Newcomer of the Year (J)
WINNER Lucy Grove, Account Executive, Grayling
Since joining Grayling in 2007, Lucy Grove has worked tirelessly to make a difference to the company and her clients. Her ability to deliver and her infectious personality mean that she is seen by all of her clients as a crucial element of their account teams – their ‘go-to’ consultant.
Grove works for clients across a broad range of sectors and has quickly become an expert in a number of highly technical areas – from regulation to the NHS. She is also trusted to work on a number of complex and confidential issues.
Her work has included training a client for the high-profile inquiry into the banking crisis by the Treasury Select Committee and succinctly briefing MPs on contentious planning issues. She also works with clients in other high-profile areas such as government IT projects, pharmaceuticals and foreign affairs.
Grove began her career at Grayling as an intern while studying for an MSc in Public Affairs and Lobbying. Once employed full time, she quickly gained a reputation as a first-class researcher with a forensic attention to detail but an understanding of the ‘bigger picture’. Not surprisingly she was quickly promoted to an account executive. Her appetite for a challenge also led her to develop her skills by working closely with the agency’s events teams.
Grove has helped Grayling to win a number of new-business pitches with her creative thinking, enthusiasm and passion for politics. She has also devoted her time to helping promote the public affairs industry. This has included working on Grayling’s submission to the PASC inquiry into lobbying, helping to prepare representatives from the PRCA, APPC and CIPR for their appearance before the committee and by encouraging university students to consider public affairs consultancy as a career by speaking at her former university, Brunel.
It is a testament to her dedication and determination to succeed that she has managed to progress so quickly and it was no surprise that she was awarded a Distinction in her Masters.
*** Lucy Grove is leaving Grayling on 21 May to join Macmillan Cancer Support’s public affairs team, starting on 26 May.
Anthony Marlowe, Senior Account Executive, Edelman Public Affairs
Anthony Marlowe has made a significant contribution to the growth of Edelman’s business over the past year.
He joined Edelman’s public affairs practice in January 2008 having previously worked as a parliamentary researcher for Justine Greening MP, the Shadow Communities and Local Government Minister and Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party.
Marlowe’s clients cover a broad range of sectors and include well-known brands such as Shell, PepsiCo and the British School of Motoring. He has developed a specialism that bridges public affairs and corporate responsibility, meeting growing demand for deep-rooted expertise across both politics and business. He often uses CSR to promote PA issues to an audience beyond Westminster.
Marlowe has participated in some of Edelman’s biggest pitches and played a crucial role in winning two separate retainer accounts from Sainsbury’s, for PA and CSR.
He is a strong team player across the agency, working with colleagues in practices including consumer and corporate. He is as comfortable providing in-depth analysis of complex policy issues as he is running campaigns to influence government. Recent successes include: changing Conservative policy on a key business issue for a major client; and conducting challenging research that led to changes in business strategy for a leading multinational.
Marlowe is a regular contributor to Edelman marketing initiatives, for example posting on Despatchblog.com. He is co-creator of the vlog opinion series ‘Anthony and Afshar’.
Well-known among parliamentarians and researchers, he also co-ordinated the publication of Edelman’s Budget Analysis and Queen’s Speech Response.
He has completed Edelman’s extensive training courses and shared his own knowledge with colleagues and clients – for example, writing and presenting a briefing report of key lessons from the World Water Forum in Istanbul.
Edelman PA managing director Alex Bigg says: “Clients value Anthony for his objective advice and insight, while colleagues appreciate his professional attitude, work ethic and dry sense of humour. He is one to watch in both PA and the wider political arena.”
Jennifer White, Account Executive, DLA Piper Global Government Relations
Jennifer White joined GGR 18 months ago as a graduate trainee. She was promoted to account executive nine months after joining the team because of her impressive development as a public affairs practitioner.
Through GGR's graduate trainee programme, White has been trained in the parliamentary process, client management and media presentation, all of which have helped her to rapidly develop her skills.
She came to GGR with a keen interest in politics and has since developed in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and wider healthcare issues, which she applies well to client projects.
She has developed good relationships with clients and has their confidence because of her track record of delivery. She has also built strong relationships with senior lawyers in other practices within DLA Piper including the life sciences and healthcare regulatory teams. She has quickly taken charge of projects, successfully delivering results for clients.
At the end of last year she played a key role in preparing and presenting a successful pitch to a major pharmaceutical company that was held against four other agencies. Since then she has played a key day-to-day role on the account.
White is one of the best members of her team at keeping abreast of political and media developments and has taken responsibility for keeping them informed and engaged in the growth of new media. She has added value to GGR in terms of business development by securing and organising several high-profile set-piece seminars with politicians such as John McFall MP, Philip Hammond MP and leading industry figures and journalists.
