isobel advertising | award winning independent creative agency | About

ISOBEL IS ALL ABOUT PEOPLE.

The people we talk to. We’re rarely invited into peoples’ lives, so we put humanity and entertainment at the heart of everything we do. We are driven by strategy and insight, helping our clients genuinely engage with people in a modern, digital world.

 

The people we hire. Creativity, curiosity and diversity are what we look for. When different, interesting minds come together, then different, interesting things happen. At the same time, we strive to bring the real world, the things that inspire us, interest us, that make us laugh (and cry) into our working environment. Which is why we hold regular comedy nights. And why our summer school for local GCSE students is now in its 15th year.

 

The people we work with. We love clients on a mission. People who want to change the world. People who don’t care for internal politics or senseless corporate speak. We work to a shared agenda and distil everything down to a simple, clear idea that is understood by everyone. If everyone gets it, everyone can get on with it.

 

We called our agency isobel because the founders all have a daughter called isobel.

PEOPLE IN ADVERTISING, NOT ADVERTISING PEOPLE.

Paul Houlding

Chief Executive

Paul Houlding

When he’s not breathless after running up and down the pitch for ten minutes, Paul, aka Steven Gerrard, is our CEO. Before founding isobel in 2003, he’d been Board Account Director at Saatchi & Saatchi and a partner at Banks Hoggins O’Shea.

Jamie Williams

Managing Partner

Jamie Williams

After a spell in New York’s film production industry, Jamie, or Noel, cut his teeth at JWT, before spells at DLKW and M&C Saatchi. He joined isobel in 2012 and put on the big boots as our Account Partner. If you need a deal made, he’s the guy to make it.

Rob Fletcher

Creative Partner

Rob Fletcher

After beginning his career as an Art Director at Gold Greenlees Trott at the tender age of 18, Rob has been a regular winner of national and international advertising awards and has judged many as well. He’s also the spitting image of Barbra Streisand.

Sarah Humphreys

Account Partner

Sarah Humphreys

Bear with, bear with! Sarah, aka Miranda Hart, joined isobel in 2014 after moving across the pond from Toronto. In Canada she worked at both Grey and john st. on a wide range of clients including War Child, Heinz, and Mitsubishi Motors, for which she won a silver Cannes Lion.

Clementine Barker

Business Director

Clementine Barker

Emma Watson grew up, moved to New York, changed her name to Clementine to dodge the paparazzi, and started running accounts for YouTube, General Mills and HBO. Then the faithful call of home brought her back to London, and to us. Wingardium leviosa!

Steve Hastings

Planning Partner

Steve Hastings

Steve lost 38lbs to play his role as Planning Director for isobel. He’s a regular speaker on the conference circuit and has won two coveted IPA effectiveness awards for Waitrose and Bluewater. His doppelgänger is Matthew McConaughey. The Dallas Buyer’s Club one.

Sue Laing

Finance Director

Sue Laing

Sue, our very own Victoria Wood, is a Price Waterhouse-trained chartered accountant, and has mentored companies in sectors from interior design to horticulture and beyond. She has been Finance Director since isobel’s inception in 2003.

Chan Spencer

Animation & Design Director

Chan Spencer

Chan, or if you look very hard, Michael McIntyre, is the agency’s wizard. Art working, motion graphic design, animation, video editing – the lot. After years and years of freelancing he’s finally found a home at isobel. He’s not half as funny as he looks.

Zoheb Raza

Social Media Director

Zoheb Raza

Zoltar, often misspelt as Zoheb, has spent the last decade producing award winning social strategies for Harley-Davidson, Quorn Foods, Ella’s Kitchen, Chupa-Chups and Sky. If you’ve got a quarter, he’ll read your future too.

Ben Stump

Creative Director

Ben Stump

“When will I be famous?” singer, Matt Goss, aka Ben has worked with Simon since 2006. Before joining isobel the pair worked at CHI & Partners where they launched a TV service for TalkTalk, helped rebrand Argos and produced several striking and effective campaigns for Lexus, Big Yellow and British Gas.

Simon Findlater

Creative Director

Simon Findlater

Simon, or as he’s known on weekends: Ludacris, worked with Ben at CHI & Partners. Over the last ten years, he’s created numerous striking and effective campaigns for clients such as British Gas, Visit Wales, TalkTalk, Lexus and Argos. He’s had a few hit singles too – B***H!

