~ former Times features editor and Google communications director will lead the agency’s expanded content team and bring consultancy expertise ~
London – June 25, 2012: Bite has appointed The Times’ former features editor and technology correspondent Mike Harvey to its board of directors in London. Mike spent 12 years at The Times in London and Silicon Valley before taking up the post of director of communications for northern Europe at Google.
Mike’s role will span several areas including client consultancy across strategic communications and storytelling, and he will assume board leadership of the growing content team. Mike’s appointment follows Bite’s hire of four high-profile journalists from the new media, IT, channel and consumer sectors in the last 18 months and brings the content team to eight people.
His brief will be to support international, enterprise and entrepreneurially-led clients, including Telefónica Digital, Sony, Zuora and Lithium, delivering corporate positioning, creative campaigns and marketing communications content. He will work alongside the agency’s heads of digital, creative and client services to ensure an integrated approach.
“Our commitment to investing in people who bring alternative perspectives to client campaigns across content, digital and creative services has really paid off this year, both from a client service and new business perspective,” said Kath Pooley, MD Europe at Bite. “We firmly believe that compelling storytelling sits at the heart of every campaign and the unique editorial insight and ‘outside-in’ perspective brought by our senior journalists is invaluable. Mike’s track record speaks for itself and his senior editorial, in-house and international experience make him the perfect fit for Bite’s business. Beyond his consultancy and content skills, I also know he’ll be a great leader for our business and our team.”
David Nicholas, communications director at Telefónica Digital, said: “Bite’s commitment to delivering a new integrated approach to communications is one of the aspects of the agency that attracted us. We have publicly stated our intention to challenge convention in the way we communicate, and surprise people. To achieve this, we need our agencies to bring a team of people who can challenge us and bring an external and unique perspective, in a credible way. The appointment of talent like Mike Harvey is a sign of commitment from Bite that it will continue to do that.”
Mike Harvey said: “I am very excited to be joining such an innovative and ambitious team. Bite has an enviable reputation in the communications industry – I was always impressed by them when I was a journalist. Bite’s management has game-changing plans to take the company to the next level and I can’t wait to play my part.”