Our People
Adrian Windle - Junior Designer
Adrian is one of the new generation of designers whose education actually prepared him for the digital world - he has a degree in Digital Design for Technologies.
You can see his skills in the graphics, illustration and animation in the D-Link Flash banners, the design for the D-Link Space Attack game and various walkthrough demos such as the Pearson I-planner.
It is a measure of the respect that we have for Adrian's abilities that he contributed a lot to the design of this website.
To see his monument, look around you (with apologies to Sir Christopher Wren's memorial in St Paul's Cathedral).
Alan Mogford - Account Director
Alan joined DCH at the end of 2009 and is our account director on Pearson, FT.com, MG and the COI.
Over the years Alan has worked in some of the best agencies in the West Country on some huge brand launches - 3 and The Number 118118, for example.
Never one to settle for a quiet life, Alan joined Lloyds TSB and the time of the merger with HBOS in 2008.
Hardly surprising, then, that Alan lists amongst his recreations ‘sitting on the sofa'.
Ali Zachar - Group Account Director
Joining Squeeze Digital in 2005 as Nik's number two, Ali is a truly bilingual suit, fluent in both on and offline having worked across both disciplines in agencies and in client companies.
She is ideal to head up the account teams for our integrated offering and is incredibly versatile, bringing clarity and focus to any sector from dentistry to football, charities to online gambling.
People love working with Ali because, for all her determination, focus and discipline, she treats everyone with warmth and charm. (If only the rest of us could manage half of that!)
In between circuit training and running half marathons, Ali has a passion for travelling in Africa. In the movie of the agency she'd be the Location Manager. No guessing where she'd take us.
Andrew Hawkins - Managing Director
In the days when advertising was a magnet for the brightest and best Andrew joined Ogilvy with an MBA from Kellogg. By 1995 he was Managing Director of GGK where he led an MBO then merged his agency with Doner, the world's largest independent, to create DCH. The first campaign that the new agency created, for Fuller's London Pride, is still running today and is the longest running drinks campaign in the country.
Outside of the agency Andrew has been a devout Manchester United fan even through the Dark Pre-Ferguson Ages. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music stretching back for an embarrassing time: his least used App is Shazam.
Barrie Reader - Web Developer
Barrie studied Computational Development at Wiltshire College before working as a web developer for Consortium and JPC Infonet. He joined DCH back in March 2009 and works on clients including MG, Pearson, Nikon and Invisalign.
Barrie lives locally, and when we say he rolls into work each day, we really mean it. Come rain or shine, you’ll see him commuting to DCH In The Country on his beloved skateboard.
Outside of work, and his eco-friendly commute, Barrie loves making music, cooking, playing games and film. He’s also an avid Vegan and spends a lot of time convincing us that he eats more than just chips and soup.
Becky Bird - Web Developer
Chirpy (sorry, with a name like Bird it's hard to resist) Bristol girl Becky makes things happen. She's brought her CMS knowledge to DCH and helps us bring your emails, microsites and facebook apps to life.
Becky enjoys keeping up-to-date with the latest front-end technology, so if she's not at her desk, you might find her at a conference, seminar… or perhaps on her motorbike. Now Becky's got her full bike license she's looking for something to fit her adventurous personality. Who said developers don't like to get out much?
Ben Harling - Interactive Developer
Ben is our Flash guy. Not in an ostentatious way, of course. He’s responsible for developing Flash based online apps, exploiting technical opportunities and carrying out research into new technology.
Before joining DCH, Ben spent six years at Future Publishing as a lead developer for the Future multimedia studio. During this time he worked on nearly all publications as well as Future clients Sony, Disney, Hallmark and Tour De France.
When he’s not at his computer, Ben likes cycling and Capoeira. He also has a passion for Dub reggae and can occasionally be found in random fields. Raving.
Cam Brewer - Digital Creative Director
Cam established his reputation in the online creative world with outstanding campaigns for Shell, BAT and Universal Pictures. He was then headhunted to run the creative department at Inbox, where he developed award winning email campaigns for Vodafone, BMW and the BBC.
