Shine Communications founder and marketing entrepreneur Rachel Bell has been appointed as chair of Glasgow creative agency WIRE.
Brendan O’Connor, who worked with Rachel at Shine for 14 years, has been appointed as the agency’s first financial director and joins the board alongside founders and managing partners, Lee Beattie and Pam Scobbie, acting GM, Emma Koubayssi and operations director John Collins.
WIRE was launched by Beattie and Scobbie almost 10 years ago and now has a 28-strong team. Clients include Tennent’s Lager, Magners, Whyte & Mackay, Old Pulteney, Orchard Pig, BOE gin, the SFA and DC Thomson Media.
As well as running day-to-day operations, Beattie will take the executive lead on strategy, while Scobbie continues as executive creative director.
The newly formed leadership team at the agency is completed by strategy & story director Tom Hills and creative director Dave Everson, while Fiona Hayes and Victoria Irvine become associate directors, each running their own business unit.
The team is further strengthened by Melissa Rynn, head of insights & digital, and Gillian Lamont, head of events & experiential.
Beattie said: “Our ambition for WIRE has always been to deliver stand-out creative work with impressive ROI, while building an inspiring, flexible workplace for exceptionally talented people. As we approach our tenth birthday, it’s the right time to formalise our board and work with someone to support us though the next stage of our growth.”
Scobbie added: “We met Rachel at an awards ceremony and emailed her the next day hungover on the train to say: “How about it?” and luckily she replied: “Lift your kilts up and let’s bloody do this.
“She’s already been an absolute powerhouse to work with, combining an almost supernatural gut instinct with impressive commercial acumen and masses of energy. Plus, Rachel introduced us to Brendan, who has already proven to be an invaluable asset to our business.”
Bell founded Shine Communications in 1998 building it into one of the UK’s most successful consumer PR agencies. The agency rebranded as The Academy in 2016 where she remains chair
Bell said: “Wire has the passion and energy of a start-up, with big agency thinking and creativity – it’s no wonder they are already Marketing Agency of the Year for Scotland. I’m really excited to help Pam and Lee take their business to the next level.”
