Our Team

Name: MadeBrave®
Telephone: +44 (0)141 551 0011

Our Team Members

Al Sakickas
Job Title
Strategist
Al is a videographer turned strategist with nearly a decade of experience in cracking briefs and assisting clients such as VELUX, First Bus, Diageo, Carlsberg, Nestle, Bayer, and Pepsi Max in their growth.
When formulating brand or campaign strategies, Al brings his different perspective and genuinely immerses himself in the mindset of the target audience. He once even followed the daily routine of a CEO to understand what motivates them and how to effectively market premium coffee machines to top executives.
Outside of work, you’ll find Al walking his dog Tutti, exploring new places, enjoying a giggle at a comedy club, or possibly embarking on a journey across Europe to his motherland, Lithuania.
Carrie Little
Job Title
Senior Finance Assistant
Carrie started her career as Accounts Admin Assistant and now has over 25 years of experience in finance.
She has demonstrable expertise in maintaining accurate financial records, managing accounts payable and receivable, and is responsible for the crucial task of executing month-end procedures. Carrie provides diligent accountant support based on deep knowledge of related procedures and principles and is recognised for high attention to detail.
Carrie has a love for running and cooking and is well-known for being the top cook in her family!
Jamie Axford
Job Title
Creative Director
Jamie has over 25 years of experience as a creative in the advertising industry.
Starting out in graphic design, Jamie joined McCann and transitioned into a fully-fledged art director, working on household names such as Peugeot, Aldi, and Typhoo Tea, to name but a few.
A brief stint in healthcare advertising led him to discover his ‘calling’. He joined Havas and became a highly awarded CD for major healthcare brands Sanofi, Astra Zeneca, and AbbVie, across multiple therapy areas.
Since joining the MadeBrave team, Jamie has been solely responsible for our top healthcare accounts, continuing to fight the good fight for creativity in healthcare.
Claire Morrison
Job Title
Head of PR
Claire is a consumer brand publicist with over 15 years’ experience, working chiefly with drinks and lifestyle brands. After beginning her career in TV advertising with campaigns for Tennent’s Lager, IRN BRU and Budweiser, Claire made the bold move into PR, attracted by the challenge of bringing campaigns to life through the power of earned media.
After heading up Frank PR’s Scotland office as GM for four years — working across clients including Paddy Power, Penny Skateboards, Candy Kittens, Red Bull and Innis & Gunn — Claire joined the MadeBrave team in 2021.
With a track record of creating big bang news moments, Claire loves nothing more than crafting earned media strategies and activating high-profile, multi-channel ideas to generate global talkability for brands. Outwith working hours, Claire is the co-founder of The Mother Bank and sits on the board of G20, a Glasgow-based youth charity.
Gautam Ghai
Job Title
Board Member
As the Co-CEO and Co-Founder of SourceFuse Technologies, Gautam brings a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years of experience to the MadeBrave board, playing a key role in accelerating our technological innovation plans and propelling our international growth strategy.
Gautam graduated from SSCBS, University of Delhi in 2003 with a degree in Information Technology and has previously worked as a consultant with Ernst & Young for their Technology Risk and Business Practice Solutions as well as Europe’s largest travel company Ebookers, the UN Security Council in Geneva, and Quark Inc.
Jamie Venters
Job Title
Senior Copywriter
With over a decade in the industry, Jamie’s devised campaigns and wrangled words for a huge range of clients – from our multi-billion-pound global financial brands to local grassroots activist groups. The small collection of national-level awards he’s won prove both how effective his work is, and how infrequently he dusts his shelf. But he can 100% guarantee you’ve read something he’s written.
Jamie has an MA in Psychology and Business, an MSc in Creative Advertising, and an M&M down the back of his couch. The actual proof of his academic achievement is now lost in his attic, which seems awfully convenient to be honest.
In his spare time, he plays guitar, roams the hills, and always has a friendly ‘psspsspss’ for any cats he meets on his travels.
