Member Article

Horizonworks strengthens team and celebrates expansion

North East-based full service strategic marketing company Horizonworks is on the rise after doubling the size of its team in the last 12 months.

The expanding firm has made two new appointments and promoted a key member of staff, following increased demand for its strategic marketing and design divisions.

The firm, which is headquartered in Newcastle, has welcomed client marketing manager Kirsten Meaney and designer Ryan Errington to its team, following a number of high profile client wins, and their recruitment is part of Horizonworks’ ambitious growth strategy over the next 3 years.

As a result of increased demand for its strategic marketing services – which includes in-depth marketing analysis, strategy development, marketing planning, perception analysis and benchmarking audits – client marketing manager Steve Abbott has been promoted to head of strategy and development.

Steve has over 10 years’ marketing experience in industry and will be responsible for all marketing strategy and development projects for clients. He specialises in the creation and implementation of business to business marketing strategies and corporate communications.

Commenting on his promotion, Steve said: “I’ve been with the company only nine months and in that time I’ve seen the team double in size. It’s clear that 2014 will be a landmark year for the company and I’m very excited to be part of its continued expansion.”

The company, which offers full service marketing – including strategic marketing, public relations, design, digital and brand development – has seen success with client wins spanning numerous industries.

Recent additions to its client portfolio include the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, business and financial solutions provider Solutions for Accounting, freight forwarding company Johnson Partners and global industrial filtration specialists Parker Domnick Hunter. The company has also recently completed a high profile PR campaign for membership support network the Institute of Water’s annual conference.

As client marketing manager, Kirsten Meaney will be responsible for supporting the company’s regional and national clients in the delivery of their PR and marketing strategies.

Prior to joining Horizonworks, Kirsten worked for construction specialist Carillion where she created and implemented marketing campaigns within the energy and education sectors.

She has also worked at Northumbria University Business School where she led its marketing programme and has experience within the defence, space, aerospace and security sectors from her work as marketing manager for membership organisation Northern Defence Industries.

Commenting on her new role, Kirsten said: “I’m really excited to join Horizonworks and looking forward to becoming part of the team. The business is going from strength to strength and the wide variety of prestigious clients the company works with is something which really appealed to me.”

The company – which has recently secured design contracts with high profile clients including current LV= County Championship holders Durham Country Cricket Club – has also bolstered its creative arm with the appointment of designer Ryan Errington. Ryan will assist the creative manager in the delivery of design, following increased requirement for Horizonworks’ creative services.

Ryan spent three years as graphic designer for a leading North East creative and design agency, where he worked on a number of graphic, web design and print projects, spanning multiple sectors including retail, leisure, finance, law and education.

Ryan said: “I’m delighted to be joining such a dynamic organisation: Horizonworks is becoming established as a major player in the marketing arena, and its creative work is really turning heads on a regional and national level.”

Samantha Davidson, managing director of Horizonworks, added: “I’m very pleased to welcome both Kirsten and Ryan to our growing team and to appoint Steve in his new role. Kirsten brings with her a wealth of marketing experience across a range of key sectors whilst Ryan will play an integral part in the growth of our creative arm.

“Demand is already extremely high for our strategic marketing services and more than 75% of our current clients require a strategic component in our work with them. Steve is a strategy and development specialist and will head up this growing division.

“Horizonworks has experienced immense growth in the last 12 months, but we’re not resting on our laurels. We’re only half way through 2014 and it’s already shaping up to be a very exciting year.”

Launched in 2010, Horizonworks’ clients include vehicle electronics specialist Hyperdrive Innovation, biomass utilities provider Gaia Heat, car dealership Vic Young, Vertem Asset Management, national regenerative medicine network Regener8 and leading biomedical network Bionow.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Samantha Davidson .