Press Ahead adds to its marketing mix

An award winning Sunderland agency has added to its marketing mix, with two new staff appointments. Press Ahead, a PR and marketing agency – which was named Small Business of the Year at the 2009 Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards – has furthered its growth with the recruitment of two new team members.

James Ealey joined the team this month as a senior account manager. James was previously senior marketing manager at Ward Hadaway Solicitiors, where his responsibilities included business planning, budget management, brand management, event organisation, e-marketing and business development, alongside managing the marketing elements for the opening of the firm’s new office in Leeds. Prior to that, James held a senior marketing position at Trinity Mirror North East.

James’ appointment follows that of PR assistant, Mégan Waggott, who graduated from the University of Sunderland in 2009, after studying a three year BA Hons degree in Journalism. Her course covered newspaper and magazine writing, multimedia, media ethics and law. She gained experience working at the Hartlepool Mail during her time at university.

The new recruits are the latest additions to Press Ahead’s growing team, which has doubled in number in the last 18 months. The company’s client portfolio has quickly grown in that time, with Press Ahead having most recently been appointed to manage the public relations for Sunderland Software City, a project established to encourage the growth of the software industry in the region.

In addition, Press Ahead continues to play a role in the bid to bring World Cup football to Sunderland in 2018, as well as working alongside major regional organisations in projects to drive business success and regeneration in the region. And Press Ahead is demonstrating its commitment to this by sponsoring the Durham & Wearside Company of the Year Award of the Journal and Evening Gazette North East Business Awards.

Press Ahead managing director Russell Borthwick said: “I am delighted to have James and Mégan on board. “We work hard to attract the very highest calibre individuals to Press Ahead and these two appointments have further strengthened an already fantastic team; bringing further expertise to the business.”