Some are born great, some
achieve greatness, and some
hire public relations officers
Daniel Boorstin
Vanessa Gardner M.C.I.P.R.
Director
Vanessa is a senior marketing communications professional with over 15 years experience in FMCG consumer, corporate and B2B environments.
After a five year stint in the publishing world, Vanessa went to work for Anita Roddick’s The Body Shop where she was very proud to collaborate on a groundbreaking, independently audited Ethical Audit Report. Promoting transparency and encouraging sustainability of business operations, this approach to corporate social responsibility has been emulated by a variety of blue-chip organisations since.
From Anita Roddick to Richard Branson, the Virgin empire was Vanessa’s next step, to launch a new business in the group with three commercial channels – retail, mail order and direct selling. Clear and effective media, in-store and consumer communication was critical and Vanessa worked on all of these, as well as producing a corporate identity guide.
Vanessa’s final chapter of corporate life was at Wella UK, part of the global Procter & Gamble group. Here she managed the strategic development and implementation of corporate, consumer and B2B public relations programmes, working with external agencies to achieve higher service levels and improved return on investment. With a fresh, results-orientated approach, Vanessa achieved a 45% uplift in positive consumer-brand media coverage in the first three years. She also worked to maximise sponsorship deals including the Elle Style Awards, the Toyota Formula 1 team, the Pop Idol tour, various celebrity endorsements and Comic Relief Red Nose Day (for which the team won the PR Week Award for Best Corporate Communications Campaign).
In 2006, Vanessa launched Footprint Communications and is enjoying every minute! Vanessa is a media trained spokesperson and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Yiannaki Loizou
Account Executive
After graduating with a first-class honours degree in English from the University of Southampton, Yiannaki earned experience at the BBC in London, working alongside the news team on Radio 5Live. From this, he entered the world of financial PR with a stint in the city, working with clients listed on the LSE. Looking for a team that could demonstrate a hands-on, creative approach to PR, Yiannaki joined Footprint Communications in July 2007 and hasn’t looked back since. Having fully integrated into Footprint Communications' unique style, he is drawing on his passion for communications to help clients leave their mark.
Yiannaki is also a member of the CIPR and, in his spare time, is a disillusioned Saints fan.