In 2004 Cam went on to co-found Squeeze Digital with Nik Margolis where they evolved the shared vision that became DigiDirect®. Today, Cam is Digital Creative Director at DCH, with responsibility for all of the digital output.
When he is not working, Cam attempts to creative direct his young son (soon to be joined by another in the growing brood). He describes this process as being like a marathon session of Call Of Duty with a dash of Outnumbered thrown in.
David Amstel - Group Account Director
It could be said David has a rather full on alcohol habit. In one way or another he has worked on drinks brands since he started his career at Diageo. He has drunk his way through the front and back of the bar with Bell's, Pimm's, Three Barrels brandy, Carling, Grolsch, Tennent's Lager and Fuller's London Pride.
David cut his teeth client-side at Diageo and was brand manager on Bell's Whisky before crossing to The Leith Agency in Edinburgh and London. He joined DCH in 2003.
With a degree in Politics from Nottingham University he is the ideal man to head up our COI business and is always keen to discuss the latest political twist and turns over a nice cup of tea.
David Hooper - Finance Director
David attended Durham University where he achieved a Double First in darts and ale: at his peak he was darts champion and could down a yard of ale in less than 14 seconds.
This attracted the attention of Arthur Andersen who trained him, somewhat to his surprise, as a Chartered Accountant. After 10 years in Y&R, David joined WPP as European Finance Director of Ogilvy PR. In 2002 David launched boymeetsgirl, before spending three years as Finance Director of Four, a privately owned marcoms group.
David is closely involved with everything we do and is our new technology evangelist. The TalkingCarl App is rumoured to have been based on David: the resemblance is certainly uncanny.
We do some great work on Pearson and can honestly say that we learn something new every day.
David Shute - Head of TV
David has been producing world-class TV and radio commercials for more than twenty years. He has been esponsible for productions in every major UK studio and in locations all over the world.
In the line of duty he has accepted a lift in Keith Moon's Rolls Royce and, much later, an even more terrifying ride home from Peter O'Toole.
In spite of these episodes his enjoyment of the process of film-making remains undimmed (or perhaps he's just glad to be alive).
In the production world David is widely respected for his instinctive skill in putting together the right team for any assignment. For David, production is about people and he can get as much satisfaction from a ten second radio spot as he does from a blockbuster cinema commercial.
Dick Lumsden - Managing Director Senioragency
Dick is our resident expert on the huge consumer sector that is the over 50s - making up one third of the population, but owning 80% of the country's wealth the over 50s that is, not Dick).
A media all-rounder, with 35+ years of experience behind him, he made the switch from a successful career in mainstream journalism to the agency world, and has worked in corporate communications, commercial publishing, public relations, marketing and advertising.
Along the way he has held board positions at Weber Shandwick, BSMG Worldwide, Charles Barker, Four and Paragon, working with a panoply of blue chip brands.
He joined DCH in 2008 and has become a passionate evangelist for relevancy in marketing to the older consumer - unsurprisingly; he is himself a product of the Baby Boomer generation.
Donna Coombs - Senior Account Manager
Donna became part of the DCH family in 2010. Before joining us, she account managed Alfa Romeo and BMW at EMO, and worked as a Marketing Executive at Bath publishing house Future.
When she's not running around supporting clients including Invisalign and Discovery, Donna can be found skiing down mountains; walking her Australian Cattle Dog, Dino; or catching the latest indie gigs.
Donna is also doing up a 1979 VW campervan thats she's named Norman. This work of art is set to be on the road for the summer, so if you're driving down the M5 give her a toot. How will I konw it's Donna, you ask? Easy. Norman is bright orange!
Emma Brown - Creative
Emma moved from the rural flatlands of Lincolnshire to London's most glamorous location, Walthamstow, in September 2010. Armed with BA Hons in Creative Advertising, her creative partner Jenna, and the knowledge that working in advertising was far better than her part-time job in a supermarket, she soon started the task of finding placements.
After her first placement at digital agency Profero, she started at DCH in March 2011, where the biggest highlight so far has been filming a TV ad, and stuffing herself with the free food on set.
