Isime Esene

Experience

• 

  Beryl Consulting Limited

  Aug 2008 - Feb 2011

  Business Development Officer
• 

  YNaija

  May 2013 - Dec 2016

  • Developed Y!/YNaija.com to become a top 5 youth-focused news website in Nigeria.• Grew the newsroom 300% within one calendar year.• Developed culture-defining new media segments including short videos, verticals, and podcasts which attracted a feature from CNN.• Copyedited all content on the platform and all its channels including online, social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), and promotional materials.• Developed collaborative partnerships with organisations including EnoughisEnough Nigeria (EiE), The Future Project, Accountability Project for Development, The Future Awards Africa, and others to increase media exposure by 20%.• Developed monthly news focus to produce youth culture-relevant content and increasing daily website readership to 180,000.• Increased Y!/YNaija.com's cumulative social media following to over 300,000 across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.• Developed and maintained international strategic partnership with The UK Guardian online as Africa partners and London School of Economics Africa Summit and media partners amplifying their message across 2 continents.• Organised internal and external training engagements for update skills and knowledge within the team. Show less • Developed strategic partnerships with the African tech-ecosystem by promoting its lead actors and organising the Y! Tech100 in partnership with GTBank, Nigeria's leading financial institution.• Increased daily readership on the YNaija.com website to 120,000 to become one of Nigeria's leading youth-focused platforms.• Conducted interviews and features for key personalities in politics, entertainment, arts, and sports including former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former governor of Delta, Emmanuel Uduaghan; Innocent 'TuFace' Idibia; David 'Davido' Adeleke, Waje, Yeni Kuti, and award-winning Tanzanian artiste, Diamond Platnumz.• Assembled and managed the best set of op-ed writers to daily contribute culture-defining content for YNaija.com including Tolu Ogunlesi, Japheth Omojuwa, Ife Adebayo, and many others.• Grew the newsroom from a team of 2 to 6 team members delivers content across online and social media channels.• Developed best-in-class standard operating procedure (SOP) and yearly calendar for the platform.• Ensured all content meet journalistic standards of accuracy, timeliness, and provoke discussion - increasing YNaija.com's share of voice by 50%.• Increased visibility for the YNaija.com by 40% using robust Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) techniques. Show less

  • Managing Editor

    Dec 2015 - Dec 2016

  • Editor

    May 2013 - Dec 2015
• 

  RED | For Africa

  Jul 2016 - now

  • Develop go-to market plans and execute public relations and marketing campaigns for brands in the banking, entertainment, fintech, education, and FMCG industry, increasing share of voice by an average of 10%.• Develop strategy to reduce operating cost, and increase client and revenue figures from $400,000 company annual revenue to $1.3million.• Conceptualise, create, and supervise deployment communication products for brand positioning and thought leadership including feature stories, press releases, opinion editorials (op-eds), blog posts, speeches, presentations, briefing notes, online and social media content, etc.).• Oversee cross-functional teams (PR account management, digital marketing, sales/marketing, and social media) to ensure the integrity of all communications assets including logos, fonts, graphics, and general house style.• Advise and develop standard operating procedures and documentation for internal and external stakeholders on strategic communication interventions including crisis management.• Create, execute, and manage campaigns designed to increase awareness and generate leads (and over 3million social media impressions) through content marketing, digital advertising, and live & virtual events.• Create focus groups and deploy surveys to develop data-backed campaigns attracting one (1) international award and international media mentions.• Deploy media relations strategy including handling media queries, media interviews, and press conferences.• Conceptualise, develop, and market annual industry report with over 210 downloads globally.• Organise periodic conversations and engagements with media, marketing communication, and public sector professionals on trends and innovations in the industry. Show less • Managed 5 business units consisting of PR (account management), social media, digital marketing, sales/marketing, and culture intelligence team.• Managed a team on strategy and execution of high impact campaigns for multiple client accounts across industries including banking, fintech, entertainment, and FMCG.• Initiated effective professional relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including colleagues, management, clients, media, social media and sector specific influencers, and government agencies).• Managed business partnerships end-to-end and negotiated terms with influencers to decrease client spending by 2%.• Reduced quarterly departmental cost of sale from 55% to 42%.• Developed documents and review pitches and budgets for prospective retainer and per project brand campaigns.• Developed a 15,000-strong database of media contacts and influencers to achieve maximum exposure for client activities and events.• Developed and reviewed press releases/communication materials for prompt distribution to the media.• Leveraged relationships to contact key personalities and influencers to attend client events and deploy campaign messaging.• Developed monthly impact report and monitor engagement online/digital and on traditional media platforms. Show less

  • Chief Strategy Officer (PR/Communications/Marketing)

    Jul 2017 - now

  • PR/Corporate Communications Lead

    Jul 2016 - Jun 2017