Jenny Plant
Job Title
Board Member
Jenny joined the MadeBrave board with over 30 years of experience in marketing and advertising having led Publicis LifeBrands, the London-based global hub for Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, and other senior healthcare comms roles for Havas Health and Sudler & Hennessey.
Jenny’s main focus is to bring her vast account management expertise to our Client Services team in order to ensure our clients have the best experience possible.
Fiona Mclachlan
Job Title
Senior Account Manager
Fiona is a marketing and communication specialist with over a decade of experience working in client-facing roles.
She is at her best when juggling multiple challenges and loves nothing more than creating compelling content and bringing unstoppable ideas to life. Her wider-range experience spans brand creation, global campaigns, internal comms and PR.
A meticulous organiser, Fiona joins the dots between MadeBrave and her clients, delivering projects on time, on budget, and with the right people.
A firm believer of “work hard, play hard” – Fiona is also one of the masterminds behind MadeBrave’s unWINEd Fridays.
Dora Czerny
Job Title
Account Director
Starting her career in a boutique agency in Vienna, Austria, Dora has over a decade experience working in top-of-the-class advertising agencies in both Europe and the UK.
Dora has started her career focusing mainly on drinks and FMCG clients, such as Red Bull, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Isle of Harris, and Pickerings Gin, as well as global financial sector companies like HSBC, M&S Bank, and the UniCredit Group Bank Austria.
An experienced Account Director, Dora has since also been leading on both national and international healthcare and public sector, behaviour change accounts.
With her international experience and multi-language background, Dora truly enjoys juggling projects where she can put her skillset to use.
Fraser Ireland
Job Title
Senior Project Manager
Fraser has 10 years of experience in managing branding, content, and digital projects across a diverse range of industries including retail, financial services, and transport. He specialises in complaining loudly at tight turnarounds and vague briefs, whilst secretly enjoying the challenge.
Never more at home than when he’s pulling together a project timeline or breaking down a budget, Fraser has delivered projects for the likes of Diageo, VELUX and First Bus during his time at MadeBrave, but deep down his most complicated, challenging, and elusive client is himself.
His Desert Island albums are Death Cab for Cutie’s Transatlaticism, Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, and Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories.
Philip Lancaster
Job Title
Board Member
Philip is a highly experienced and proven senior executive who, as WPP Team Leader and Global Business Director, led many of JWT and WPP’s largest accounts significantly growing revenue and margins at consistently high levels.
As part of the MadeBrave board, Philip is a catalyst for commercial success, organic growth, incremental new business wins and raising creative standards has forged long-term client relationships.
Philip is also a passionate advocate of creativity in all its forms and the close correlation between unique communication platform ideas and brand/business performance. Has consistently attracted, nurtured and sustained outstanding talent and teams within the network and either led personally or partnered with all major clients as they initiated data, commerce and technology transformation.
Katie Hughes
Job Title
Client Services Director
Katie is an award-winning communication professional with over 20 years’ of experience gained at best-in-class agencies in the UK and Ireland. A former ‘Marketing Society Rising Star’, Katie now heads up our Client Services Department.
Katie’s team are the link between agency and client — sometimes ringmasters, sometimes tight-rope walkers, but always laser-focused! Katie is passionate about the difference that good account management makes to the client experience and the quality of the work. Under her guidance, our client services team build lasting, positive and productive relationships with our clients, and provide the outstanding service and support that underpins bold thinking and brave action.
Claire White
Job Title
Finance Manager
Claire has over 20 years’ experience working in finance, with 10 of those spent specifically within agencies. Having started her career as a purchase ledger, she’s covered a wealth of different aspects of finance in her professional journey. She’s been in finance manager roles for over 6 years now, plus she’s a fully qualified member of the ACCA.
