigns to investor comms – and makes sure it lands with the right people.

Tom started his career in the design industry, helping to develop the visual identities for a number of the world’s largest FMCG brands.

He’s a keen cricketer and also takes an interest in ancient history; but, unfortunately, finds it easier to focus on centuries in books than on the pitch.

Indigo Lowndes

Camera and Playback Operator

Indigo is responsible for working the cameras and equipment at coaching sessions and in-house shoots.

Outside of our coaching sessions, she provides additional support to our production team and assists with film edits.

Prior to joining Bladonmore, Indigo worked as a freelance documentary filmmaker on projects for different commissioners, including the Government Art Collection and YouTube.

She is fluent in British Sign Language – with a strong Scottish accent.

Nick McAlpine

Executive Producer/Director

Nick leads Bladonmore’s film team, producing, writing and directing films that bring our clients’ business stories to life.

With three decades as a professional film maker, Nick has proven and award-winning experience of telling stories on film, throughout the world.

His work spans a range of industries; recent projects include films for Arq, Bridgepoint, Baring Vostok Capital Partners, Caledonia Investments, Poste Italiane and UniCredit. In recent years, he has developed a focus on investor communications.

Olivia Tharian

Project Manager

Olivia keeps our content projects on track from beginning to end, managing timings, budgets and our own studio resources.

She acts as a regular point of contact for our clients, including Caledonia Investments, Refinitiv and Safanad, and is always on hand to tackle any challenges that pop up along the way.

Olivia started her career working in tech PR, helping her clients communicate their messaging through media relations, social media and various other channels.

Her responsibilities don’t let up outside of the office, as she’s kept on her toes by her most demanding client, Poppy – her Borador (a Labrador/collie mix).

Jamal Dayes

Head of Digital

Jamal oversees the creation of all our digital content – from website builds to app development.

With over 15 years’ experience, he has developed digital platforms for a number of high-profile institutions, from Goldman Sachs to the BBC and Downing Street.

Before joining Bladonmore, Jamal was lead developer and head of digital at content agency Ten Alps. He’s also worked on a range of leading IPTV platforms including Public.TV and Teachers.TV.

Jamal runs more than website analytics. He has already completed five marathons – and is now eyeing up a sixth.

Sara Tingström

Producer

Sara manages our film projects, from first concept to the final cut.

With a deep understanding of digital media, she works directly with our clients, film crews and post-production team to understand the requirements of each film and ensure we always have the best team in place.

She has delivered film work for clients including Marks & Spencer, Essilor and the Actis.

You’ll normally see Sara wearing black or white, and this choice of colour palette spills over to other parts of her life, too – she is the dedicated owner of her ‘tuxedo cat’, Luuve.

Calum Park

Associate Motion Designer

Anthony Coombes

Creative Director

Ant leads our creative team, overseeing all work that comes through the studio.

He acts as a critical eye and a creative support, drawing on a wealth of corporate branding experience for the likes of Boots, RioTinto and Vodafone.

Ant has won a range of industry accolades including DBA Design Effectiveness Awards for British Gas and the NHS.

Like many creatives, from Banksy to the Brontës, Ant also shares some of his own work under a pseudonym, Faddy Finch.

Shreena Patel

Senior Consultant

Shreena focuses on a range of strategic positioning, narrative and development projects.

For organisations including Mastercard, Marks & Spencer and ArcelorMittal, she helps to define and articulate the messaging for our clients that resonate with their audience.

With a financial services background in both the public and private sector – working for the Financial Services Authority (now FCA) and HSBC – she also spent three-and-a-half years in Hong Kong, working as Editor-in-Chief for publishing house Hong Kong Living.

A fan of detective novels, Shreena’s approach to consultancy is inspired by one of her favourite fictional sleuths, Sherlock Holmes: “I listen to their story, they listen to my comments, and then I pocket my fee.”

Lauren Webb

HR Manager

Lauren brings in – and gets the best out of – our Bladonmore talent.

Whether through mentoring schemes, career development or more pastoral matters, she makes sure we bring the best people into the business and that all staff make the most of their Bladonmore experience.

Lauren has worked across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, having previously been UK HR manager at Quarto Publishing plc before joining Bladonmore.

She also has two keen interests – fitness and astrology; and, in true Aries style, likes to wind down in the gym with a pair of boxing gloves and a punchbag.

Matthew Guarente

Partner

Matt is the senior member of Bladonmore’s coaching team  

He helps the leaders of organisations deliver their narrative in a clear, compelling way – providing advisory and counsel on content and expression of ideas between the stakeholders who form a company’s reputation.

With over 15 years’ consultancy experience, he has delivered trusted relationships among a number of world-leading companies including Royal Philips, HSBC, BAE Systems and Airbus, among others.

Prior to Bladonmore, Matt held editorial management roles at Sunday Business, The Business and was launch editor of Square Mile. He was also head of the equities desk at Bloomberg News and director of the New Business Division at The Condé Nast Publications.

Ella Stoltzman-Thomas

Senior Commercial Manager

Ella is focused on building and developing our client relationships.

Applying a commercial outlook to strategic considerations, she also takes ownership of a number of our coaching projects and is responsible for end-to-end project management.

She works with a range of our clients, including HSBC, the London Stock Exchange Group and Mastercard.

Ella has a range of quirky interests, but perhaps none greater than her fascination (and deep knowledge) of true crime documentaries and criminal minds…

Jenny Torrie

Project Co-ordinator

Jenny is all about the logistics – she’s responsible for bringing together all the moving parts of our coaching projects.

Whether liaising with our camera crews or coaches, Jenny gets to grips with all the details in the build-up to our media and presentation coaching sessions to make sure everything runs smoothly.

She spent seven years in Hong Kong, working within the housing and recruitment industries, before returning to the UK to join Bladonmore.

Growing up in a small Irish seaside town, Jenny is also a fully qualified lifeboat driver.