When she's not thinking about work, she's daydreaming of the day she'll buy a converted windmill to live in (much like Jonathon Creek) and owning every kitchen gadget available.
Hannah Mason - Junior Interactive Designer
Hannah has a rare attribute; she can think both creatively and practically. Before joining DCH, Hannah enjoyed a project management role at Bristol-based development company, True Clarity. Here she worked with clients including The Conservatives (worked with, not voted for), Furniture Village, BT, Macmillan and Centrica. Although the role was challenging, Hannah couldn't ignore the creative itch to get back into design, and we're extremely happy to have her skills onboard.
However, her creative talents aren't limited to our clients; in her spare time Hannah enjoys creating mixed media and audio/visual work, and loves installation art. She's also enjoys putting together fancy dress outfits… perhaps we should introduce dress-up Fridays to the office.
Helen Harvey - Web Developer
After graduating with a degree in Multimedia from Gloucestershire University, Helen worked for a small start-up company before joining DCH as a Developer in 2007. She works her magic on clients including Nikon, OUP and D-Link.
When she’s not deploying emails or producing websites, Helen can be found glued to the seat at the cinema, or making a range of weird and wonderful objects out of paper. You should see the paper vase on her desk!
If Helen was an iPhone app she’d be a movie buff’s best friend and would have IMDB quivering in its boots.
Ian Cawley - Creative Copywriter
Ian has been in London since '97, and landed his first job at a small outfit nicknamed Lager Conquest, where he learnt to read and write.
From there he moved onto HCCL and worked with the deities Al Young and Sir Stephen Henry.
When Ian's not writing ads, he's more often than not running round in a cape being Super-Dad to his daughter Ella. His favourite night is Monday, the one night he's allowed out of the house to play football with his mates.
Ian is a big fan of Shane Meadows, Nicola Cawley and Barry Fry.
Jenna Thomas - Creative
AKA the Agency Dustbin, Jenna likes to eat herself silly. Bacon and KFC seem to be her preference, although she's happy to give most things a good go.
After graduating from the University of Lincoln with a BA Hons in Creative Advertising, Jenna joined her creative partner Emma to knock on a few doors in London. After a stint with digital agency, Profero, we're happy she headed our way.
Jenna likes to think big: one day she hopes to change the world with a stupendous idea that gets people to think differently – we expect it'll come to her while working here.
Jez Watson - Creative Art Director
Jez moved to London in 1997 and after realising the streets weren't paved in gold, cut his teeth at Landsown Conquest.
His then creative director beat him daily, until he won his first award (with Ian) for Campaign's Best Charity Poster.
When he grows up he'd like to be Tom Cruise in Cocktail (the bit where he owns a bar in Jamaica) but for now he's passionate about advertising Pina Coladas not serving them.
Jez is a big fan of Saturday Kitchen, Deanie and Sharks.
Kerry Harrison - Copywriter
Kerry started her career as a Graduate Trainee writer at Europe's largest DM agency, WWAV Rapp Collins. From here she climbed through the ranks in various creative agencies before becoming Senior Copywriter at McCann Erickson.
Kerry has worked on an array of big-name brands in her time. These range from the Red Cross to Goodyear Dunlop and Lloyds TSB to Virgin. She was welcomed into DCH in April 2010.
When she's not throwing herself down mountains or catching the surf, she'll normally be found eating. She is the proud owner of her own Sainsbury's Local, which is located in the bottom drawer of her desk.
Loic Echaubard - Senior Account Manager
At the age of seventeen Loic suffered from itchy feet, and left Australia to see a little more of the world. After many adventures, he landed himself in London and found that he couldn't bear to tear himself away (well not for any great deal of time).
When he's not planning a trip to see some sunshine, Loic dreams of cars (Chrysler), cheese (St. Agur), Mexican food (Discovery) and his other passion, rugby.
Maria Larrea - Account Executive
Joining us from Pamplona, via Madrid, Maria's gained a wealth of agency experience working for clients such as Toyota, Telefonica, and San Miguel to name but a few. Here at DCH, she's helps us take care of D-Link and Invisalign.
