Colin Mathieson AE VR MCIPR RAuxAF

Experience

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  Southern Newspapers

  Jun 1988 - Oct 1998

  Telesales to Advertisement Manager!

  Joined at the tender age of 19 as a Motors Telesales rep armed with two weeks training, telephone, phone book, order pad, coffee cup and ashtray working on what was a 150 strong sales floor for the Southern Daily Echo in Southampton. Progressed to Motors Field Sales within a year and Motors Manager in two. Promoted to initiate the Groups first 'Special Publications Unit' with a staff of 3 publishing 8 non core product competing, yet profitable, publications in year 1 and 12 in year two. Then appointed Advertisement Manager for the Dorset Advertiser Series of newspapers - a huge step up in staff count, turnover and budget responsibility. After 3 years of steep learning, increased revenues and budget achievement then transferred to head up the newly formed Regional Special Publications Division with full responsibility for all non Daily or Weekly printed products across Hampshire and Dorset. Show less

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  TNT Magazine

  Jan 1999 - Feb 2004

  Commercial Manager

  Initially appointed as Sales Manager progressing to Commercial Manager with full commercial, management and development responsibility for 30 sales staff, two weekly magazines, 4 annual travel publications, 2 travel and recruitment exhibitions and the launch of the TNT Magazine website - with annual turnover in excess of £15m. As one of only 3 Englishman amongst a total staff count of 80 Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans, working in a small corner of Earls Court, this was an outstanding experience perfectly epitomising the phrase 'work hard, play hard'. The absolute hi-light, eclipsing various exhibitions in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, staff trips to Dublin, several 'Circle Line Tours', Thursdays at the Redback and being heavily involved in the eventual £43m sale to Trader Media Group, was every day after the 22 Nov 2003 - the day England beat Australia in the rugby world cup final! Show less

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  Fish4

  Mar 2004 - May 2008

  Sales Director

  Originally recruited into fish4 to bring sales and commercial expertise into the company within the role of Publisher for the Cars division. In August 2006 the company took the decision to strengthen its strategic sales capability to support an expanding and dynamic marketplace and as a consequence I was promoted to the role of Sales Director. During this phase of my career I led a team of 10 direct reports as well as successfully instigating and leading a digital sales initiative across a 500 strong shareholder base of regional newspapers. I implemented policy and strategy decisions to respond to market dynamics, growing business turnover by 43.5% in just 21 months. In the period August 06 until May 08 fish4cars grew at a phenomenal rate in terms of customer numbers, stock levels, audience, revenue and market standing making cars amongst the most respected of all fish4 divisions. Show less

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  JustGoodCars.com

  Jul 2008 - Jun 2011

  Commercial Director

  JustGoodCars.com is a young and rapidly developing network of 1168 make and model specific cars websites that has gradually built audience and stock levels in Europe and North America over the last two years. The challenge is to develop, monetise and build the site to a level where we are competing with some of the major players in both the US and UK classified cars markets - this will be achieved by building and growing audience, content, user experience, strategic partnerships, brand identity, awareness, client base and ultimately delivering better response and customer service than our competitors. Show less

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  Department for International Development

  Aug 2010 - Jun 2011

  Medical Liaison Officer

  The Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team representing the Department for International Development is an international, joint civil-military and multi-agency organisation working to support the stabilisation, transition and sustainability of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Medical Liaison Officer working for the Helmand Province PRT has a responsibility to visit each of the Districts within Helmand, to assess existing Health facilities capability and infrastructure and to offer key recommendations for future development of healthcare provision and establishment of sustainable community education programmes. Key Leader engagement is required between Afghan Ministries, District Councils, Healthcare Professionals, Non Government Organisations and both US and UK military and civilian District Stabilisation Teams to ensure plans are agreed, supported and implemented. Show less

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  Newsquest Specialist Media Ltd

  Jul 2011 - Mar 2012

  Group Accounts Director

  This contract position with ExchangeandMart.co.uk was created in effort to focus on the top 250 Motor Dealer Groups in the UK to create a strategy and team capable of acquiring significant new business wins, retaining that business and then building on relationships created to generate additional revenue by delivering outstanding customer service and positive return on investment.

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  Royal Air Force (RAF)

