Our Team

We are an industry-leading team of strategic professionals and dynamic creatives with over 25 years of experience in destination marketing and place-making in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Alice Hammond

Account Director

Always ready with a smile, Alice started her career in B2B PR, working with big consultancy firms such as Accenture. She then progressed into Market Research and Insights, working agency-side with global marketing teams in APAC, the middle East and the UK at Coca-Cola. She transitioned into Marketing in 2014 and continued to develop her career as a Senior Account Manager, working with baby brands Cow & Gate and Aptamil, before landing her role at AL Marketing in early 2018. Here, her creativity, drive to succeed and desire to go the extra mile for our clients make her an asset to the team.

Nick Page

Senior Creative Artworker

With a background in print production, Nick has a wealth of invaluable knowledge and experience, together with the attention to detail to ensure the seamless delivery of print and digital production projects. From one off jobs to large multi-output campaigns, including unusual OOH formats, press, POS, brochures, social media, web content and digital, Nick is our go-to man for all our artwork and web and graphic design outputs.

Sam Moore

Account Director

Sam’s career has seen him planning and implementing multi-channel national and international marketing campaigns for a wide range of sectors. From travel and hospitality, to leisure and lifestyle as well as retail destinations, he now looks after some of our key clients including large town-centre schemes such as The Darwin in Shrewsbury, Castle Quay in Banbury, and historic city schemes such as The Royal Exchange in Manchester.

His keen attention to detail, versatility, analytical mind, and aptitude for technology makes him particularly adept at brand development, digital marketing and strategy formulation.

Eileen Connolly

Strategic Consultant

With a wealth of experience spanning over 100 shopping destinations across the EMEA, Eileen’s forte lies in delivering practical and strategic marketing consultancy advice and mentoring and developing teams. As an active member of the global shopping centre community, she works closely with REVO (BCSC) and ICSC to maintain insight and perspective on an increasingly fast moving and challenging industry. Eileen has worked on many award-winning projects including Brent Cross, Bullring, Buchanan Galleries, Festival Place and The Oracle and has advised clients in Germany, Poland, Turkey, Morocco, Portugal, Kazakhstan and Hungary.

Geoffrey Bean

Executive Creative Director

Geoffrey is a multi-award-winning creative director and entrepreneur with over thirty years’ advertising and marketing experience. He has developed and produced major campaigns for many household names including Twinings Tea, Milupa Baby Food, British Coal, Speedwing, Travelodge, Pentax, Unilever, Standard Life Investments and British Land. His many accolades include ten BCSC Purple Apples, seven ICSC Jean Solal Awards, five ICSC Maxi Awards and the ICSC Best of the Best Award. He brings a wealth of experience and creative insight to AL to steer and inspire creative direction on key campaigns and activations.

Alan Thornton

Managing Director

Alan has worked at senior level within the retail destination sector for over 25 years, including international marketing roles at Clarks and Topshop – during their global expansion period. He’s also held senior director positions with property specialists Donaldsons and DTZ and worked with destination specialists, MindFolio. His brand portfolio includes Covent Garden Market, Carnaby and Whiteleys in the UK, plus Arena Plaza, Budapest; Centrum Galerie, Dresden; and Morocco Mall in Casablanca. Currently chair of the Solal Awards, he has played active roles within ICSC and REVO and co-authored the REVO guide to Marketing KPI’s and Evaluation.

Sarah Gregory

Client Services Director

Having graduated from the University of East Anglia with a 2:1 in law, Sarah made the move into PR and Marketing. With over thirteen years in the industry, she has worked on some of the most iconic retail destinations in the UK including intu Trafford Centre, as well as schemes including Market Place, Shrewsbury Shopping, The Brunswick Centre, Victoria Place, Castle Quay and Hatfield House. She led the team responsible for the award-winning Mannequin Challenge for Market Place, Bolton in 2017 and specialises in PR, media buying and event planning.

Damian Smith

Creative Director

With a BA Hons in Graphic Design and Illustration from DeMontfort, Damian’s wealth of creative experience has seen him working on a variety of brands in hospitality, utilities, automotive, medical, property, magazines, veterinary medicine and now, retail – making him an incredibly versatile creative. His key skills lie in the art direction of photo shoots, videos, web design, print media, campaigns and the development of creative concepts. Now heading up the creative team at AL Marketing, he oversees the agency’s creative output for all clients, as well as personally producing creative solutions on numerous projects.

Emily Hill

Account Manager

Having graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a first-class honours degree in Event Management & Marketing, Emily joined AL Marketing in 2019 on a Graduate Internship and she was that good, we just couldn’t let her escape! During her degree she completed an industrial placement at Hertfordshire Sports Village, which involved project management, focussing predominately on social media marketing and event management. At AL, her creativity and willingness to learn shines through and she’s our go-to for tracking down the latest must-have event attraction.

