Russell Willis

Experience

• 

  CNET Networks

  Apr 2000 - May 2008

  Creative Manager (UK)

  Started working as a Producer on GameSpot before being promoted to Art Editor responsible for site design, graphics and advertising. Promoted to Creative Manager and built and managed the design and front-end teams and working with the offices in San Francisco, Sydney and Singapore.Projects included redesigns of all of our properties including ZDNet.co.uk, silicon.com and GameSpot.co.uk and launch of CNET.co.uk.

• 

  CBS Interactive

  May 2008 - Dec 2008

  Head of Design (UK)

  Managed the Design and Front-end teams and worked closely with Product Development to enhance the user experience and design of all of our online properties on a project-by-project basis. Responsible for the development of our advertising products and all other design related activity in the UK.

• 

  Magicalia

  Jan 2009 - Oct 2011

  Head of Interactive Design

  Responsible for Design across our range of specialist digital titles including visordown.com, madeformums.com and golfmagic.com, leading the digital transformation, design and user experience and installing a new commercial approach to our properties.Worked alongside the technology, sales and editorial teams to develop each site, creating new brands and improving the user experience. Helped to establish Magicalia in our specialist markets with both users and clients receiving industry recognition winning 2 AOP awards for Best Specialist Publisher and Independent Publisher of the year. Show less

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  Immediate Media Co

  Nov 2011 - Feb 2018

  Set up and ran Immediate’s creative and content studio, Imagine.Managed a team of 36 including print and digital designers, copywriters, video editors, Project Managers and Developers across two locations and was responsible for all commercial creative output of Immediate.Responsible for studio P&L and managed budget against revenue.Imagine produced award-winning campaigns across multiple platforms with clients including Heinz, Birds Eye, Kia, SEAT, Sunbites and Flight Centre.Responsible for the overall Immediate brand from a creative perspective.Responsible for Ad Product development, and developed Immediate's Native advertising proposition, including award-winning unit on Radio Times. Show less Working in the digital department of Immediate and leading the creative vision and user experience of all digital products including all websites, apps and digital advertising. Managed a team of 32 comprised of designers, UX Architects, web producers and writers across three locations.Transformed the Creative team into an internal agency, attracting and developing junior and senior talent in visual and advertising design, growing staff numbers by over 500% in the process. Built the User Experience team from scratch to a team of 7 and developed them into an integral part of the business, establishing User Centred Design at the heart of our product development process.Worked across some of the UK’s leading brands including Radio Times, BBC Good Food, BBC Top Gear, You & Your Wedding, MadeForMums and CBeebies and with major clients such as Heinz, Sky, Fisher-Price, Silverspoon and Hotpoint. Show less

  • Creative Director, Imagine

    Jan 2016 - Feb 2018

  • Creative Director

    Nov 2011 - Jan 2016
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  Full-time Parent

  Feb 2018 - Oct 2018

  Career Break
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  GWI

  Oct 2018 - now

  Creative Director