Maria's happiest in the sun and sea, and aims to get as much of both as possible, which living in not-so-bright Bristol, entails jetting off whenever possible. To relax Maria likes to experiment in the kitchen, watch Billy Wilder films, and being the true account executive that she is, plan what she's doing for the foreseeable future. What does 2020 hold, Maria?
Matt Chapman - Interactive Designer
Matt grew up in Cornwall in a house that he and his Dad built. He studied in St Austell and graduated with a Foundation desgree in Art & Design in 2004. Before leaving pasties and pirates and setting sail for DCH, Matt worked at several local agencies for clients including haymarket, Pepsi, Shell and e4.
He is one of our Interactive designers with responsibility for Jury's Inn, Oxford University Press and Nikon.
When Matt's not at work, engrossed in his animation projects or building houses, he's working as a hired hitman or driving the SSV Normandy starship around the galaxy. All on his PC/PS3, of course!
Matt McMinn - Business Development Director
Matt's advertising career started at the biggest DM agency in Europe, WWAV Rapp Collins. From there he drifted south to become Commercial Director at Melbourne's number 1 ad agency, George Patterson Bates.
But the superb lifestyle and amazing career opportunities could not compete with the lure of warm beer and lukewarm cricket and Matt returned to our shores in 2002. He headed up Business Development at Clark Mckay & Walpole until he was welcomed into DCH in 2008.
In the movie of the agency Matt would be played by John Travolta - in his post-dancing days, of course.
Natalie Wherlock - Copywriter
Gaining experience at Golley Slater, McCann Erikson, and IKEA's headquarters, Nats (ever the formal lady) has written for a variety of clients including, The Army, Cathay Pacific, Mitsubishi and knows her Ektorp from her Klippan. Although she thinks IKEA's best product could be the Köttbullar (the meatballs to you and me).
Nats admits to mainly thinking about food, and if she's not at her desk, you can find her at a restaurant table, checking out a band, or riding her beloved bicycle desperately trying to work off her cake-habit.
Neil Knight - Senior .Net Developer
Armed with an Advanced GNVQ in Information Technology, Neil started work as a Junior Developer for the AA. He later moved to Avis, where he worked on a real-time application to help the business plan delivery and collections. During his eight years of service, he climbed through the ranks to become a Senior Analyst Programmer.
Neil may have left the corporate world behind when he joined us in 2009, but he didn’t quite leave the automotive industry. He is now integral to DCH’s work for MG, as well as other clients including D-Link, Nikon, Fuller’s, Pearson and Jurys Inn.
Outside of work, Neil dabbles in XNA game development and enjoys pretty much every PS3 game imaginable - apart from Singstar. Well, that’s what he tells us! Neil’s gaming skills aren’t just evident in the virtual world. He also dazzles us with his slam dunks on the basketball court at lunch time. A man of many talents.
Nick Gill - Planning Director
Good digital planners are very hard to find and we count ourselves as fortunate to have one of the best in Nick Gill.
The role encompasses development and delivery of digital strategy, integrated planning, social brand consultancy, CRM, web development, content strategy, interactive advertising experiences.
Previously Ford of Europe, McLaren Automotive, Nissan GB & Europe, Unilever, Shell International, Smirnoff, Beverage Brands, Samsung, Activision, Morgan Stanley, Barclaycard, and GSK have all had the Gill treatment.
As have some of the leading digital and direct agencies including OgilvyOne, Digitas, Wunderman, Tullo Marshall Warren and Lawton Communications Group.
You can find Nick on the European IAB Interact Congress blog, or on his own blog, and he is a regular speaker and thought leader in digital industry events and publications.
Or, better still, come in and met the real thing.
Nick Scott - Deputy Creative Director
Armed with a First Class degree in Art & Design, Nick launched himself into what he hoped would be the sinful world of advertising in 1985.
Over the years he has worked in a number of great agencies from a startup like Still Court Price Twivy D'Souza to the mountaintops of McCann and Y&R.
