Susanna Simpson: Limelight Public Relations

Susanna Simpson, 31
Company: Limelight Public Relations
Web: www.limelightpr.co.uk

Public relations is a highly competitive industry, which unfortunately is frequently viewed as more of a hindrance than a help. However, in Limelight PR, founder Susanna Simpson has created an agency that is consistently described, refreshingly, as a joy to work with. Limelight’s range of work covers both business-to-business and consumer campaigns.

Examples of the projects the agency has been involved with include PR consultancy for Saatchi & Saatchi (both in the UK and the Middle East), positioning the Erotica Show towards a mainstream audience and acquisition support on multimillion pound deals. Simpson was chosen as PR Week magazine’s Young PR Professional of the Year within a year of starting the business, at the age of 24. Limelight looks set to turn over £1.2m this year.

2015 update:

Since being named a Young Gun in 2009, Limelight has expanded into the Middle East with its Dubai office winning best new PR agency in the region in 2012.

Simpson also set up Limelight Travel & Lifestyle in 2010 following a chance meeting on a beach in Barbados.

Set up to offer PR and marketing campaigns for hotels, resorts, tourist boards and tour operators, the business lists Haven, Butlins, Bourne Leisure, Malta Direct and Dubai Tourism among its clients.

On a personal level Simpson was named in Management Today’s Women’s 35 under 35 in 2012, with her role in helping to establish The Supper Club alongside founder and owner Duncan Cheatle highlighted as a top achievement.

Limelight too has won plaudits, respectively taking gold and silver titles at the Best For PR awards in 2013 for the ‘Creative Sector’ and ‘London’ categories. It’s considerable reputation in the B2B space has led to it acquiring high profile clients such as Telefónica, Acxiom, St Ives Group and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

In early 2015, Simpson launched a new venture with business partner Gordon Christiansen, called Creative Business Leaders featuring a full length interviews with influential figure from the creative industries, such as Unruly Media’s Sarah Wood and CEO of Capital Radio David Mansfield.