In April I’ll be leaving my role at Medway Council and East Sussex County Council for an exciting new opportunity. I’ll be joining Canterbury-based Deeson Group as director of communications and marketing.
After almost ten years working in local government, I will be sad to be leaving the sector where I have learnt so much and have had the pleasure of working with teams of whom I am genuinely proud. Both teams have achieved a lot and I am looking forward to see their partnership thrive in the future.
The complexity and diversity of the local government world is something that I have enjoyed working in, but now it’s time in my career for me to move on and continue to challenge myself professionally and personally in a new environment.
That’s why I’m really looking forward to my new role with Deeson Group. They’ve has been helping businesses and organisations to achieve their goals through digital solutions, publishing, branding and marketing communications since 1959. My role will be working across the group’s three divisions: Deeson Member Communications, Deeson Creative and Deeson Online.
It’ll be good to be able to draw on my previous career experience in my new role too – including working in client-side marketing roles across financial services, retail and interactive television, as well as agency-side marketing and internal communications for clients including BP, Vodafone, SABMiller, Nominet, Principality Building Society and Fujitsu.
I’ll be working with the Deeson team to deliver some really innovative and strategic marketing communications projects and to help grow the business further. Professionally it’ll be a great opportunity to work entrepreneurially across a broader range of marketing, communications and digital projects in a variety of sectors – something I find very motivating and can’t wait to get stuck into.
Here’s the official press release from Deeson Group that’s gone out today:
SIMON WAKEMAN JOINS DEESON GROUP TO HEAD COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING
Canterbury-based agency Deeson Group announces a new senior appointment to spearhead its continuing business growth.
The digital, publishing, branding and marketing communications agency will welcome Simon Wakeman in April as director of communications and marketing.
Simon, former head of communications and marketing at Medway Council and East Sussex County Council, has PR and marketing experience across the financial services, e-commerce, telecoms, retail and local government sectors.
He brings significant digital and web experience, including launch marketing for the UK’s first interactive TV service and customer experience management for a major internet bank. He has led nationally recognised innovation in public sector social media and the development of highly rated council websites.
In 2013, his contribution to digital practice in the public sector was recognised in the national Digital Leaders 50 Awards.
Simon will work across Deeson Group’s clients, as well as developing new business opportunities with private and public sector clients.
Established for 55 years, Deeson Group is the UK’s oldest customer publishing company and an internationally recognised website developer. Clients include Robbie Williams, Shepherd Neame, ITV, Johnson & Johnson and the Society and College of Radiographers.
Tim Deeson, managing director, Deeson Group, said “Simon’s significant experience across digital, marketing and communications will enhance our success working with blue chip companies, professional bodies, major media brands and some of the public sector’s largest organisations.”
Simon Wakeman said: “I’m really excited to be joining Deeson Group in this new role. I’m looking forward to working with the team to deliver innovative and strategic marketing communications projects to help grow the Deeson Group business further.”