Claire is responsible for the day-to-day management of our finance team, providing support to our Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
Jordan Pollock
Job Title
Senior Designer
With a decade of design experience under his belt, Jordan has a variety of experience to bring to the table. From working in agency, freelance and heading up a studio team in previous roles, Jordan always strives to push concepts and ideas to the limits with the use of motion graphics and branding design that is crafted to create impact.
Over the years he has worked with some of the UK’s biggest brands and attractions including ScottishPower, Grosvenor Casino, Mecca bingo, and Madame Tussauds London.
Kenneth Johnston-Cowley
Job Title
Design Director
As a Design Director, Kenneth oversees our design team and shapes the look and feel of creative and branding work. He has broad professional experience, comprising crafting new brands from scratch, refining existing brand worlds, art directing photoshoots, and developing social campaigns.
Kenneth has over 20 years’ experience in branding and design. He loves the longevity that great branding and powerful ideas carry – the framework that every other communication and brand activity fit within. His broad experience includes rebrands, refinements, rollouts and campaigns for clients such as Atomos, Tomatin, Velux, First Bus and the Distell Group.
Prior to joining MadeBrave he worked at Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Interbrand where his key projects included Huawei, Ford, pladis, Takeda, BA, InterContinental Hotels, and The National Lottery and Campari. Alongside an impressive portfolio of consumer brands, Kenneth has an impressive body of corporate experience for clients including Rockwool, TATA Communications, and SABIC.
Steven Hadden
Job Title
Executive Creative Director
Having worked in the creative industry for over 20 years across agency and in-house roles, Steven’s well and truly experienced in all aspects of branding, creativity, design and communication.
Leading our team of talented creatives, Steven ensures all MadeBrave’s creative output inspires bravery and delivers growth for our clients through big platform ideas, bold storytelling and exceptional craft.
An expert workshop facilitator and speaker, Steven has hosted brand and creative workshops for BBC, VELUX, Tomatin, Interpath, Kandou and Nestlé. He also ran brand sessions for Google’s Digital Garage.
Steven is especially passionate about building purpose-led and value-based brands from the inside-out by energising people and culture. He makes sure our creative power feeds into all our marketing, strategic, creative, tech and content services to drive our ultimate goal of making brands bigger, bolder and stronger — by finding their brave.
Laura Griffin
Job Title
Social Media Strategist
Laura Griffin balances creativity and strategy in her role as a Social Media Strategist. Drawing from her experience in visual communication and brand, she builds campaigns that resonate with audiences.
When it comes to data, Laura’s magic is taking complex numbers and transforming them into clear stories that drive action and effective results. She believes that content isn’t just about being catchy—it’s about creating real, tangible change. Some of her esteemed clients include the Scottish Government, Edrington, Natwest, AG Barr, EDF Renewables, Sailor Jerry, Virgin Money, and AXA Insurance.
But there’s more to her than numbers and designs. Beyond the spreadsheets and decks, she’s an advocate. Outside of work, Laura’s desire is to make the advertising industry a more sustainable, inclusive, and diverse place. Whether you’re meeting for a strategy discussion or a casual chat, expect her to bring some different thinking or share something inspiring she’s discovered recently.
Louise Green
Job Title
Senior Account Manager
When not found playing, watching or talking about rugby, Louise can be found managing a variety of accounts at MadeBrave from whisky-based to mental health services and a few things in between. A strong strategic thinker, she brings a lot of experience from roles based in brand, sponsorship, and internal communications. Louise is a determined self-starter who understands the value of building long-term client relationships with the ability to manage campaigns from initial concepts through to execution.
Over the years, Louise has worked for some big financial services brands including NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank.
Stuart Lonsdale
Job Title
Art Director
Stuart’s rap sheet is as unconventional as his approach to the role of creating unstoppable ideas as an Art Director. Meat packer, car assembler, lifeguard, stuntman and handyman are all jobs that you won’t find listed on his Linkedin, but it’s all true. Stuart also has nearly two decades of experience in the creative industry but doesn’t really want to trouble you with all that and would prefer you spent this time imagining what kind of stunts he used to do.
