Interim Communications Director & Head of Communications

Senior communications leadership when you need it, without the commitment of a permanent hire.

Organisations don't always need another permanent senior hire. Sometimes they need an experienced communications leader who can step in quickly, understand what needs to be done and take responsibility for delivering it.

I provide interim and fractional Communications Director and Head of Communications support for organisations that need senior expertise during maternity or parental leave, a leadership gap, a major project or launch, a period of change or growth, or while recruiting a permanent communications leader.

With more than 25 years' experience across in-house leadership and consultancy roles in the UK and internationally, I work at both strategic and hands-on delivery level. I advise CEOs and senior leadership teams on communications strategy, reputation, positioning and issues, while also working directly with internal teams, agencies, stakeholders and media to get the work done.

My experience spans corporate, consumer and B2B communications, including media relations, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, internal and external communications, thought leadership, integrated campaigns and international communications.

When to bring me in

You may need interim communications leadership when:

You need Communications Director-level expertise on a fractional or part-time basis rather than another permanent senior hire
Your Communications Director or Head of Communications is on maternity, parental or extended leave
A senior communications role is vacant while you recruit a permanent replacement
Your organisation is going through growth, change or international expansion
A major launch, campaign or business priority needs experienced communications leadership
A reputation, media or stakeholder issue requires senior judgement
Your existing communications or marketing team needs temporary senior leadership and direction
You need Communications Director-level expertise for a few days a week rather than another permanent senior hire
You need someone who can set the strategy and also help deliver it

What I Can Take Responsibility For

Communications strategy and leadership

I develop integrated PR, communications and brand strategies aligned to business and marketing KPIs. That includes defining priorities, sharpening positioning, building campaign narratives, and ensuring communications activity is focused, consistent, and commercially relevant.

Brand positioning and messaging

I help organisations clarify what they want to be known for, whom they need to influence and how to communicate that clearly. This can include messaging frameworks, tone of voice, narrative development and communications planning across owned and external channels.

PR, earned media and reputation

I lead proactive PR and earned media activities that support broader business goals, working within the PESO model (paid, earned, shared, owned). I also provide senior counsel on reputation management, sensitive issues and crisis communications, helping organisations communicate clearly under pressure.

Thought leadership and leadership visibility

I help founders, CEOs and senior leaders build visibility and credibility in their sector. This includes thought leadership themes, LinkedIn content, speaking opportunities, commentary, articles and stronger opinion-led content that positions leaders as recognised voices in their field.

Stakeholder engagement and internal communications

Strong communications is not just about media coverage. I work across stakeholder engagement and internal communications with boards, members, staff, customers, partners, regulators and wider sector audiences, helping organisations build trust and communicate more effectively with the people who matter most.

Measurement and evaluation

I build in measurement and evaluation from the start, so communications is assessed properly and improved over time. That includes KPIs, reporting frameworks and practical evaluation linked to outcomes such as awareness, reputation, stakeholder engagement, messaging, lead generation and overall communications effectiveness.

What I bring

I bring more than 25 years of communications experience across in-house leadership, consultancy and agency roles in the UK and internationally.

I have worked at senior level on both sides of the table. As Head of Communications at Seafish, I led UK-wide communications, advised the CEO and served as a non-executive board member. Since then, I have built and run my own communications consultancy, advising CEOs, founders, business owners and senior leadership teams across more than 100 organisations.

My experience spans corporate, consumer and B2B communications, from reputation, media relations and complex stakeholder issues to brand campaigns, launches, thought leadership and international expansion.

I also bring a genuinely international perspective. I spent more than 17 years working in Asia and have delivered communications across the UK, Asia, Europe and North America. This is particularly valuable for organisations operating across markets or communicating with international audiences.

This is particularly valuable for organisations operating across markets or communicating with international audiences.

Most importantly, I combine strategic counsel with hands-on delivery. I can work with a CEO or leadership team to establish the communications priorities, then work directly with internal teams, agencies, stakeholders and media to deliver them.

25+ years in PR, communications and marketing
Former Head of Communications and non-executive board member
Experience advising CEOs, founders, owners and senior leadership teams
In-house, agency and consultancy experience
Corporate, consumer and B2B communications expertise
Reputation, issues and crisis communications experience
Senior media relations and stakeholder engagement
UK and extensive international experience, including 17+ years in Asia
Experience supporting more than 100 organisations
Strategic leadership combined with hands-on delivery

Working together

If you need senior-level PR and communications leadership but are not ready to recruit a permanent director, I offer interim support tailored to your organisation, priorities and timelines.

Assignments can range from short, intensive periods of support during a transition to longer arrangements where I work alongside your leadership and internal teams for an agreed number of days each month. In each case, the aim is the same: to provide experienced, commercially aware communications leadership that helps you move forward with stronger stakeholder engagement, sharper positioning and a clearer communications function.

Please get in touch to arrange an initial conversation about your needs and whether interim PR director support would be the right fit for your organisation.