About Me
Husband, father, guitar player, snowboarder, disgustingly talented marketing/ecommerce guy and all round good egg.
A proven leader with a flexible, creative approach to delivery and achieving results. Communication and the ability to inspire others towards a common goal are particular strengths. Significant commercial/business experience coupled with a detailed understanding of ecommerce and on/offline marketing provides a unique approach to idea generation and strategic vision.
Management of multi-million £ budgets; direct marketing; print/production; customer acquisition; CRM; data driven marketing; digital marketing; ecommerce; web design and build; a thirst and infectious enthusiasm for success and delivery; creativity and an eye for innovation and opportunity.
Career History
Marketing Director at Glasses Direct
From November 29, 2010 until February 17, 2012.
Responsible for all aspects of marketing, PR and brand communications across the PEL portfolio in the UK and across Europe. Reorganised the marketing function within the group, realigned key external relationships, implemented new systems/software and improved efficiencies across the board, reducing CPA by 60%.
Head of Customer Acquisition at Boden
From September 8, 2008 until November 26, 2010.
Responsible for all customer acquisition activity and online marketing with a view to driving growth. Delivered a record year for new customer volume and efficiency. Led a strategic review of acquisition and brand building activities to expand the channel mix and effect further improvements in new business volumes. Worked with Experian to deliver a full prospect pool solution, launched an integrated social network to the ecommerce platform including social commerce and a ran a full creative and media pitch process involving the likes of BBH and WCRS.
Head of Internet at Saga Group Ltd.
From February 1, 2006 until September 5, 2008.
Responsible for the entire Saga Group website and strategic redeployment of all online areas. Key projects included the launch of a social network to engage customers outside of a regular ecommerce framework, a site-wide redesign incorporating SEO improvements, the construction of a vertically integrated CMS, the use of sticky content to improve site grip and a full review of key customer journeys in order to minimise drop-off rates and maximise conversions.
Head of Customer Acquisition and Internet Marketing at Saga Holidays Ltd.
From January 1, 2004 until February 1, 2006.
Responsible and accountable for the strategic planning, management, deployment and justification of an annual spend of over £5 million in offline above and through the line customer acquisition activity. Driving customers online from offline activity was a key objective and online sales became significant for the first time.
Head of Studio and Direct Marketing at Saga Holidays Ltd.
From March 1, 2000 until January 1, 2004.
Responsible and accountable for all literature production and with all direct marketing activity in order to find opportunities and efficiencies within the existing strategy and available budget of over £10 million. Conducted online marketing activity for the first time at Saga Holidays while reducing bottom line marketing costs and maintaining passenger growth.
Blog comments by Rob Silsbury