Naresh Subhash
Job Title
Deputy Creative Director
With almost two decades of experience in advertising and art direction, Naresh brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from over three continents and countries spanning Asia and Europe. As an integrated creative, he has worked with some of the biggest brands like Adidas, KFC, Starbucks, and Diageo to name a few, and has helped create and produce through-the-line campaigns that drove effectiveness and conversation in culture.
Naresh is currently also a board member of Outvertising an advocating representation of LGBTQ+ people across marketing and advertising as well as in brand campaigns. He strives to work with his clients to unlock the next dimension of brand communications, and truly believes in the power of creativity to unlock the future.
Mike Brooke
Job Title
Strategy Director
With over two decades of experience in creating, evolving, and amplifying brands, Mike developed his craft within a variety of agency and client-side marketing roles, delivering brand strategies and campaigns for clients that span healthcare, tech, finance, food & drink, and FMCG.
A seasoned brand consultant, Mike loves delving deep into clients’ challenges and is passionate about uncovering insights, shaping brand strategies, and planning campaigns that captivate and resonate. He’s a guiding force for leadership teams and stakeholders, engaging and navigating them throughout the strategic and creative process, and a master in the skilful (over)use of post-it notes.
When the glasses come off, and the post-it notes are tucked away, you’ll usually find him dancing questionably to obscure electronic music either in the garden, up a ladder, or in a dark room.
Stephen Weir
Job Title
Chief Operations Officer
As co-owner of the business, Stephen sits on the Board of Directors and acts as our Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Stephen leads our operational, financial, and HR teams in delivering on the board’s strategic, commercial and growth objectives, across our multiple locations in the UK.
Stephen joined us in 2013 from the Prudential and M&G’s European marketing division, with more than 20 years’ experience in various leadership roles across finance, operations, and production, both client-side and in-agency.
A fierce advocate of the ‘keep it simple’ mantra, Stephen aspires to simplify our business processes to maximise our efficiency and provide increasing ROI for our global client list.
Stephen is highly driven and competitive (the serious one in the office), but he is also famous for his moves on the dance floor and for playing just as hard as he works.
Challenge him at the next office party… If you dare!
Andrew Dobbie
Job Title
Founder / CEO
A true creative at heart, Andrew began his career as a designer and photographer. Since launching MadeBrave on a shoestring budget of just £1000 in 2012, Andrew has grown the agency into a 60-strong, multi-million-pound business — creating award-winning work for many of the world’s leading brands, including Nestle, Diageo and KPMG.
Andrew’s philosophy, that exceptional work is created through positive workplace culture, has led to numerous award wins for MadeBrave, including Campaign’s Best Places to Work award and a ranking in The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For list.
Andrew also presents the monthly podcast, ‘Just A Chat With’, which celebrates best-in-class creativity from around the world.
When he’s not helping brands find their brave, Andrew can be found at home with his family or honing his electric guitar skills with his French bulldog, Astro, by his side.
Nic McCrossan
Job Title
Creative Services / Traffic Manager
Lover of Nike, direct chat, and a bullet point brief, Nic has an extensive background spanning print production, creative project management, IT, workflow scheduling, TV, radio, photography, broadcast production and more.
In short, Nic is our creative and client liaison and all-around problem solver. If it needs organising, Nic is behind the scenes tying up the loose ends and getting everything over the line, on-brief, and on time.
Raymond McStay
Job Title
Head of New Business
Raymond has worked in the creative industry for over 15 years, across various roles ranging from account management to new business. Raymond is our first point of contact for all new business enquiries at MadeBrave. He’s also the one who makes sure every introduction to our agency is as warm a welcome as possible!
Leaving school to live out his dream of being a professional footballer, he fully understands the importance of teamwork and knows that we achieve great things when we work in partnership together. And as he’s such a dab hand on the pitch, Raymond is also the custodian of our pitching process, overseeing every tender from start to finish. You’ll often find him working in tandem with our client services team to strengthen our relationships with our clients.
