Darren Forsyth

Experience

• 

  The Scotsman

  Sept 2004 - Jun 2005

  Graphic Designer

  University placement working one full day per week whilst studying in my last year for my honours degree. I worked on the design of a range of advertising across the portfolio of the Scotsman's titles.

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  Newsquest Herald & Times

  Jun 2005 - Feb 2006

  Graphic Designer

  I was part of a team working within the pre-press department at Newsquest designing adverts for their daily newspapers. Adverts were designed using Adobe Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop. As part of my employment I received dedicated training by the lead Graphic Designer from the Glasgow Herald.

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  Hilton eBusiness

  Feb 2006 - Feb 2008

  Creative Designer

  I was a key part of a small digital design team responsible for the design and promotion of the Hilton Hotels multiple global brand websites. Key roles involved the design of global website landing pages, HTML email campaigns and digital banner adverts for their affiliate partners.

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  MacDonald Hotels

  Sept 2006 - Feb 2008

  Web Designer

  40hrs p/m freelance:• Online Creative• Emails• Flash Animation• User Interface Design

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  Gael Ltd (now Ideagen Software Solutions)

  Feb 2008 - Aug 2012

  Graphic Designer

  I was part of a small team of four designers covering the design for all offline and online external and internal communications including brochures, exhibition pop-up banners, case studies, white papers, product manuals and promotional posters. I was also responsible for digital design communications such as the design and build of HTML email campaigns, designing and coding pages for the company website, digital banner advertisements, and animated assets for explainer videos and internal comms. I successfully lead the company re-brand including of software products that the business developed. I worked closely with the internal software development team to design the user interface of their flagship client software application ‘Q-Pulse’ (a quality control product). Show less

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  OLIVER Agency

  Aug 2012 - Sept 2020

  Over 8 years solely leading and managing the AXA Business Insurance account at OLIVER Agency, I grew the account revenue by +600% and maintained a guaranteed business retainer across that entire 8-year period - AXA are still a client today. My successes and responsibilities included:- Building an incredible partnership with AXA Insurance, demonstrating the strength of our model.- Leading a high-performing creative team, covering creative, strategy and production.- Owning the account growth strategy and the B&S revenue forecasting.- Identifying up-sell opportunities and raising the awareness of OLIVER’s services.- Scoping new projects, building and managing project timelines and budgets.- Writing creative briefs and delivering and presenting new creative proposals.- Managing 3rd parties including photographers, videographers and sound studios.- End-to-end executive production of photography and film shoots, for ATL and BTL.- Consistently grew the retained scope of work, in-housing more scope to OLIVER from other AOR's.- Lead AXA’s ‘Insuring the Inspired’ campaign in 2018 - seen on C4, and press and OOH across the UK.- Won a CIM Digital Marketing Excellence award for work across email and SEO content.- Won a digital marketing Drum team award in collaboration with AXA Insurance's marketing team.- Featured in Campaign Magazine in 2017 as OLIVER Agency ‘Agency Star Player’.- ‘Insuring The Inspired’ AXA Insurance campaign nominated for The Drum creative award.- ‘Leading From The Front’ Internal OLIVER award in recognition of 9.8/10 management score.- Awarded OLIVER Agency ‘All In Champion’ in 2018, which was their flagship internal annual award. Show less

  • Design Team Lead

    Jan 2015 - Sept 2020

  • Design Services Manager

    Jan 2014 - Jan 2015

  • Digital Designer

    Aug 2012 - Jan 2014
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  We Are Hydrogen

  Sept 2020 - May 2022

  Creative Operations Director

  At Hydrogen I was a member of their SLT. I was responsible for Hydrogen's Creative Dept where I implemented operational rigour, and grew Hydrogen's creative content production offering. I was accountable for driving consistent profitable growth for the business and increasing revenue margin - both on retained work and adhoc projects.- Lead and grew Hydrogen's creative department with line management responsibility for a team of 7.- Oversaw the creative output for approximately 15 multi-sectorial clients - from FMCG to FinTech.- Implemented operational rigour ensuring effective team utilisation, increasing speed + quality.- Initiated and orchestrated creative pitches, and lead on pitch RFP’s.- Responsible and accountable for delivering on creative revenue forecasts, ensuring profitable growth.- Successfully launched a dedicated content production solution resulting in +£300k in year one.- I helped Hydrogen transform into a social media creative content business, expanding creative services.- During my short spell at Hydrogen (working with their SLT) revenues grew by over 100%.- Client's that came onboard during my tenure included OVO Energy, Tennent's and The Economist.- Shortlisted for The Herald's 'Scotland's Digital Person of The Year' after only 12 months in the role.- Most awarded employee at the business's annual internal awards event (Hydrogen Beftas) in 2021. Show less

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  OLIVER

  May 2022 - now

  Transformation Director

  At OLIVER, we build bespoke dedicated agencies for our clients, with over 300 agency ecosystems and 5000 employees globally. We partner with some of the world's biggest brands, tailoring our model to each client's business through a unique blend of Talent, Process, and Technology.As Transformation Director, I oversee the design, operational setup and delivery of new agency ecosystems and teams. My responsibilities include:- Discovering our clients business (people, process + tools) to align on goals, ambitions and KPIs.- Cementing the initial client relationship with the aim of building a long-term trusted partnership.- Working with our Commercial team on fee structure and the setup of the account P&L.- Working with our Talent teams ensuring the right expert talent in place to deliver on agreed ambition.- Partnering with our Legal team, and client Procurement to write and agree MSA and SoW contracts.- Working with our Tech and Finance teams to ensure the back-end systems and processes are in place.- Working with our teams and clients to ensure fit-for-purpose operational rigour, and WoW processes.- Building and delivering bespoke onboarding for new teams ensuring they are setup for success.- Managing the risks and being a point a point of escalation throughout the implementation process.- Owning the billing and ensuring ERP alignment until implementation delivery handover.- In 2023 I implemented new agencies for Informa, Durex and the MoD, and 3 new global studios for Reckitt.- In 2024, I have implemented new studios for Tahaluf, Kimberly Clark and Stoli. Show less