About John Caudwell John Caudwell is a British business leader best known for his domination of the mobile phones industry from its infancy, including founding and building Phones 4U into the UK's biggest and most successful high street brand.
He is a major philanthropist, who was the first Briton to sign the Giving Pledge, now pledging to give 70% of his wealth away and, in addition, personally founded three charities: Caudwell Children, Caudwell Youth and Caudwell LymeCo.
Role Description This is a truly unique opportunity to extend the impact and legacy of one of the UK's biggest homegrown success stories.
This is a full-time role for a Director of Public Relations, located in either London or Staffordshire.
The Director of Public Relations will be responsible for continuing to raise the personal profile of John Caudwell, along with his charitable, business, personal and political interests.
All of John's activity, whether colourful or heavyweight, is designed to gain greater influence in order to make Britain more successful, look after people who cannot do so themselves, improve humanitarianism and kindness, at the same time as promoting all his world-class business activities.
The successful candidate will be responsible for creating and executing high-profile and innovative campaigns with year-round relevance, as well as, on a day-to-day basis, managing all press releases, media relations, public relations, and strategic communications.
He/she will report directly to John and liaise closely with his personal social media strategist and special adviser.
Qualifications At least 5-10 years' experience in PR, ideally with CEOs or other public figures Press releases, media relations and public relations skills Communication and strategic communications skills Experience in creating and executing high-profile and creative PR campaigns Extensive network of media contacts within the UK and internationally Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work at peak levels both solo and as part of a diverse team Familiarity with digital communications and social media integration in PR strategies Bachelor's degree in Public Relations, Communications, Journalism, or related field Discretion and confidentiality are paramount The successful candidate will be extremely smart, creative, persuasive, proactive, confident, highly adaptable, and really passionate about what John is trying to achieve – and, ideally, well versed in business, current affairs and politics.
You will have most of John's 6 critical success factors: Ambition, Drive, Passion, Resilience, Commercial Intellect and Leadership.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Media Planning Develop and implement a comprehensive PR and media relations strategy that aligns with John Caudwell's personal brand, business ventures, and philanthropic goals.
Build and maintain a long-term strategy for enhancing and protecting the public profile of John, ensuring consistent and effective messaging across all platforms.
Proactive Media Relations Identify and capitalise on media opportunities to showcase John's initiatives, thought leadership, and philanthropic activities.
Pitch stories and features to high-profile national and international media outlets, including broadcast, print, and digital platforms.
Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key journalists, editors, podcasters and media influencers.
Draft press releases, op-eds, and other media-facing content that reflects John's voice and vision.
Reactive Media Management Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries, ensuring timely and accurate responses that align with John's public image and objectives.
Develop and manage crisis communication plans to address any reputational risks or sensitive issues.
Monitor media coverage, manage narratives, and address misinformation effectively, including online sources such as Wikipedia.
Collaboration and Teamwork Work closely with John Caudwell's in-house social media strategist to ensure consistent messaging and alignment between PR and social.
Collaborate on integrating social media trends into broader PR and media plans, ensuring optimal engagement and reach.
Liaise with his philanthropic organizations and business ventures to align messaging and objectives.
Work well with other members of John's internal team, external advisors, and other stakeholders to ensure a unified communications approach.
Daily Tactical Responsibilities Monitor media daily for news and opportunities relevant to John's interests.
Provide real-time media advice and updates to John and his team.
Coordinate interviews, press briefings, and public appearances, ensuring seamless execution.
Oversee the creation of media kits, briefing materials, and other supporting documents.