Paul Kirkley
Job Title
Managing Director
As our Managing Director, Paul is the driving force behind our agency’s direction and vision. And his career is a veritable who’s who of world-class agencies, brands, and industry awards.
Paul started at Ogilvy, cutting his teeth in account management on fantastic brands including Bollinger, Ford and Siemens.
After five years, he joined the start-up agency BLSW London, where he launched cars for Mitsubishi Motors, encouraged tourists to experience ‘Indiaaaah’ and even worked with McCartney (i.e., Linda McCartney Foods) to promote vegetarian foods.
He then joined JWT, where he led teams in developing category-defining work for over 20 years.
His work for MTV Foundation (Anti-Slavery) won gold at Cannes and his ‘Coffee vs Gangs’ work for Kenco nabbed over 25 effectiveness and creative awards.
After five years as the Global Business Director on JWT’s flagship Nestle account, Paul joined MadeBrave as Client Services Director. And the rest is history…
Jude Kerrigan
Job Title
Group Account Director
Jude has over 15 years senior-level agency experience, which was preceded with a 10-year background in client side education marketing.
An experienced and senior player in our client services team, Jude has been instrumental in developing a multitude of national and international brands; delivering strategic brand projects for companies such as Jacobs, IBM, the world’s leading medical device manufacturer, as well as DBA effectiveness award-winning projects for King’s College London and Peak Scientific.
Jude is responsible for overseeing the account relationship and major projects from a strategic perspective.
Experienced in complex, multi-stakeholder relationships; Jude’s commercial acumen, proactive and creative approach to problem-solving, strong budget management, and unwavering project management skills will ensure you are fully supported through out your journey with us.
Jude loves interiors and has an addiction to collecting and rehoming old furniture, especially chairs!
Ben Neilson
Job Title
Junior Art Director
Ben came to MadeBrave on an internship before joining the brand team as a designer. As a designer, he helped bring to life many of the MadeBrave brand projects and parties.
After a delightful two-year stint, Ben made a bold leap into the creative team, as a Junior Art Director and began working on clients such as; First Bus, VELUX, and a bunch more.
Fun fact: Before his creative career, Ben was making waves in the fitness industry. So, if you’re tired of the same ol’ chicken and rice routine, he’s your go-to guy for some mouthwatering, creativity-infused culinary inspiration!
Keenan Erwin
Job Title
Brand Manager
With over a decade of in-house and agency experience, Keenan has an extensive background in e-commerce growth marketing and content strategy for luxury and drinks brands.
Keenan has been at the helm of the MadeBrave brand for years and has been integral to building it into one that is respected and admired across the UK and beyond, ensuring our best work, brand thinking, and every newsworthy moment keep us front-of-mind for clients, potential clients, partners, and stakeholders.
He’s also a big proponent of our culture and the driving force behind our award-winning employer brand which attracts many of the most talented people in the industry.
Mark Probert
Job Title
Board Member
Co-founder of Agencynomics, Europe’s largest free peer support network for agency owners, and founder of the Scottish community of The Agency Collective, Mark brings over 20 years of accountancy experience to the MadeBrave board, combining his financial expertise with a passion for fostering growth within the creative, technical, and marketing sectors.
Mark’s proactive and positive approach to mentorship, including his role with Creative Edinburgh and The Agency Collective, underscores a commitment to inspiring the next generation of agency leaders and entrepreneurs.
Euan Brown
Job Title
Senior Project Manager
We’ve all heard of the rockstar Designers and the visionary Marketers, but lurking in the shadows, like Batman without the cool gadgets, are the unsung heroes of the industry: Project Managers. Euan is the secret sauce that keeps the whole operation running smoothly.
