The Rising Star: Andrew Robinson

Posted in Candidates

PR Week’s Powerbook described him as a “heavy hitter, doing serious work for serious clients, and one to watch,” and it’s clear from Andrew Robinson’s profile that this month’s rising star has achieved an immense amount in a relatively short amount of time.

Read on, be inspired…

Name: Andrew Robinson

Position: International Director, Board

Company: Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster

Can you summarise your career path to date? I began my career in Hong Kong with Gavin Anderson & Company; after four years learning the ropes on some great accounts including The Coca-Cola Company, Philip Morris and Morgan Stanley, I returned to the UK to work in Financial PR at Citigate. Starting in the Broadcast Unit, I worked my way into the Corporate team as a Director, leaving seven years later to work at Biss Lancaster.

Describe your role: I manage a team of 12 consultants working on corporate and government campaigns targeting a diverse range of stakeholders. I advise clients including BAe Systems, Standard Chartered Bank, The Government of Portugal and AirAsia.

What’s been your career highlight to date? My work with Tony Fernandes, the CEO of AirAsia is constantly challenging and equally rewarding. Airline PR is not easy even when the economy is good, and the range of issues you have to deal with each day is immense. Advising the Portuguese Minister for Economy has been a real eye-opener into how far Government communications strategy has evolved over the past 3 years to cope with the financial, energy and environmental crises.

And your greatest challenge? As a manager, working with (Chairman) Tony Carlise at Citigate was unforgettable. Perfect was just about good enough.

What advice can you offer to other comms professionals who want to get ahead in the current climate? Whatever you are doing, do it very well!

How do you feel about what you have achieved so far in your career? To be working in an agency I am proud of, doing interesting work for great clients and still learning a great deal from my Chairman, Graham Lancaster – this is where I wanted to be at this stage of my career.

What recent current affairs issue are you most interested in, and why? Watching how the expenses scandal has swept beyond Westminster into the rest of the UK shows how powerful the media can be. It feels like open season on anyone with an expense account, except journalists obviously.

What challenges are you facing in your current position? Staffing always presents a challenge, finding good executives is hard work. Biss Lancaster invests a great deal in training staff, but many firms don’t make the investment, leaving execs to learn on the job. It’s not sustainable for companies to ignore training junior staff.

Do you have an unusual, impressive or inspirational career path? Are you able to offer sage career advice to other communications professionals? If so, we’d love to hear from you! To nominate a colleague or be featured as the next ‘rising star’ yourself, contact us at: sarah@the-works.co.uk or tel. 020 7559 6690. Alternatively, click on our website at: www.the-works.co.uk