Joanna has over 25 years experience in PR, which aside from one stint as a client, has been spent in consultancy working with companies from brand-new start-ups to global multinationals – across a huge range of sectors, from food and drink to private equity, and major charities to IT innovators. Market entry, product and company launches have been a consistent strongpoint.
She founded Rochester PR Group after working in PR agencies large and small, some within international PR or marketing services groups. Many of her clients have worked with her for many years, a sign of her loyalty and commitment to clients, and theirs to her, and an indication of her continuing enthusiasm and excitement about what PR can achieve.
After studying at Oxford University (Classics and Modern Languages), she started her career in advertising sales, combining an understanding of the world of media with a sharp commercial edge: something that continues to influence how she and the Rochester PR Group team approach the advice, strategy and follow-through proposed to clients.
Her can-do attitude and energy is at the core of the company’s culture, and combines an ability to see round potential problems to propose creative solutions, while having the ability to deal with senior staff on high-level strategic, corporate and reputation matters.
With a father who was a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force, she lived in many different countries, including, at various times, Germany, Russia and Kuwait, which underpins her understanding of a wide range of cultures. Her two daughters were born in, and adopted from, China – a second, international, generation for the company…
She lives in the historic city of Rochester, Kent – hence the name of the company – with her husband Philip, an author. At Oxford, she was funded by the Clothworkers Foundation, one of the Great Twelve City livery companies, and is currently a court assistant of The Clothworkers’ Company. Since 2019 she has been a trustee of Carers Trust, a charity which works to support unpaid carers.