Head of SEC Newgate’s Northern office in Manchester, Simon is a strategic communications professional and former journalist with extensive experience across the public and private sectors.
He joined SEC Newgate from Transport for Greater Manchester, where he supported the rollout of the transformational Bee Network – GM’s vision for an integrated ‘London-style’ transport network - and led communications for the revised Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.
In a first for a Destination Management Organisation, Simon served as Content Curator on behalf of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (now GM Business Board) at Marketing Manchester, part of the Growth Company. The role supported the city-region in increasing awareness of its sector strengths nationally and internationally, helping to attract inward investment, visitors and students.
Simon was previously part of the senior management team at the independent Manchester-based PR consultancy Intelligent Conversation, with clients including United Utilities, EMIS Group, Pharmacy2U and Manchester Metropolitan University.
An NCTJ-qualified journalist and editor, Simon worked at the Manchester Evening News for 15 years, with stints on the business and features desks. He edited the MEN’s award-winning standalone business magazine, Greater Manchester Business Week.
As a freelance journalist, Simon was a correspondent for titles including Place North-West, Property Week, Estates Gazette and the Big Issue North.
Away from work, Simon is a keen amateur photographer and lover of live music, including his own attempts to become a passable guitarist after too many years of trying.