Bellenden

Mark Glover MCIPR FRSA

Chief Executive

Mark is a nationally recognised consultant with 25 years political experience. He founded Bellenden at the beginning of 2006 and has overseen its growth into a dynamic twenty strong communications agency. Mark provides board level strategic counsel, political analysis and integrated campaign planning to a variety of public and private sector clients.

Mark is a contributor to a number of books on politics and communications as well as being a regular speaker on the topic of integrated political campaigning. He is currently the Chair of the Southwark Labour Group, and was a member of the Liberal Democrat’s Federal and English Executives in the early 1990s. He represents a council seat in Peckham and sits on the board of Groundwork South London.

Phil Briscoe MCIPR

Managing Director of Planning Communications

Phil has worked in political communications for more than 20 years.  Specialising in property, planning, energy and regeneration, he has directed communications campaigns for some of Europe’s biggest developments. Phil has advised some of Europe and America’s largest house-builders, property developers and utility companies, but is equally comfortable working with third sector and government bodies. Phil excels in formulating and delivering local solutions to global challenges.
 
Phil also served four years as a councillor the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, before stepping down in 2010.

Greg Rosen MCIPR FRSA

Director of Public Policy

Greg joined Bellenden during 2006 after spells working in government, as a senior strategist in Whitehall, and subsequently as Head of Media Strategy for the London Development Agency. He provides strategic counsel and analysis to clients at CEO and Board level across a range of public policy and media issues.

A political columnist for the Scotsman newspaper, Greg has published several books on 20th Century UK politics. He is a Consultant-Director at market-orientated think-tank Reform and has co-written two of Reform’s major reports: Fit for Purpose and The Front Line. He is a former Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society. He is Chair of the Labour History Group and a Visiting Fellow in Politics at Goldsmiths, London.

Nikki da Costa

Director of Public Affairs

Nikki has an excellent reputation for developing and implementing public affairs strategies, advising senior executives, politicians, and business leaders.

Nikki was previously Head of UK Government Relations for FTSE 100 public services company Serco, special adviser to senior members of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, and earlier in her career was recognised as a finalist for Public Affairs News  as ‘UK Newcomer of the Year’ and PR Week’s ‘Young Professional of the Year’.

Charlotte Barraclough MCIPR

Associate Director

Charlotte heads up the Bellenden PR division, calling upon 15 years of experience in political communications, media and public affairs. Prior to joining Bellenden, she was Head of Communications at the Swiss Embassy in London and in 2000 she ran the media campaign for Susan Kramer’s London Mayoral Bid.

Charlotte has also worked at the European Parliament in Brussels, the European Commission in Luxembourg and has several years further experience in public affairs consultancy. Charlotte is fluent in French.

Kris Verlé

Associate Director

With more ten years of political experience, including five years in a public affairs role, Kris has been the strategic lead on a number of major client accounts and across a wide range of policy areas including Health, Renewable Energy, ICT and Education. Originally from Brussels, Kris previously worked in the House of Commons as Head of Office for Simon Hughes MP, currently the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He has also worked in the Liberal Democrats’ whips office and press office.

Ben Jeffreys

Account Director, Edinburgh Office

Ben Jeffreys heads the Edinburgh Office and specialises in clients in the energy and regeneration sectors. He is an experienced professional with over sixteen years’ experience of managing and supporting political campaigns.  Ben is an active member of the Conservative Party. 

Matthew Horn

Account Director of Planning Communications, England and Wales

Matthew has extensive experience in initiating communications strategies in a broad range of sectors within the built environment - from renewable energy through to major housing and infrastructure developments. He has a comprehensive background developing and leading community and political communications strategies throughout the length of the UK and has a wealth of knowledge on how to implement effective political engagement and stakeholder consultation.

Coming from an arable farming background, Matthew joined Bellenden having completed his Masters degree in European Politics.

James Sachon

Account Director, Planning Communications

James has worked extensively across the planning and development sector for the last seven years and before that he spent two years working in the office of a Labour Government Minister. 

James has significant experience managing stakeholder consultations and political communications campaigns on a number of the largest residential, retail and mixed use schemes in London and throughout the UK. In addition, James also brings experience at managing media activity at a local, trade and national level for a range of property clients.  James’s strategic approach and understanding of what motivates politicians and local stakeholders means he can deliver tangible results for his clients regardless of how challenging the project is. 

Daniel Cremin

Senior Account Manager, Public Affairs

Daniel has worked at Bellenden for over three years for a variety of clients in the education sector including Tribal, Newcastle College Group, Cambridge Assessment and the Association of School and College Leaders as well as other organisations such as Housing 21, the Home Builders Federation and the Electricity Safety Council. He has developed a specialism in the education and skills sector. A strong policy analyst, he has provided intelligence and counsel to a wide variety of senior executives. 

Clare Phillips

Account Manager and Head of Office, Wales

Clare has over 11 years experience working in Welsh politics and has extensive knowledge and direct experience of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

She worked for Alun Pugh AM, former Senior Government Minister and Assembly Member for Clwyd West, for eight years. As a consultant Clare has devised and delivered public affairs programmes that have taken a number of businesses to the heart of Welsh politics.

Fluent in Welsh, Clare is a graduate of Swansea University and holds a Masters degree in History from Royal Holloway, University of London.