Along the way he has made a visible contribution to some of the world's most stylish brands - Virgin Atlantic, Rolls Royce, P&O Cruises, BT, Warburton's Bread, Bird's Eye, British Steel, John Lewis, Mastercard and L'Or eal.
Nick joined DCH in 2001 as Deputy Creative Director and Head of Art. He is the proud owner of a hand-picked selection of the best of British automotive engineering. He says they are classics. We say "Thanks, Nick, I'll get a cab."
Nik Margolis - Head of Digital and Direct
Nik works alongside Andrew to lead DCH.
It could be said that Nik’s love of capturing an audience’s attention started early. As a teenager, he performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican in London. While his co-stars went on to star in Harry Potter, Nik went on to star in advertising.
After stints at EHS Brann, BHWG and Proximity he moved into the world of digital, setting up his own agency Squeeze, in 2004. We know the rest. Very soon, Squeeze were making a big difference to blue chip clients including The Economist, BT, NSPCC and Red Cross. In 2008, the business merged with Doner Cardwell Hawkins to become DCH, the integrated agency you see today. At what point in this career history Nik felt it was a good idea to start wearing flowery shirts, we’re not quite sure.
Outside the office and the flowery attire, Nik will normally be found with a beer and a pool cue in hands. He is also fluent in Mandarin (when he’s asking for coffee, cigarettes or beer).
Phil Hobgen - Technical Director
If the digital world didn't exist, Phil would have invented it.
Whilst the other kids were out playing football, Phil was building an oscilloscope.
He was the first person in his school with one of those red LED watches (although he still doesn't know what time it is).
His first computer was a Sinclair ZX80. It's a tribute to Phil's determination that he survived this and went on to spend the next 20 years developing software on Microsoft platforms. He has an instinctive understanding of new MS technologies and ideas in team development and an obsession with implementing industry best practices.
We would trust Phil with anything. Apart from music - he can't stop his toes tapping when Wham! come on the radio. Feet of clay, indeed.
Rebecca Griffiths - Senior Account Manager
Rebecca (or Becks, as we like to call her) joined DCH in September 2009. She is Account Manager on Pearson and the Travel Code project for the Welsh Assembly Government through the COI.
Previously, Becks spent three years at TRA in Bath where she was a Project Manager. Before that she trained in Illustration at Kingston University, and worked as a life drawing tutor at UWIC in Cardiff.
Becks has just begun a long-term project for her most demanding client - she has started to design her own home.
Ryan Cheetham - Junior Web Developer
Ryan graduated from UWIC with a degree in Product Design in 2009 and is the youngest member of the DCH team. Fresh from university, he joined us as Junior Web Developer, and has already been making his mark on clients including Jaxx and Nikon.
Ryan has bucket loads of energy and infectious enthusiasm. The office is the only place you’ll find him sitting. When his desk chair is empty, he’s more than likely diving in the Maldives, riding elephants in Thailand, hosting house parties, or throwing himself down a mountain! Ahh the beauty of being only 22!
Sophy Wells - Senior Account Manager
Sophy has been a keen marketer from the word go and is a self-confessed geek when it comes to spreadsheets and IT. It's no surprise that she started her career in IT and Financial Services before moving from client side to the dark side in 2009.
Since joining DCH and the agency world, she has developed and grown clients including Cofunds, Discovery Foods and Nikon to name but a few.
As well as being a passionate marketer, Sophy is a walking What's On Guide. If she doesn't know it's happening, it aint worth going. One iPhone app she'll never need (and we'll never need) is Time Out London.
Wayne Harriss - Creative Services Director
Wayne joined the agency world straight from school in 1984 as a runner in the despatch dept at Grey Advertising.
As any smart entrepreneur would, Wayne very quickly realised that he could supplement his income by cleaning the fleet of Mercedes at lunchtime. (a fleet of....? These were the Mad Men days, now long gone.)
Back at his day job, Wayne steadily worked his way up through the ranks at Publicis, Cogent, MPGM until we recruited him at DCH.
In the industry he has a reputation for honesty, candour and fairness.
His interests outside the agency include coaching youth football (If you know the scene in Kes you won't be far wrong).
