Lynne celebrates 25 years at Wyatt International.

“Just over 25 years ago, I spotted a job advertisement in the Evening Mail for a PA position at Wyatt International. I remember carefully handwriting my CV (as you did in those days) on quality parchment paper and popping it in the post. I later learned that it was this paper and my handwriting that made me stand out from the competition and I was invited for an interview. Suffice it to say, I got the job and started in January 1998.

“I found my feet pretty quickly and worked closely with Karen Bernie (then MD) and Brian Barrett (then CEO) of Wyatt International. My duties went above and beyond the traditional role of a PA which was very rewarding – figurately and literally. In 2008, Karen encouraged me to enter the PA of the Year award, and I won one of the award categories!

“As the business began to grow, Karen became the strategic lead across many of our international clients and she took me on the journey with her. I think this was the turning point in my career at Wyatt International.

“Come on, you’re doing it already…”

“And that’s how it started. Nordic Timber Council was onboarded after a multi-agency pitch and became one of the agency’s top clients – Karen invited me to account manage it with her.  I was rather nervous – to say the least – but Karen reassured me that I was ‘doing it’ already. And when I thought about it, I was.”

A new challenge.

“Nordic Timber was a significant and high-profile account and opened up so many opportunities for me to evolve my skillset and progress in the business.

“Our brief was a three-year campaign to promote Nordic timber into the UK market. Karen and I would travel all over Europe and even flew out on Sunday evenings to attend an 8am Monday morning meeting in Helsinki, Finland.

“We needed a celebrity to champion Nordic Timber and secured Charlie Dimmock who, at the time was well-known for being on a programme called Groundforce with Tommy Walsh and Alan Titchmarsh (some of you won’t be old enough to remember). You may have seen her on a current programme called Garden Rescue.

“We met with builders merchants, such as Travis Perkins and Wickes, to contribute to the campaign by promoting it with how-to guides and inspirational literature, which we produced with the aid of Charlie Dimmock. We also organised and promoted a national garden roadshow at Tortworth Court near Bristol alongside national radio and TV.

“It was all great fun and one of my proudest moments at Wyatt. I was so new to account management, but I rose to the challenge. The account continued to grow, and we also worked with individual companies within the Council.”

And then there were three – four, five, six…

“I also managed other major accounts that the agency won, including Flowserve Corporation – an American global supplier of industrial and environmental machinery (strategic brand promotion and advertising), where I was dealing with people in all parts of the world, in particular the US. Brian, Karen, and I were also invited to make presentations at their conference in Milan.

“I worked my socks off but looking back, it was so much fun, and I was soon promoted to Senior Account Manager.

“That’s definitely something I’ve enjoyed at Wyatt International, there’s always something new and exciting to learn. There’s always a challenge to solve and every opportunity to feel proud of your accomplishments.

“Some of the accounts I managed all those years ago remain clients to this day. Precision Micro, for one. Karen and I worked together on rebranding two parts of their business into one new name and launching it to the market. That was about 20 years ago now, but our team has since taken on the challenge once again, relaunching the business following a management buyout. NSK is another very close to my heart. I worked with them closely for many years and now, they’re working with our team to drive brand presence across social media. I’m incredibly proud of the fact that these clients came back to Wyatt International, which is a testimony to the hard work, talent and dedication of each member of our team. It’s been a privilege to watch accounts grow and evolve.”

My many hats.

“Since stepping through these doors in Edgbaston as a PA, my life, skills and ambitions changed entirely….for the better. My career took on a route I’d never have expected and I’m so grateful and proud of the journey. After many years managing client accounts, I was interested in taking on new and different challenges. With the need for the company to have someone manage its processes, HR, IT, and Wyatt marketing, this is where my Head of Operations role started to evolve in our Shared Services team.

“What I enjoy most about Wyatt, is the diversity of roles and the opportunities you’re offered to try something new – and of course, there has been plenty of fun along the way!”

 Accelerate our capabilities.

“Back then, we were a traditional agency – PR activity and media advertising, designing and managing print material – as you’d expect. Now, Wyatt has transformed into a bilateral business that defies convention with not only multichannel teams servicing our clients from a marketing, PR, social media and digital perspective, but also our Accelerator strategic consultancy team delivering additional value through sustainability strategies and brand propositions. This model, a bilateral approach, is unique. But the fundamentals of Wyatt culture remain steadfast – it’s why I’ve stayed for as long as I have.”

When life happens.

“Let’s face it, ‘life’ happens, a lot. And we all experience the ups and downs, the joys and hardships. Wyatt International, and specifically Karen Bernie, has been there for me through thick and thin. For 25 years I have been mentored and supported, both personally and professionally by the people here, and I love to see the new members of the team experiencing the same. I admire Wyatt International because we’re a real mixed bunch, filled with down-to-earth people who welcome anyone willing to learn, grow, and develop. It’s exactly what I’ve done!

“I cannot thank the company enough for all it’s given me. It’s been one heck of a journey, and it’s not over yet…”

We’re always on the lookout for great talent to join us and see what the future holds. Explore our latest vacancies, or drop us a line at work@wyattinternational.com