Hazel Crawford
Managing Director

One of the Midlands’ leading young business women, Hazel began her career as a journalist before spending five years in an in-house PR role at Cable & Wireless. In 1999 Hazel founded Connect PR with Rob Hampton and grew the business from one employee to 25, successfully winning blue chip accounts including Volkswagen and Persimmon Homes. In 2015, Rob and Hazel acquired local rivals Seal Communications and in 2016 invested in a 2.7 acre farm in Staffordshire for the new 8848 headquarters.

Amanda Stagg
Marketing Director

With a wealth of experience in the automotive, leisure and retail sectors, Amanda previously spent seven years as client partner to Goodyear Dunlop and HiQ where she was key in driving strategy and delivering impressive ROI. Her considered, calm and thorough approach has benefitted clients including Birmingham Airport, The Cube, Remeha Commercial, Telford Shopping Centre and Rightmove.

Adrian Wilde Creative Director

Adrian has more than 20 years’ experience in the creative services industry. His expertise includes many of the region’s leading brands such as Chiltern Railways, Tarmac, Goodyear Dunlop, Marston’s and Bentley Motors. With his calm approach and fantastic mix of both brand and multi-channel delivery experience 8848 snapped him up at the start of 2018 with a brief to lead a fresh creative direction and drive the agency’s creative output.

Liz Collingridge
Business Development Director

Liz brings with her over 16 years’ marketing experience from both agency and client-side working with brands such as Bentley Motors, Aga-Rayburn, Brock Hall Farm, MG Motors and Mr Trotter’s. Liz is renowned for her boundless energy and insightful interpretation of business and customer needs, supporting her clients’ strategic thinking and accurately communicating those needs to the wider agency team.

Nicky Hind
Account Director

With more than 15 years’ experience across all communications disciplines, Nicky specialises in tailoring campaigns to suit the practical needs and aspirations of every client. With robust relationships across the sector and clients ranging from small charities to a FTSE 100 company, her deliberate and calm approach is used to develop measurable creative solutions that change perceptions and cement relationships.

Jo Roden
Account Director

Jo has over 19 years’ experience working within the branding, integrated marketing and design industry. Her experience includes working in-house as a marketing manager for two international retail brands and for an award winning design agency. Passionate about design and a strong brand strategist. Jo has worked across a wide range of brands and developed design and marketing campaigns for Johnson and Johnson (global), Pirelli, Muller, Clarks footwear, TJ Collection (Russia), Urban Splash, Birmingham City Council, Mitchells and Butlers, MAN, The Telford Centre and The Carver Group.

Sue Foster
Account Director

Sue has been a valued team member at 8848 for more than a decade following a successful eleven-year career in business management. A versatile and commercially minded individual, she uses her organisational skills and creativity to deliver explosive strategic campaigns across all channels.

Caroline Garbett
Account Director

Caroline’s wide experience includes more than 15 years in regional newspapers and senior in-house roles at Mensa and PDSA. As well as the skilful execution of creative events and engaging social media programmes, Caroline’s clients benefit from a professional PR service including strategic campaign development and authoritative crisis handling.

Sarah Dutton
Account Manager

For 25 years, Sarah has brought hunger and energy to the media. Her versatility and drive has seen her edit a glossy lifestyle magazine, contribute to countless regional newspapers and enjoy a successful spell in media relations with a leading blue chip company. Always looking for the next challenge, Sarah pushes the team at 8848 to continually strive for perfection.

Nitin Sharma
Video News Manager

With over fifteen years’ as a digital designer and video producer Nitin’s experience includes everything from corporate to broadcast video production, to photography and motion design. Living in Canada since the age of 10, Nitin’s career also includes some time as a broadcast designer and animator for CTV Canada AM and CTV’s National News. Nitin is bringing his creative flair to all things video here at 8848.

Dale Maycock
Account Manager

With over three years’ worth of experience working for a national news agency, Dale knows how to hit the headlines at a national level. Through his knowledge writing and placing news content in various international newspaper and magazines, Dale now turns his talents to gaining the very best coverage possible. Whether it’s writing for B2B or B2C clients, managing social media channels or even taking the odd press shot there’s not much Dale can’t turn his hand to.

James Garrison
Account Director

James has well over a decade’s experience in the media, including ten years working as a journalist on one of Britain’s largest regional newspapers. Joining 8848 in 2011, James knows what makes the media tick and is committed to creating engaging and effective campaigns for clients and securing the best possible coverage across all channels.

Charlotte Greenhalgh
Account Executive

With over five years’ experience across all communications disciplines, Charlotte is a successful blogger writing across a wide range of topics and industries. She is passionate about communications and loves a good challenge. A natural communicator and innovative thinker, she uses her skills to create and implement marketing and social media campaigns as well as diverse content for blogs, press and online.

Sean Wozencroft
Account Manager

Sean has eight years of media experience having started out as a journalist with a leading regional newspaper before joining 8848 in 2014. With a degree in journalism, he has a passion for engaging press releases and in bringing brands to the forefront in the trade press.

Stuart Glover
Account Executive

Stuart joined 8848 straight after graduating with a First-class BA (hons) Business and Marketing Management degree. With experience in digital marketing at a London agency, he joins our expert team in delivering fresh ideas and creative content, contributing to the agency’s offering in marketing, PR and social media.

Jackie Winfield
Finance & Operations Director

With more than 20 years’ agency support experience, Jackie is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of 8848’s accounts, purchasing and invoicing. In what is often a bustling work environment, her composed and exhaustive approach is invaluable in maintaining effective day-to-day operations.

Ross Watson
Account Executive

After studying Media and Communication at Birmingham City University, Ross joined 8848 upon graduation in 2015. Unapologetically results-driven, Ross’ broad set of media skills has already supported Johnstone’s Paint, Autoglym and Volkswagen. Ross is also a successful column writer for the Birmingham Mail, providing insight and occasional impartiality on his beloved Wolverhampton Wanders.

Judith Sanders
Account Manager

Judith worked for more than 20 years for one of the UK’s leading regional newspaper groups. With an in-built understanding of what the media wants and needs, her journalistic skills are now used at 8848 to help clients consistently grab the right headlines.

Natalie Moore
Account Executive

After achieving a First-class BA (hons) English Language degree, Natalie wasted no time in kick-starting her career in PR. Bringing a modern approach to communication, her creativity is used at 8848 to produce innovative, effective content in both the ever-changing world of social media and more traditional marketing channels.

Chris Shein
Video News Executive

Chris brings over ten years of filming corporate and TV industry experience to our video news team. Working for both Endemol TV Production and as a self-shooter for primetime TV shows, Chris' experience includes Channel 4’s Supercrimpers and Supersize v Superskinny and the BBC’s 100K House. His corporate career has also seen him work with brands such as MG and FedEX. Ask him about one of his career highlights so far and he’ll respond that it has to be filming Spielberg, Nicole Kidman and Leonardo Dicaprio at the Cannes Film Festival.

Sam Taylor
Senior Account Manager

A former newspaper editor, Sam worked in regional journalism for 25 years. Having moved into PR four years ago, she brings with her an eye for a story and a way with words. Copywriting credentials include the luxurious handcrafted world of Bentley and the technical precision of Yale, with a particular specialism in legal and professional services.

Simon Nutkins
Territory Manager

Black Country born and bred, Simon is 8848’s resident local expert. With a career spanning seven months, Simon has a lifetime of marketing experience under his pelt. While his get-up-and-go attitude has benefitted a wealth of clients, it’s his boundless energy that keeps his colleagues on their toes.