Alex Steer

PROFILE

I'm a planner working across disciplines on WPP's global Marketing Fellowship, currently at Ogilvy Cape Town. I have worked on brand and campaign development for clients in the public, private and non-profit sectors in the UK and South Africa. I began my career as a dictionary editor, which taught me to value the twin contributions of evidence-based analysis and creative thinking to solving communications problems.

EMPLOYMENT

2009-present: Marketing Fellow, WPP (marketing communications group).

A three-year program comprising rotations through WPP's companies, with the aim of developing high-calibre management with experience across marketing disciplines and cultures.

2010-11 (forthcoming): Strategic Consultant, The Futures Company, New York (strategic research consultancy).

Advising clients on emerging consumer, market and social trends and the impact of these on their business and brand performance. Designing and running research-backed trends, futures and strategic planning projects. Producing reports, briefings and presentations. Working with organisations to improve marketing and communication strategy development.

2009-present: Planner, Ogilvy Cape Town (advertising/communications agency).

Brand and communication strategy; campaign development; reviewing competitor brands and market activity; consumer and market trends advice for client and agency audiences; briefing creative teams to develop campaign ideas and executions; strategy for new business pitches.

2009: Analyst, The Futures Company, London (strategic research consultancy).

See above.

2008-09: Research Analyst, New Philanthropy Capital (think-tank/research consultancy).

Advised donors, funders and charities on how to achieve and demonstrate greater social impact from their activities. Planned, researched and wrote reports and briefings on charities' work in the education sector. Analysed charities' activities, results and finances and produced funding recommendations. Secured research project funding worth cGBP100,000 from grant-makers. Advised on funding decisions worth in excess of GBP5 million to effective charities.

2006-08: Assistant Editor, Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press.

Researched the history and development of the English language. Wrote and edited dictionary entries using a custom XML markup. Used proprietary language corpora and search tools, and trained other editors and researchers on search methodologies and use of linguistic resources. Advised on specialist areas of lexicography and historical bibliography (especially early English). Developed public relations as a correspondent on the OED's Word and Language Service. Gave presentations to school and university students and the media on the OED and its work.

2009 (part-time): Associate Lecturer in English Language, Open University.

Taught English language and linguistics to students. Marked written work and gave group tutorials.

2007-08 (part-time): Tutor in English Language and Literature, University of Oxford.

Taught undergraduates reading for papers in English language and medieval literature. Set and marked written work, and gave one-to-one and small-group tutorials.

EDUCATION

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

INTERESTS