Alex Hamilton

Copywriter

Alex Hamilton

Alex, aka Sheldon, is a published novelist and award winning short story writer. He got into advertising in 2014 and has since worked on countless projects – from isobel’s new and existing campaigns to these extremely well-crafted profile descriptions. He’s so great.

Abimbola Hassan

Financial Controller

Abimbola Hassan

Bola has worked for a variety of agencies and has experience within the PR, Design, Marketing, Media and Advertising environment. Prior to working at isobel, Bola worked for PR specialist Four bgb for 12 years. And in 2012, she was listed by TIME magazine as one of the most influential people in the world… or was that Viola Davis?

Lisa Roscoe

Business Director

Lisa Roscoe

Jennifer Garner... or Lisa to her friends, leads a double life as a superstar actress by night and a superstar Business Director by day. She started out here at isobel, flew the nest and returned a decade later after building experience on brands like Kellogg’s, P&G and Fever-Tree.

Tom Dyson

Creative

Tom Dyson

Pedro Pascal, or as he likes to be called on weekends, Tom, has gone on to do great things since his face flattening performance in Game of Thrones. He's created campaigns for Paddy Power, Yorkshire Tea, Yopa, and Hostelworld with Mariah Carey.

Lance Boreham

Creative

Lance Boreham

Since his identity was changed for obvious reasons, notorious JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, now just "Lance", has worked as an advertising creative, dreaming up wonderful campaigns for brands like Refuge, Tesco and Virgin Media.

Joni Borteye

Account Executive

Joni Borteye

Naomi Campbell, aka Joni, has put her super modelling days behind her for a career in advertising. She's still fashionable as always, and loves to keep everyone up to date on the latest trends.

Zohaib Mohammed

Finance

Zohaib Mohammed

When he's not masterminding his evil plans for world domination, Gru aka Zohaib is masterminding our finance department – keeping on top of timesheets, invoices, giant lasers that sort of thing.

Becky Devereux Pile

Account Director

Becky Devereux Pile

Whatever happened to Matilda? Well, she grew up, changed her name (Becky), got stylish, and got a job. She's since worked her magic at Grey on Pringles, Lucozade and other big names. Now she's with us here at isobel. Miss Honey would be proud.

Danny Mitchell

Designer

Danny Mitchell

What are the scores George Dawes! In his previous life, Danny aka George Dawes was the score keeping drummer on Shooting Stars. But Showbiz proved too much for him, so these days he's trying his hand at design. He's quite good at it.

Hannah Ward

House Manager

Hannah Ward

Kira, aka Hannah, is isobel's most useful person, busy making things run seamlessly from behind the scenes. She's probably using the magic of the dark crystal — psst but don't tell the Skeksis!

James Lyle

Motion Designer

James Lyle

It turns out everyone's favourite Blue Peter presenter, Matt Baker, or as we know him, James, is a deft hand when it comes to motion graphics. And yes, if you ask him nicely, he'll give you a "here's one I made earlier".

Rhona Croker

Head of Everything Else

Rhona Croker

Rhona works behind the scenes making everything go smoothly. Phone calls, meetings, coffee runs, foot massages ­– you name it. And she looks a bit like whatsherface off that BBC Three children’s show.

Fran Houlding

Account Executive

Fran Houlding

The Honourable Kirstie Allsopp, tired of helping other people move on Location Location Location, decided to make a move herself — to isobel. Here she's a friendly face who's always on hand to help the team and our clients. We call her Fran. Not sure why, it's just a nickname that stuck.

Emily Powers

Account Director

Emily Powers

Emily, AKA Leela, captain of Futurama's Planet Express, used to run a pretty tight ship in the Financial Services agency Teamspirit, but now brings her "no rain or sleet" attitude and "kick-your-ass" grace to the team at isobel.

Amy Hansen

Producer

Amy Hansen

Amy, aka the island chief’s daughter Moana, is the agency’s favourite kiwi. She started out in film and TV and went on to produce amazing work for McDonald’s, Volkswagen, Coca Cola and more. Then she built a raft and sailed across the world to isobel.

Ellie Dickinson

Account Executive

Ellie Dickinson

Wednesday is reinventing herself in London under the pseudonym "Ellie". She's swapped playing with spiders and researching the Bermuda Triangle for some good old advertising. She's still working on her smile.



GET IN TOUCH.
020 7291 0969
hello@isobel.com
144 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6YF