  Mar 2012 - now

  Member of the UK Reserve Forces since 1985, initially joining the Army Reserves as a Commando Logistician, transferring to the RAF Medical Reserves in Feb 1987 as a Medic. Completed Aeromedical Evacuation training qualifying as a Flight Nursing Assistant in 1988. Promoted to Corporal in 1993 and then Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1996. Progressed through the ranks to current rank of Wing Commander holding the post of Commanding Officer of the Squadron I joined as a teenager. Have loved every minute, maximised every opportunity and accepted every challenge - the day I don't look up at a passing aircraft will be the day I leave!Jul 23 Appointed Head of Media & Comms, PJHQ NorthwoodJul 19 Appointed Head of Media Planning, Air Media & CommsNov 17 Appointed SO1 Equipment, Defence Primary Healthcare Oct 13 Appointed Commanding Officer 4626 AE Sqn, RAuxAFJan 13 Staff Officer Health Coord, Air Health Directorate, RAF Medical ServicesOct 12 Staff Officer Strategic Coord, Defence Primary Healthcare ProjectMar 12 Staff Officer Quality Improvement, Inspector General, Defence Medical Services Mar 12 Promoted to Wing Commander Dec 11 Nominated Outstanding Reservist of the Year, The Sun Military AwardsAug 10-May 11 Deployed as Medical Liaison Officer, Provincial Reconstruction Team, Op HERRICKAug 10 Project Officer for March the Ridgeway Charity Challenge raising £8500Aug 06 Project Officer for Three Peaks Charity Challenge raising £4500 Mar 05 Promoted to Sqn Ldr and appointed Flt Cdr Jan-Sep 03 Deployed as MSO/AELO Aeromed Ops RAF Akrotiri, Op TELICMar 99 Promoted to Flight Lieutenant Mar 96 Commissioned as Medical Support OfficerJan-May 91 Deployed as Flight Nursing Attendant Op GRANBYFeb 87 Joined 4626 Sqn as Medical AssistantApr 85 Joined 383 Commando Logistics Unit, Territorial Army Show less The Royal Air Force provides air & space power to protect the nation and defend our skies. Effective communication is key to protecting, defending and enhancing the RAF’s reputation. Within Air Media & Communications (M&C), our team covers the full spectrum of communication disciplines, from internal and external engagement to digital and print media. Fundamentally though we share one purpose: to tell the RAF story. Experience, professionalism, and collaboration across diverse parts of the team are key to finding the right medium, for the right message, to get to the right audience at the right time.The Plans team are the conduit into M&C for all internal & external stakeholders and customers, we consider requests and source opportunities, we liaise with each and every dept within M&C to maximise PR benefit, we task and deploy media teams and we manage content and publishing schedules to ensure maximum possible reach and engagement across multiple online and offline platforms. We sit within the Strategy/Plans pillar which also includes our Projects/Campaigns team, our Business Admin/Finance Team, our Evaluation/Analysis Team and the Digital Platforms Team. We plan and schedule content for RAF Website, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN & Instagram in addition to collaborating with external platforms & partners to publish positive PR on owned and earned social media platforms. Show less Having been a member of the Reserve Forces for the past 32 years I've been contracted on a full time basis for the Royal Air Force since early 2012 in a variety of roles utilising a broad range of commercial private sector experience in a public sector environment.Selected and appointed as Commanding Officer 4626 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in Oct 13 tasked with leading the recruitment, training and retention of Reservist Clinical Professionals to deliver essential Defence Medical Capability. This has involved designing, developing and delivering a robust business plan that would achieve Future Reserves manning targets through creative local and regional marketing, Key Leader engagement, building Social Media platforms and audience, galvanising workforce focus and driving teams to achieve SMART targets.Incredibly demanding, challenging, fascinating and rewarding work which has resulted in dramatic growth from less than 100 trained and motivated Clinicians 4 years ago to over 185 today and ahead of target to achieve 200+ by 2019. The Squadron has recently been awarded the prestigious Robins Trophy in recognition of outstanding performance and for doing the most to improve the good name of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. Show less Initially appointed to fulfil the Staff Officer Health Coord role working directly for the Head of RAF Medical Services at RAF Headquarters responsible for coordination and delivery of a variety of key projects including the annual cross service Clinical Conference. This role developed further with added responsibility as Chief of Staff for 70+ Military an Civilian employees as well as the wider RAF Medical Services of some 1800 Clinicians directing policy, process, training and manning to ensure essential capability was delivered. Show less Initially appointed as Staff Officer for Quality Improvement within the Inspector Generals Dept who report directly to the Surgeon General and are responsible for providing assurance that healthcare provision within the Defence Medical Services (DMS) for British Forces is safe, clinically effective, provides a positive patient experience and is delivered to national standards. Seconded in Sept 12 to support the £60m integration project of Defence Primary Healthcare coordinating Senior Military Executives to agree strategy and deliver policy and process against strong resistance to change. Show less

  • RAF Medical Reservist

    Apr 1985 - now

  • Head of Media Planning, Coordination & Resourcing

    Jul 2019 - Jul 2023

  • Commanding Officer RAF Medical Reserves

    Oct 2013 - Nov 2017

  • Chief of Staff

    Feb 2013 - Oct 2013

  • Staff Officer Quality Improvement

    Mar 2012 - Feb 2013
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  UK Ministry of Defence

  Nov 2017 - Jul 2019

  Head of Medical Equipment
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  Strategic Command

  Jul 2023 - now

  Head of Media & Communications

  PJHQ’s role is to provide policy aware military advice to MOD Headquarters to inform the strategic commitment of UK forces to overseas operations and, when directed by the Chief of the Defence Staff, to exercise Operational Command of UK forces assigned to overseas operations. Within PJHQ, the J9 team is responsible for the provision of policy, legal and media support to overseas operations. The Head of Media & Communication Operations leads a team of five media advisors and 8 visual communicators in the UK plus staff deployed overseas to deliver media effect for UK joint operations.Responsible for the communication response for the HQ during times of crisis and expected to exhibit mental agility and political awareness whilst concurrently multi-tasking across a broad range of both civilian and military issues to provide operational media advice to the Chief of Joint Operations and wider Headquarters, deployed commanders and to other key stakeholders. Working closely with colleagues in the Directorate of Defence Communication and with deployedMedia Officers, the Head of Media & Communication Operations directs the development of content, management of breaking news stories and planning and delivery of media events and visits in operational theatres. They will also work closely with the military Joint Effects team to ensure that media effects are aligned with wider operational activity. Additionally responsible for developing the Command's growing social media presence on various platforms by producing high quality content and creative marketing campaigns. Show less