PLATFORM COMMUNICATIONS - Key Persons
Azhar is an Account Manager with a strong passion for driving media relations and ensuring clients are featured in the right media. Azhar is also involved in content development, including bylines and blogs for owned, earned, and paid platforms. He supports the delivery of integrated communications campaigns that incorporate media, analyst and influencer relations, events, and awards.
Azhar holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Westminster. Before joining Platform, he completed a range of work experience placements, including Lloyds of London and Santander, where he worked within the PR and brand teams.
Darnell is an Account Executive with a strong passion for media relations and content development. He takes pride in delivering strong coverage that has a real business impact on his clients.
Darnell joined Platform following a year of working in financial PR, which enabled him to gain invaluable PR skills, including media relations, content development, and social media management. He has a strong interest in American sports, such as NBA, NFL & MLB, entertainment, and technology.
Darnell studied Business and Management at Brunel University, then completed a Master's in Media and Public Relations.
With over 20 years business experience, David's particular strengths are in allying his business knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the broadcasting, video, internet, content protection and management, new media, mobile and interactive sectors. His core skills include research and analysis, media relations, message creation, and writing.
David's experience and knowledge of business and technology ensure that Platform knows exactly what success looks like for its clients. This is a crucial first step before designing the Platform programs that communicate complex business models and technologies to journalists and all other stakeholders.
David's PR experience includes strategic communications management in wireless multimedia for PacketVideo, digital broadcasting and interactive television for NDS, and multimedia for the Learning Company. His track record includes tender and bid preparation for telecommunications projects, research projects for software companies with respect to potential acquisitions and market positioning, writing business plans for start-up companies pursuing venture capital, and preparation of flotation documentation in the IT world.
After graduating in Mathematics from Manchester University, David began his career in accountancy with KPMG. While at KPMG, David worked on his first technology project, the flotation of a computer manufacturer.
David has 25+ years of experience planning and managing communications that deliver real commercial outcomes for media, entertainment, and technology brands.
He has led international business, consumer, and trade-focused communications for clients, including EA, Microsoft, Monster, Sonos, Technicolor, THX, and Verizon. His previous work includes launching the world's biggest online football competition with FIFA, taking Sonos from niche product to lifestyle brand, announcing Pan's Labyrinth HD with director Guillermo del Toro, re-launching Napster, and helping Microsoft become a world leader in IPTV.
David's areas of expertise include strategic planning, brand positioning, messaging, digital and social media, media/analyst relations, media partnerships, issues/crisis management, and events. He was previously senior director at Weber Shandwick and UK head at WPP-owned PPR Worldwide.
David is a graduate of Manchester University (Geography) and Cardiff University (Public Relations).
Freddie plays a leading role in driving global PR, communications, and marketing campaigns for clients that increase brand awareness and meet their business needs.
Since joining Platform in 2018, Freddie has worked with a broad range of B2B brands at the cutting edge of media technology, helping build their presence across all regions. His experience building and delivering strategic integrated communications campaigns span media relations, content, social media, social influencing, awards, and speaker programs.
Freddie moved to London for university and graduated from Queen Mary University in 2018 with a BA degree in History and Politics. Upon his graduation, he was no stranger to the world of PR and comms, having done summer internships at Platform Communications throughout his studies.
Freddie lives in South London, where he's regularly found at music events, art exhibitions, or watching fantasy dramas on TV.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Founder
Gay Bell is Chief Executive of Platform Communications, the marketing and PR consultancy she founded in the early 1990s. With over 30 years international business experience, all of which have been spent in the technology and media markets, Gay is a well-respected corporate communications and industry expert.
Gay's passion is based on helping clients - from start-ups through scale-ups to multinationals - to create strong differentiation and stand-out communications strategies that drive market leadership. Together with the Platform team, Gay is focused on client relationships that deliver campaigns with tangible results, from clarity of message, through increased presence and share of voice, to building corporate value with M&A success. Her senior consultancy experience has seen her work across Asia, Europe, and the US in a number of high-growth, innovative technology sectors, including personal computing, gaming, mobile voice and video, satellite communications, digital TV and broadcasting, interactive experiences, streaming video, and AR/VR. Clients have included companies such as Arqiva, Bell Atlantic, BT, EDS, Ericsson, Grass Valley, Globecast, NDS, NeXt Computer, and TANDBERG Television.
Prior to establishing Platform, Gay was on the European board and Head of Technology PR practice at Fleishman Hillard, the world's largest PR consultancy. Having trained as a journalist, she started her PR career in-house for Philips Electronics, based in the Netherlands.
A journalist turned communications professional, Hugh has over 25 years of experience in content creation, media management, and client service. Most recently, he has spent more than eight years on the agency side of the communications equation, helping clients build and execute PR and integrated marketing strategies. He joined Platform in 2016.
James has nearly 20 years of experience in B2B publishing, leading some of the best-known and respected titles in media and entertainment technology.