Karina Barden

PA

A planner, multi-tasker, chief organiser and train and plane ticket-booker, Karina ensures the timely delivery of projects to clients and team members to your doors, among her many responsibilities. Before joining us at AL Marketing 10 years ago, Karina spent 10 years working for the marketing director’s office of a large telecommunications company. Here at AL, her role has changed and adapted with the demands of the industry.

Amie Pomfrett

Account Director

Amie has developed creative advertising solutions for brands including Empire, Q, Kerrang! and MOJO at Bauer Media. She’s used digital technology and music to elevate a brand experience and connect customers to retail, hospitality and leisure spaces at Kaleidovision and she’s account managed a portfolio of premium hotels, bars, restaurants and retailers including COMO resorts, Harvey Nichols, Sushi Samba, Mulberry, Claridges and The Savoy at Music Concierge. With over 15 years within media, advertising and marketing, Amie has a passion for delivering creative solutions and an extensive knowledge of entertainment / lifestyle / FMCG / retail and leisure brands.

Tayla Hawkes

Social Media Manager

Tayla graduated from Leeds Beckett University with BA First Class Hons Degree in Fashion Marketing and has done a bit of everything marketing has to offer since! From working in digital marketing, event marketing, PR and social media, she realised social media is where her heart is and has followed this passion to AL Marketing. In her spare time, Tayla likes to spend time with family, friends and her two Cocker Spaniels, Oreo and Maple.

Kayleigh Bates

Account Executive

Having graduated from Lancaster University with a First Class Hons Degree in Advertising and Marketing Management, some of Kayleigh’s favourite modules included marketing innovation and brand strategy. During her degree she completed an industrial placement at Stanley Black and Decker, where she was able to deep dive into the world of digital marketing and project management plus learn a thing or two about power tools (very handy around the office!) Kayleigh is not only adventurous with her campaign ideas she also enjoys travelling and experiencing different cultures, with her favourite trip so far being to The Philippines.

Kaan Gulerdogan

Social Media Manager

Kaan’s career began with a childhood love of TV and film. During his youth, he created his first short films, and realised he wanted to turn his hobby into his vocation. After deciding that body-doubling for Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise would be terrible waste of his considerable talents, he decided to study Media Production at Bournemouth University and graduated with first class honours degree.

Kaan began his marketing career as a videographer in the manufacturing and property sectors, where he learned how to combine video production with social media, strategy and storytelling, and now brings his talents to AL’s clients within the retail sector across the UK and Europe.

Megan Keighley

Art Director

Graduating from Leeds Arts University with a first class (BA) Hons Degree in Graphic Design, and bringing a passion for creativity in everything she does, Megan produces a broad spectrum of creative solutions across all of AL’s clients, utilising a wide range of disciplines from graphic design and illustration, through motion graphics and animation to video editing. And whilst most people like to have a break once the work day ends, Megan just can’t quite stop the creative flow, and enjoys making jewellery in her spare time.

Sophie Darker

Social Media Manager

Having graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a BA Hons degree in sport and exercise science, Sophie discovered her passion for social media during her graduate job managing the social media for four gyms within East Anglia. Combining the analytical skills gained within her degree with a natural creative flair, Sophie brings the perfect balance to the social media content she produces for our clients. In her spare time, Sophie is involved with art and film projects and the performing arts.

Laura Oldman

Finance Manager

Laura has extensive experience in Finance spanning her time spent at Gonzales Byass who supply wine to the on /off trade of London and beyond, during her time here Laura learnt a lot about wine so ask her if you want any wine pairing ideas! Laura moved onto working at the delightful. Hatfield House as financial support for the hospitality and events departments. Laura is still a big advocate for health and wellbeing and promotes walking in Hatfield House, many delightful woodland walks and gardens. When Laura has spare time which is quite limited by her brood of children and 3 dogs Laura loves getting creative making wreaths for her front door or cooking up a storm in the kitchen for friends.

Sarah Pascaru

Digital Strategy Consultant

Sarah started her career in e-commerce and Financial Services, working with American Express, WorldPay and Fintechs. Falling in love with everything about the growing social media industry, Sarah transitioned to social media marketing, after 13 years of managing partnerships.

Having a wealth of experience as a digital marketing trainer and strategist and having been trained by one of the leading Facebook advertising experts, Sarah works closely with AL Marketing’s social media team to drive our clients’ successful social strategies and help them navigate the ever-changing social media landscape.

Sarah is also a mentor and visiting lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire and recently helped launch the inaugural TEDx St Albans event.

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Whether you’re a student searching out your next internship, a grad looking for a foot in the door or an experienced marketing or creative professional considering your next career move, we’re always open to expand.

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