Picture this: while the Creatives are brainstorming unstoppable ideas and the Copywriters are crafting witty taglines, Project Managers are meticulously orchestrating the creative chaos. Euan weaves his organisational magic, coordinating teams, resources, and deadlines, all without hogging the limelight. Like the puppeteers behind the scenes, pulling the strings that make the magic happen.
Drawing on over a decade of agency experience in project delivery and client-handling allows Euan to nurture and build strong and enduring relationships through the course of day-to-day project delivery.
Away from the laptop, you’ll often find Euan floating around on a stand-up paddleboard or teeing up at his local golf courses.
Melissa Curtis
Job Title
People & Culture Lead
Melissa is a CIPD-qualified HR professional with over 10 years of experience gained across the public, third, and private sectors, supporting teams of up to 1,200 people. Melissa is passionate about creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, and she’s skilled at building strong relationships, coaching, leadership, and developing and delivering plans that inspire and motivate people.
Using a collaborative and consultative style infused with creativity and innovation, Melissa is able to help drive positive change, and she’s a trusted advisor to our team on everything from change management to employee relations.
Mark Cullen
Job Title
Head of Strategy
As with many in our team, Mark’s journey didn’t start in marketing; it began in journalism. Thankfully for us, he found his way into the creative industries — first to PR and media training, and then onward to advertising. It was in brand consultancy where he found his calling; specialising in brand strategy, portfolio architecture, audience research and using strategic positioning to transform clients’ growth and culture, worldwide.
In the 15 years since, he’s worked at the top level across global brands like Ford, Unilever, KPMG, Nestle, Electrolux, Centrica, Cargill and Honeywell. Not to mention more premium drinks brands than he can count, for the likes of Diageo, Edrington and Bacardi. If he went on Mastermind, his specialist subjects would be shit-hot stakeholder engagement, brilliant brand values and frighteningly bad karaoke. Rising to the Head of Strategy at MadeBrave in 2020, he now leads our growing team of brave thinkers across the UK.
Emma Stewart
Job Title
Senior Designer
Emma is a designer, photographer, and all-round visual style expert and has over 15 years’ of industry experience gained at some of the most established design and marketing agencies in Scotland.
Emma has produced design pieces for the likes of BAFTA Scotland, Scottish Football Association (SFA), The Royal Horticultural Society, and Whyte & Mackay. Branding, product photography, and art direction have all helped her become an excellent all-rounder, able to develop brands from scratch or enhance already established ones.
In her day-to-day, Emma is involved in all manner of branding and design, and as part of the creative team, Emma reports to the Design Director, while working alongside the rest of the design team.
Ross Macdonald
Job Title
Senior Strategist
Ross has spent over a decade working in creative agencies in strategic roles with experience across the public and private sectors, from small tech start-ups to international universities and multinational medical technology companies. He also has particular experience in campaigns which tackle stigma and change the ways people view marginalised groups and issues.
Skilled in qualitative research, campaign development, and brand strategy, Ross has led the strategy for award-winning campaigns for the likes of the Scottish Government, National Confidential Forum, and a leading global medical device company. While here at MadeBrave, Ross has led brand and campaign strategy for the likes of VELUX, Diageo, and Nestlé.
Emma Houston
Job Title
Head of Comms Planning
For over 10 years Emma has worked agency-side in several comms, marketing, and digital roles. From finance to FMCG, healthcare to hotels, she’s developed global comms for brands including PWC, Tesco Bank, Nestlé and VELUX. Plus, being based in Scotland, she’s also notched up an enviable amount of experience working on whiskies from the likes of Diageo and Edrington.
As Head of Comms Planning at MadeBrave, Emma leads her team in finding exactly the right moments and places to bring creative ideas to life in the real world, for real people. With strategic rigour and a dash of brave thinking, they ensure that campaigns are implemented for the maximum impact right through the customer journey, across paid, owned, shared and emerging media.
A firm advocate of collaborative working, she’s always happy to bat around and hash out ideas, digitally or in person. She’ll even bring the biscuits.