Our New MD

Congratulations to Dan Whitney who was promoted to Managing Director of The Minimart. It’s hard to imagine that only 14 years ago he was in artist management for the likes of Iron Maiden and Gun’s N Roses. Moving on to Sony Music Entertainment in 2001 he was responsible for managing release schedules and media campaigns for album launches within the Commercial Division. He received a nomination at the highly prestigious Music Week Awards in 2006 for the ‘Best Marketing & Communication Campaign of the Year’. Dan went from client to agency side in 2008 joining The Minimart and embarked on this new adventure. He also married a teacher, so that put an end to his rock and roll lifestyle!! So he claims!

New Minimarters

Chris Sherwood – Account Director

We also welcome Chris, ex AMV, to The Minimart. After graduating in 2006 from Oxford University with a degree in Human Sciences, Chris turned his interests in human behaviour to the world of advertising after securing a place on the graduate scheme at Grey London. Chris gained a great breadth of experience working across some of their flagship accounts, ranging from P&G brands such as Lenor, through the Dairy Crest brands of Country Life Butter, Cathedral City Cheese and FRijj Milkshakes, to Macleans toothpaste and Poligrip denture fixatives for GSK. At the same time he also worked with the British Heart Foundation on an IPA Award winning campaign aimed at tackling childhood obesity. After 4 years at Grey, Chris moved to AMV BBDO to take the reins for two years on the Starbucks and Maltesers accounts. Chris is thrilled to have joined the team at The Minimart for the next phase of his career.

Nikki Chapman – Executive TV Producer

Nikki’s brings a very heavy ‘Little Black Book’ to The Minimart and her production experience stretches across both agency and production companies. Her passion for commercials began agency side at Saatchi & Saatchi. From there she moved into Post Production. Nikki’s worked in some of London’s busiest production companies, Bikini films, Great Guns and then finally to Park Village. She has developed & signed new talent along with Exec. Producing over 30 commercials in the last 4 years. Joining The Minimart has enabled her to pursue the ambition of working directly with clients and combines both her agency & production company producer skills. At the heart of her experience is her continued passion for creativity and she strives to achieve the best production values on all films. Plus she juggles all this with 3 children… aka The Smalls.

Theodore O’Mahony - Community Manager & New Business Co-ordinator

Theodore graduated in 2008 with a degree in Marketing & Management from Gloucestershire University. Even before he had started university he had gained valuable international experience working in Tokyo for Hilton Hotels in their New Business department. Since graduating Theodore has further built upon his international experience, he has worked in Bangkok for one of the country’s leading design agencies “Farm Group” working with international clients such as Bacardi and W Hotels. He maintains a wide-ranging set of marketing skills from New Business to Social Media. Interestingly he has also been a double in Snow White and the Huntsman.

Pippa Kennard – Director of Fun

Pippa was born and raised in California. She graduated from Bristol this year and with impressive work experience from both sides of the Atlantic. She was lucky and persistent enough to secure work experience as a Showcasing Host at London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics with iLUKA Limited. Her feisty, energetic personality made her a perfect fit for our new Director Of Fun opening.

Home grown talent

That’s how we like to do it here.

Congratulations to Isobel who was promoted from Director of Fun  to Account Executive (her success in organising The Minimart Weekend in Montreux paid off) and to Daisy Carpenter who’s hard work has paid off and is now Account Manager on a number of our accounts.

P.S.  Do check out Daisy’s advice on getting into advertising! Special mention to Marc Shelkin, Director of Twist or Stick for a great interviewing technique.

Life as an agency account handler at The Minimart

We have had a rush of new talent this past month. Our Head of Planning,  Paul Kenny,  joins us with an armload of experience with over 20 years integrated experience in B2C and B2B; planning across everything from brand strategy,  channel planning, market research, digital & social media,   to strategic and communication planning… not to mention a few years as Strategic Data Planning Director earlier in his career.  He’s worked across financial services,  charities,  consumer electronics,  retail,  leisure and FMCG,  for brands such as… Sony,  Samsung,  Philips,  First Direct, American Express,  Shell, Disney,  Emirates,  adidas… to name just a few.  When he’s not trying to unwrap what matters most he follows his other passions of football and Liverpool FC,  as well as part time zoo keeper to 3 ponies,  2 dogs,  a stray cat and a warren of rabbits that have made their home in the back garden.

Our lovely Director of Fun, Gabbi, has been promoted to help out in Sales and Marketing and Production.  After a long, rigorous and gruelling series of interviews and tasks we have at last found her replacement.  Isobel Nelson is a recent graduate from Birmingham University.  She spent four months in Tanzania based at a primary school near Mount Kilimanjaro building a toilet block and a kitchen.  She combined this with teaching English to a large class of 5-6 year olds.  This was followed by extensive travel through Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. As President of the Geography Society at Uni and in charge of over 300 students,  she organised socials,  academic debates,  a trip abroad to Paris and the annual geography ball as well as supervising three sports teams.  She’s already arranged The Minimart Darts competition (more about that later).

A huge Minimart welcome to all of them.