Gay Bell
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Platform CommunicationsGay Bell is Chief Executive of Platform Communications, the marketing and PR consultancy she founded in the early 1990’s. With over 30 years international business experience, all of which have been spent in the technology and media markets, Gay is a well-respected corporate communications and industry expert.
Gay’s passion is based on helping clients – from start-ups, through scale-ups to multi-nationals – to create strong differentiation and stand out communications strategies that drive market leadership. Together with the Platform team, Gay is focused on client relationships that deliver campaigns with tangible results, from clarity of message, through increased presence and share of voice, to building corporate value with M&A success. Her senior consultancy experience has seen her work across Asia, Europe and the US in a number of high-growth, innovative technology sectors including personal computing, gaming, mobile voice and video, satellite communications, digital TV and broadcasting, interactive experiences, streaming video and AR/VR. Clients have included companies such as Arqiva, Bell Atlantic, BT, EDS, Ericsson, Grass Valley, Globecast, NDS, NeXt Computer and TANDBERG Television.
Prior to establishing Platform, Gay was on the European board and Head of Technology PR practice at Fleishman Hillard, the world’s largest PR consultancy. Having trained as a journalist she started her PR career in-house for Philips Electronics, based in the Netherlands.
Gay is a Sprockit Thought Leader and sits on the advisory board of Rise: A group for women in broadcast.
David Bramley
Founder and Director
Platform CommunicationsWith over 20 years business experience, David’s particular strengths are in allying his business knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the broadcasting, video, internet, content protection and management, new media, mobile and interactive sectors. His core skills include research and analysis, media relations, message creation and writing.
David’s experience and knowledge of business and technology ensures that Platform knows exactly what success looks like for its clients. This is a crucial first step before designing the Platform programs that communicate complex business models and technologies to journalists and all other stakeholders.
David’s PR experience includes strategic communications management in the fields of wireless multimedia for PacketVideo, digital broadcasting and interactive television for NDS and multimedia for the Learning Company. His track record includes tender and bid preparation for telecommunications projects, research projects for software companies with respect to potential acquisitions and market positioning, writing business plans for start-up companies pursuing venture capital and preparation of flotation documentation in the IT world.
After graduating in Mathematics from Manchester University, David began his career in accountancy with KPMG. While at KPMG, David worked on his first technology project, the flotation of a computer manufacturer.
David Lawrence
Director
Platform CommunicationsDavid has 20+ years of experience planning and managing communications that deliver real commercial outcomes for media, entertainment and technology brands.
He has led international business, consumer and trade focused communications for clients including EA, Microsoft, Monster, Technicolor, THX and Sonos. His previous work includes launching the world’s biggest online football competition with FIFA, taking Sonos from niche product to lifestyle brand, announcing Pan’s Labyrinth HD with director Guillermo del Toro, re-launching Napster and helping Microsoft become a world leader in IPTV.
David’s areas of expertise include strategic planning, brand positioning, messaging, digital and social media, media/analyst relations, media partnerships, issues/crisis management and events. He was previously senior director at Weber Shandwick and UK head at WPP owned PPR Worldwide.
David is a graduate of Manchester University (Geography) and Cardiff University (Public Relations).
Max Deeley
Associate Director
Platform CommunicationsMax has been in the PR industry for more than a decade, working with technology brands and service providers to develop communications strategies and campaigns tailored to specific business objectives. From multinational organisations such as Qualcomm, Barclays and Vodafone, to challengers and innovative start-ups, Max has provided expert consultancy to brands in every stage of the business lifecycle.
His areas of expertise include messaging and strategy development, identifying the best ways to utilise owned, earned and paid channels to engage key audiences with tailored assets.
Max graduated from Bournemouth University with a degree in Public Relations and holds an AMEC International Certificate in Measurement and Evaluation.
Client Management Team
Hugh Filman
Senior Account Director
Platform CommunicationsA journalist turned communications professional, Hugh has more than 25 years’ experience in content creation, media management and client service. Most recently, he has spent more than eight years on the agency side of the communications equation, helping clients build and execute PR and integrated marketing strategies. He joined Platform in 2016.
Originally from Canada, Hugh previously enjoyed a long international career as a wire service reporter, magazine editor and correspondent, working for Business Week, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the German Press Agency.
He has lived in the UK since 2000, freelancing for titles such as Institutional Investor and the Evening Standard before becoming news editor of Media Week and then editor of the Haymarket magazine Direct Response. Before joining Platform, he was a member of the senior management team at ThoughtSpark, a thought leadership-driven PR and content agency.
