Meet the team


DavidDavid Sturgess

Managing Director

Having trained as a journalist in newspapers and radio, David joined the PR team on Concorde before setting up BT‘s Press & Broadcast operation for the South West.  Prior to founding SVD in 1995, he was MD of the Leedex PR consultancy network, with offices in Bristol, Birmingham, Brussels, Cardiff, London, and Manchester.  He is the strategic adviser to all SVD clients.

david@sturgessvandamme.co.uk 

 

 

 

 


PaulPaul Kearney

non-executive Chairman

Having held boardroom roles at Northcliffe‘s media operations in Derby, Leicester, and the South East, Paul became one of the South West‘s most prominent business leaders as Managing Director of Northcliffe‘s Westcountry company for ten years, overseeing the Western Daily Press, Bristol Evening Post – and a host of other newspapers, websites, and a radio station.

paul@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

 

 

 


Louie Hadley

Associate Director

A qualified journalist with a background in regional and national newspapers, Louie made the transition to PR when he joined North Somerset Council as its Publications Officer. After turning the council‘s flagship publication into an award winning magazine he joined Sturgess Van Damme in 2008, working across the consultancy‘s portfolio of clients.  Louie also heads the firm‘s online services, SVD Digital.

louie@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

 

 


NeilNeil Fraser

Senior Consultant

After working as a qualified journalist at the Plymouth Evening Herald and Bristol Evening Post, Neil spent five years as Senior Editorial Consultant at Strategy PR and Harrison Cowley PR.  Neil joined SVD in 2005, and works with David Sturgess in planning and delivering editorial programmes for all SVD clients.

neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk  

 

 


 


John Fox-Clinch

Senior Consultant

John is one of the South West‘s foremost business journalists, having worked for two decades on the business desk of the Daily Express, run his own West-based PR consultancy, served as Deputy Business Editor at the Western Daily Press, and provided news-services at financial-services giant, Hargreaves Lansdown.  At SVD, John, provides media expertise and business knowledge for all our clients.

john@sturgessvandamme.co.uk


Jenny Hawkins

Client Services Manager

A Sociology graduate from Cardiff University, Jenny has a wide span of experience and training – from Ministerial support to the Welsh Assembly Government to writing for magazines & newspapers.  With former roles at the Welsh Assembly Government, the HQ of BSM, and overseeing IT projects for the RAC, Jenny oversees SVD‘s client services, including media monitoring and evaluation, project management, and online services.

Jenny@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

 


Caroline

Caroline Sturgess

Company Secretary

A US citizen, Caroline oversees SVD‘s administration, IT systems, and finances.

caroline@sturgessvandamme.co.uk