Profile

Angus Stephenson

Contact

23B Helix Gardens, London, SW2 2JJ

Mob: 07920 751023 Email: angus_stephenson@yahoo.com

Summary

Experienced communications leader, specialising in internal communications

and change management.
Ten years experience in implementing internal and external communications
strategies for large-scale global operations.
Transformation projects have involved 9,000+ staff across 100+ countries in
both the private and public sector.
Experienced content strategist, manager and copywriter. Created and owned
cross-channel campaigns across digital, print and face-to-face channels.
A trusted advisor of senior business leaders, through organisational re-design
and implementation. Experienced line manager and team leader.
Fluent Spanish and French speaker with a particular interest in international
development.

The British
Council
Multinational cultural relations organisation
8,500 employees
March 2009 to
present

Head Communications, Education and Society

Created and executed engagement strategy to merge two business areas,
involving 500+ staff across 20+ country sites.
Responsible for articulating new operating model, organisational design and
structure within a new vision, strategy and culture to create a joined-up business area. Communications engagement approach cited as organisational
best practice for restructures in the British Council.
Developed employee engagement strategy from scratch for new business
unit. Initiatives included: launching e-newsletter which averaged 70% open
rate and gained 500 new subscribers within eight months (doubled readership); regular face-to-face management information cascade; employee induction, enabling a blogging culture; building and rolling out a new SharePoint knowledge management system

Acting Head Internal Communications

Designed and implemented Corporate Internal Communications strategy
which improved Staff Survey scores in understanding of organisational objectives from 50% to 75% globally.

Led communications for a global two-year change programme aimed at making the British Council more efficient and commercial while changing the way
it works with a new operating model and overseas presence. Produced highvalue communications assets involving social media, video and face-to-face
engagement to involve staff through journey of significant change.
Led communications for support services downsizing and operational efficiency programme, which introduced new systems and processes in the context of a new support services hub in India and 500 job cuts.

Xchanging plc

Head Corporate Communications

September 2005
February 2009

Responsible for press relations and group internal communications, managing an international team of four split between India, Germany and the UK.
Led the press and internal communications of the companys FTSE 250 listing and acquisition of Indian IT company.Wrote companies first crisis communications strategy and handled potentially negative PR over contract withdrawal.
Set tone, direction and opened new channels for internal communications,
inaugurating a company newsletter, establishing a new tone of voice for corporate communication and new opportunities for the voice of employees.
Ghost-wrote all CEO-employee communications including fortnightly email
and several speeches
Wrote CSR strategy and communications approach, which helped Xchanging
attain FTSE for Good status.
Managed Boat Race PR on behalf of Xchanging, incorporating the Boat Race
brand into internal communications messaging.

The Besom

Fund manager and Fund Raiser

Limited company
and registered
charity

Raised, managed and allocated of over 1M of private equity to support over

150 worldwide development projects from providing water to tribes in Djibouti to a vocational training programme and micro enterprises for women
and street children in Peru. Reported on each project funded and managed
ongoing customer interaction.

September
2002
July 2005

Coordinated fund raising and sourced benefiting charitable projects for employees within 24 companies, supporting their Corporate Social Responsibility agenda. Companies included Marakon Associates management consultancy and the then ING Barings Bank and Real Estate.

Established a branch of the Besom charity in Buenos Aires. (The Besom provides a service for effective giving whether, time, skills or money). Trained,
managed and lead a team of 10 Argentines to establish a Besom in a new
socio-economic context.
Project Manager
Coordinated community-based volunteering projects for groups of 20 to 100
people in London. Assessed the groups skill base, chose appropriate tasks
to be completed in a day within a limited budget and managed the project
from start to finish. One example involved co-ordinating a group of 85 students to redecorate and landscape a Primary School in Chelsea. The result
enabled the school to cut the expenditure for their renovations budget in
2003.

Oxford and
Cambridge Tutors (Sept 2001March 2002)

Taught GCSE and A-Level Spanish for Oxford and Cambridge Tutors.
(2001-2

Education and
Qualifications

University of Oxford, Brasenose College (1997-2001)

BA (Hons) (2-1) Modern Languages,
Radley College (1992-1997)
A Levels: Maths A; Spanish A; French A
6 A*s and 3 As at GCSE level
Additional Qualifications
APMG Change Management Practitioner certified
Melcrum Internal Communications Black Belt