Hugh has extensive experience with media, technology and marketing services clients, spanning ambitious start-ups, established international players and corporate giants. He has expertise across a broad range of areas, including digital media, Big Data, video technology, ecommerce, enterprise solutions and customer relationship management (CRM).
After spending most of the last 16 years living in deepest South London, he and his family decided to move just outside of the capital to the literally greener pastures of Hertfordshire.
Ségolène Roche
Account Director
Platform CommunicationsWith more than six years in Communications and PR, Ségolène has extensive experience managing international campaigns for clients that range from early-stage start-ups to listed companies. She specializes in planning and delivering integrated communications campaigns combining awards, content, events, PR, social media and a speaker program.
In addition, she provides consultancy for clients on broadening the reach of their communications outside of their core audiences.
After starting her career in robotics start-up Gostai and then working at PR agency Ballou, Ségolène joined Platform where she has worked across a broad range of video technology and adtech clients for more than three years. Prior to joining Platform, she was running campaigns for clients such as Acquia, Dashlane, Hotel Tonight, Rubicon Project and Unruly.
A French national, Ségolène graduated in 2010 with a MA in Communications from Université Paris 2 – Assas. She also holds a BA in Korean from Paris 7 – Jussieu and has a strong command of Italian.
Fascinated by languages and how they affect our perception of the world, she is currently attending a Farsi course at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and is learning Spanish.
Lisa Towell
Account Director
Platform CommunicationsLisa specialises in planning and delivering communications campaigns incorporating media relations, strategy development, thought leadership, awards, events and speaker programmes. Her areas of expertise include external communications, issues and crisis management, internal communications, media relations, stakeholder relations, brand development, social and sustainability programme development and implementation, social media campaigns, and outreach education programs for schools.
Prior to joining Platform in 2018, Lisa started her PR career in a boutique public relations and marketing agency in Dublin, before moving in-house to take up strategic communication roles in the MedTech, Pharma and Financial sectors.
Lisa is an English and History graduate of University College Dublin. She completed her Master’s degree in Broadcasting Production from IADT (Institute of Art, Design and Technology), Dublin. She is a current member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and a former member of MedTech Europe’s Communication Committee based in Brussels. The MedTech Week awareness campaign she designed and managed before joining Platform won Best European MedTech Week Campaign at the Irish MedTech Awards in 2018.
In her free time, Lisa enjoys strength sports (she produced a 6-part podcast series on women in strength sports), trying to become bilingual, attending theatre and film festivals and reading a healthy mix of historical fiction and non-fiction.
James Michael-Holmes
Senior Content Comms Manager
Platform CommunicationsAs Senior Content Comms Manager, James’ role is focused on meeting client content creation needs. In more than five years at Platform, he has amassed considerable content marketing experience, producing messaging platforms, vision papers, thought leadership articles, presentations, press releases and general PR and communications copy.
James works closely with Platform’s various account teams and individual writers to help manage the planning, writing and approval processes for a number of TV technology and broadcast clients. He has been responsible for the development and management of the blog content on Ericsson’s media website, helping to reinforce the company’s position as one of the most influential players in TV and Media.
Prior to joining Platform in 2012, James worked for a digital marketing agency, which focused on creating and implementing blog strategies and digital PR. Over two years, he ran social media accounts and campaigns for clients from the technology, retail and betting industries.
He graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2009 with an MA in Print Journalism. James is an avid sports fan, a frustrated five-aside footballer and a Netflix binge watcher.
Zoe Mumba
Account Manager
Platform CommunicationsSince joining Platform in 2015, Zoe has played a key role in a number of international campaigns for clients that increase brand awareness and help generate business leads. She specialises in helping her clients build their presence in local territories and target industries by helping to deliver integrated communications campaigns that combine awards, content, events, PR, social media and a speaker programme.
To date, she has secured coverage in Campaign Magazine, Deadline, The Drum, Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, The Economic Times of India, Metro, and Variety.
Zoe began her career in the marketing department of a top 10 UK business school. She graduated from Loughborough University in 2014 with a degree in English and North American Literature and Film. She has worked as a reviewer at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest arts festival, and also completed internships with local news agencies and The Guardian.
Since moving to London in 2015, Zoe has been enjoying the advantages of living in an international city, including travelling to destinations off the beaten track and learning Bulgarian. Outside of visiting local art exhibitions and exploring London, Zoe also willingly attends 6am spin classes.