Sara McConkey's Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

I left high school, fell down a rabbit hole and landed my first real job in the most surreal world. Thus began a life long romance in the advertising and Marketing industry. It wasn't the parties or cool stuff that fed my passion for the industry... (ok I admit the parties were pretty good). It was people....

I left high school, fell down a rabbit hole and landed my first real job in the most surreal world. Thus began a life long romance in the advertising and Marketing industry. It wasn't the parties or cool stuff that fed my passion for the industry... (ok I admit the parties were pretty good). It was people. Learning about human nature, learning the psychology of communication and learning that simple is rarely easy. I also learnt that I'm a natural born people person; understanding how to get the best out of myself and those around me is what keeps me going. My reputation is built on honesty, integrity and a passion for all things creative and a little off centre. At home I am a super hero to my four year old son; who has taught me the art of ‘now’. Through a love of yoga, meditation and losing myself in the kitchen, I manage to keep relatively grounded. I'm a Sydney chick who fell down a hole and hasn't looked back. I believe you should live what you love, to have no regrets and to be grateful for today.Head of Marketing & PR @ Launched in 2007, Gumtree has grown to become Australia's favourite marketplace to Buy.Sell.Win. As a passionate Gumtree brand custodian and spokesperson, my role is to deliver inspiring and well-planned marketing & communication strategies to drive brand saliency, protect the brand, deliver growth and achieve the brand vision. From December 2013 to Present (2 years 1 month) Sydney, AustraliaMarketing Manager @ As the Marketing Manager and 2IC to the Marketing Director I was Responsible for developing 360° Brand and Retail marketing strategies to drive consideration and bookings for P&O Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises World Cruising across both AU & NZ markets. Key Responsibilities & Achievements • Deliver the strategy, planning and execution of all TTL B2C and B2B communications • Led the repositioning strategy and brand launch for P&O Cruises 'A Place Called P&O'. This was the first brand campaign P&O Cruises had seen in a decade. • Developed and implemented a new retail strategy • Sustained number one position in the market, despite heavy competition entering the AU market. • Awarded Most Trusted Brands - ‘Most Trusted Cruise Line’ in 2013 • Led major content initiatives with The Living room, Neighbours, and Vivid Sydney Festival. • Directly develop and manage a team of four, maintaining 100% staff retention during my tenure • Agency Partner Relationships: BMF, Mediacom, Razorfish, Amnesia. From June 2009 to November 2013 (4 years 6 months) Sydney, AustraliaAccount Director @ Client: Toyota (Corolla, Camry, Kluger) Responsibilities: • Developed and grew the Toyota business and brand. • Managed and developed team of 2 Account Managers • Managed over $5 million in production budgets Achievements: • Won campaign pitch against competing agency, resulting in additional revenue to agency account • Won the Kluger 08 campaign off incumbent advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi • Developed and launched the 2008 Camry Every Bit Brilliant campaign, rated in the top 10 of Best Ads and Listed in Adcritics ‘Top 20’. From April 2008 to June 2009 (1 year 3 months) Recruiter @ Clients: BMF, BWM, DDB, Host, JWT, Leo Burnett, Love Communications, M&C Saatchi, McCann Erickson, Saatchi & Saatchi, The Campaign Palace, Y&R Brands, Whybin TBWA, WPP Responsibilities: • Actively sought out briefs, built relationships and brought in new business • Managed the recruitment process from end to end • Developed and grew the business and brand From August 2006 to April 2008 (1 year 9 months) Sydney, AustraliaAccount Director & New Business Manager @ Clients: Cereal Partners Worldwide (Milo, Cheerios, Nesquik), Reckitt Benckiser (Nurofen & Strepsils) Responsibilities: • Managed Australasia and international clients • Provided assistance to strategic planner • Investigated and implemented strategies to increase account revenue • Sole financial accountability in management of forecasts and JCR’s • Grew, developed and mentored junior team members and other employees within the agency • Directly managed 3 staff Achievements: • Pitched for and won George Weston Foods (Bürgen Breads) and Cross City Tunnel From April 2006 to August 2006 (5 months) Sydney, AustraliaSenior Account Manager @ Client: Westpac - Brand & Demand, Institutional Bank and Internal Communications Responsibilities: • Interrogated creative concepts and presented to Client • Investigated ways to add value to the Clients business • Managed account revenue and retainer reports to client • Directly managed a team of three Achievements: • Home Loans Tactical campaign, most successful home loans campaign in Westpac’s History • Savings & Transaction Tactical campaign, most successful campaign in 16 years. From March 2005 to April 2006 (1 year 2 months) Sydney, AustraliaAccount Manager @ Clients: AGL, Lotto, LG Responsibilities: • Managed Client expectations • Wrote informative insightful creative briefs • Interrogated creative concepts and presented to Client • Motivated account team and other departments • Managed 2 Account Executives Achievements: • Developed and launched 2 separate integrated brand campaigns for AGL • Developed and launched ‘AGL turns on the gas’ campaign to sign gas customers in SA prior to deregulation. This was a world first. Signed up 4% of the market in 4 months and sales were 60% over target. • Won the Lotto account in June 2004 From July 2002 to March 2005 (2 years 9 months) Sydney, AustraliaAccount Executive @ Clients: Apple Computers, Fred Hollows Foundation & Australian Tourism Commission Responsibilities: • Daily client liaison with Apple Computers & Fred Hollows Foundation • General account handling duties • Briefed creative and production groups (TV & Print) From March 2000 to July 2002 (2 years 5 months) Sydney, Australia