As group content director of Future Publishing's B2B business, James led the European content division that included TVBEurope, Installation and the ISE Show Daily, on which he also served as editorial director. He secured and maintained key relationships across the audiovisual and broadcast industries for Future's wider business that includes titles such as TV Tech, Mix, and AV Technology, and previously oversaw NewBay Media's media, cycling, toys and licensing, music, gaming, and IT brands. He also served as editorial director of the IBC Show Daily.
Prior to entering the media industry as executive editor of TVBEurope, James was editor of iGaming Business, iGaming Business North America, and iGB Affiliate; market-leading titles in the internet gambling space. An English graduate from the University of Leeds, James is a singer-songwriter whose work has featured in films such as Jekyll and Hyde and the soon-to-be-released There's a Hole in my Bucket. He is a huge sports fan, and consulted on the launch of a Formula 1 magazine and contributed to Bluff Europe magazine as its resident sports betting correspondent. He is also a youth football coach and keen (frustrated) golfer.
James' role is focused on meeting client content creation needs. In over a decade at Platform, he has amassed considerable content marketing experience, producing messaging platforms, vision papers, thought leadership articles, presentations, press releases, and general PR and communications copy.
James works closely with Platform's various account teams and individual writers to help manage several TV technology and broadcast clients' planning, writing, and approval processes.
Before joining Platform in 2012, James worked for a digital marketing agency that focused on creating and implementing blog strategies and digital PR. Over two years, he ran social media accounts and campaigns for technology, retail, and betting clients.
He graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2009 with an MA in Print Journalism. James is an avid sports fan, a frustrated five-a-side footballer, and a Netflix binge-watcher.
Since joining the Platform team in 2022, Katya has a key part of teams including Appear, MRI Software, NEC, Red Bee Media and Telestream. She collaborates with account managers and account directors in delivering key editorial, award, and speaker opportunities to support client goals.
Katya has always had a strong interest in film and TV, and her previous experience includes working as a production assistant at CNN Indonesia, where she was part of the morning show and actively participated in script preparation for segments covering topics such as travel, culture, and major film releases.
Katya holds a BA in journalism from Sussex University and an MSc in media, communications, and development from the London School of Economics.
Job Titles:
- Account Executive
- Account Executive at Platform
Molly is an Account Executive at Platform. She has always had a keen interest in Public Relations and how companies interact with the wider communities that they serve. Molly also has a fond interest in sports and technology. While studying history at City University of London, Molly completed a range of work experience opportunities, particularly in social media, which started her interest in PR and brand management.
Since joining Platform, Molly has been playing a key role in media relations to ensure clients are featured in all the relevant publications. She has supported the delivery of integrated communications campaigns that incorporate media, analyst and influencer relations, events, and awards. She has also used her social media skills to produce impactful curated social media posts as part of the Platform marketing team.
In her free time, Molly enjoys cooking for friends by hosting dinner parties and following the English Premier League.
Nana has extensive experience leading integrated B2B technology campaigns. Her work includes running media and analyst relations for ARM and creating campaigns to promote the growth of software and cybersecurity brands. Her experience includes helping clients stand out at major events, including Mobile World Congress, Embedded World, and IFA.
Nana has a strong track record of delivering programs that have increased share of voice and supported key business objectives. She has an eye for a good story, strong content development skills, and great media contacts across the business & technology media.
Before PR won her heart, Nana was a lecturer at Lancaster University, where she completed a Ph.D. in International Political Economy and International Business. In her spare time, you'll find her playing football with her son and eating chocolate.
Nick leads strategic and integrated communications campaigns for a diverse set of industry-leading clients across the media, entertainment and technology ecosystem.
With expertise driving media relations, content creation, events, messaging development, social influencer, and speaker & awards programmes, Nick develops and delivers impactful communications plans with strategies that support sales, build international brand awareness, and empower creative storytelling.
Nick has worked with brands such as LTN, Grass Valley, Edgio, and Red Bee Media, delivering global campaigns for media tech players underpinning next-generation streaming experiences - alongside creative powerhouses at the forefront of innovation in the arts, culture and entertainment sector.
Returning to North London in 2020 after experience working in Berlin and Barcelona, Nick is a passionate linguist and graduated from the University of Bristol with a BA in German and Spanish with Catalan
Reece is an experienced account manager who thrives on connecting brands to their target audiences. His extensive experience is driven by the arc of storytelling and strong media connections across national and trade media. He has a strong PR background spanning several technology sectors, as well as media and sports - two of his greatest passions.
As Account Manager, Reece drives media relations and content development. He works closely with clients to create and activate campaigns that span social media engagement, industry awards, and speaker opportunities.
Before Reece entered PR, he was an English secondary school teacher who shared his love of literature with students to inspire them to discover and achieve their potential.
Sally has over a decade of experience in B2B PR and communications, running successful campaigns for a broad spectrum of international clients. She previously worked at Platform for several years, delivering communications for clients including Ericsson and Grass Valley, before moving in-house to Sky where she ran the External Comms for its B2B division.
Having re-joined Platform in 2023, Sally has taken up the role of Head of Analyst Relations alongside her client work. Her core skills include strategy, media and analyst relations, messaging and events management.
Sally holds an English degree from Trinity College, Dublin.