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).
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.
Read MoreOriginally 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.
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.
Read MoreJames 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.
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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Holly Searle
Account Director
Platform CommunicationsHolly has over five years’ experience in PR and communications, focusing primarily on the media industries. Since joining Platform in 2016, Holly has been responsible for managing a group of multinational and specialist clients that are at the forefront of innovation within the creation, packaging and delivery of video experiences.
Read MoreDuring her career, Holly has managed accounts for global media companies such as ZenithOptimedia (part of Publicis Groupe) and international photo agency Getty Images – handling everything from thought leadership, media relations through to managing speaking engagements.
In addition to this, she has previously managed communications on behalf of a range of independent companies in the TV, video and broadcast sector including London-based film and broadcast post-production house Molinare and Rightster, the leading multiplatform video network outside of North America.
Holly currently lives in London, moving to the capital in 2008 to attend University College London where she attained a degree in History of Art. In keeping with her area of study art, Holly is an avid artist and screen printer in her spare time.