About us

The team

Martin Campbell

founder and director

Now in his 24th year in the UK financial services industry, Martin has extensive experience spanning marketing, product research, design and development, PR and Government lobbying.

After more than 10 years at Norwich Union, he was recruited by Richard Branson as one of the original team assembled to build and launch the ground-breaking Virgin Direct. Here Martin initially led the product research and design function, responsible for specifying each of the company’s initial products, from the Tracker PEP to the Virgin Pension through to the Virgin One Account. 

Early in this product roll-out he also became one of the company’s main press contacts and succeeded in obtaining extensive positive coverage for Virgin in the media. Later he was appointed Director of Corporate Affairs, managing the industry’s “Best Press Office” for 3 consecutive years (according to the MORI annual poll of personal finance journalists).

In this last position he was also Virgin Direct’s lobbyist, where he convinced the Government of the mass market merits of simpler, low cost products and even (rightly or wrongly!) the 1% charge cap for CAT standard ISAs and then Stakeholder pensions.

With Virgin’s change of direction signalled by the rebranding to Virgin Money, Martin left to set up Beacon Strategic to continue his work in the consumer-oriented PR and industry reform field.        

Martin’s passion in his work is playing an active role in raising the industry’s standard of delivery to the consumer. Rather than just being a ‘rampant consumerist,’ he is convinced that this improvement will also be of significant advantage to the industry, Government, regulators, and the country as a whole. 

With Beacon, his contribution to this cause is helping those organisations who are raising the industry’s game to get the credit they deserve, whether through positive media coverage, influence on Government policy and reform, or better recognition, appreciation and loyalty from their customers.       

Helen Gwinnett-Sharp

head of research

Before taking a career break to have two daughters, Helen worked at Norwich Union, mainly on the Life and Pensions but also in the General Insurance division. After a highly successful period as NU’s single premium bond product manager, Helen returned to her first love - research.  She performed a number of senior research roles, covering both the business and consumer markets.

At Beacon, in addition to designing fast, efficient and cost-effective research programs for our clients, Helen also brings an invaluable skill for finding out whatever we need to know to help advise and support our clients to the very highest standards.

A dab hand at written communications, she also provides significant input to client communications of all kinds, from press releases to lobbying papers. 

Sarah Modlock

media trainer and freelance writer

Former editor of Interactive Investor and Media Relations Manager at the FSA, Sarah combines a wealth of financial services experience with a very in-depth knowledge and feel for the media world.

A gifted writer with regular columns and articles appearing on Yahoo, in Time magazine and in the UK's national press, Sarah is also one of the UK’s best media trainers, helping those who need to deal with the press to do so with knowledge, confidence and the benefit of her intuitive insight. 

 

 

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