Meet
the team
We’re a close-knit network of specialists who love to collaborate. Do say hello!
Our hive is made up of creatives, planners, digital specialists, copywriters, influencer marketers, publicists, designers, branding experts, award-winning journalists, corporate strategists, and social strategists.
We work across a breadth of sectors from finance to tech to consumer, and we do it all through the lens of nurturing reputations of purpose-led businesses in order to have a positive impact on the world.
Our number one metric that we monitor and measure ourselves by is team happiness.
Kirsty Leighton
Founder & Group CEO
Kirsty is the founder of Milk & Honey. She has over 25 years of experience in corporate brand PR and communications.
Kirsty has a privileged view of the communications landscape having held leadership positions in successful City and financial, technology, corporate and consumer agencies. She started Milk & Honey determined to put people first, creating a happy and healthy place to work.
Where passion and creativity are prized. Where clients are celebrated. One where there is time to think, to go the extra mile. A land of opportunity.
Laura Reijnders-Dorr
Group CFO
Laura is keeper of the cash! A chartered accountant with a master’s degree from Erasmus, Laura spent ten years auditing with EY before joining the board at Milk & Honey.
She plays a central role in directing the business. Keeping us on an upward growth trajectory whilst ensuring client’s budgets are treated with care. Ensuring we deliver the best possible return on investment.
Paul Cohen
CEO, North America
Paul runs Milk & Honey’s North American business and brings more than two decades experience shaping vital conversations in ways that matter.
A trusted communications advisor to executives and teams across three continents, Paul has represented multinational corporations, start-ups, industry associations, sovereign governments and non-profit organizations. He leads a powerhouse team out of Milk & Honey’s new New York office and works alongside clients’ leadership teams to help organizations tell their stories to successfully drive business results.
Manuel Hüttl
CEO, Germany
Manuel is a partner and CEO of Milk & Honey’s first office in Munich, Germany. He is a communications veteran, with more than 20 years’ experience across international agencies, advising C-suite executives and global organisations.Thinking outside the box is pivotal to Manuel, and he is driven by innovation and to create cutting edge campaigns, that work. Manuel is also the Senior Vice President of the CMO council – a global peer group of over 16,000 marketers across EMEA.
Father of two, Manuel has previous been a lecturer and has published a book about reputation management.
Caroline Gruen
Partner, Client Services Director
Caroline heads up our B2B and client services. She started her multi-award winning PR career in 2009 in-house within the automotive industry before moving to central government, then to global agency Weber Shandwick.
Over the years Caroline has built up quite the awards cabinet, having been recognised in PRWeek’s 30 under 30 in 2016 and celebrated for her client campaigns along the way too. As a board director at the hive, she leads our client quality and measurement activity, ensuring every creative campaign has demonstrable business results.
Michael West Jr
Partner
Michael is driven and motivated by business challenges, energised by change and brings a unique and strategic eye to business issues. With a blend of in-house corporate and agency experience, Michael contributes a distinctive perspective to our business. He adds a wealth of knowledge in corporate reputation, communications, policy and public affairs areas.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked for several Fortune 500 companies, gained extensive international experience and served in leadership roles in US local and state governments. A consummate learner, Michael is in constant search of the right strategic approach and most effective angle to offer solutions to any business dilemma.
Outside of work, he volunteers his time with organisations that help children and families. Michael also loves college and professional sports and can often be found in several stadiums and arenas across the U.S.
Kath Myers
Partner, Planning & Consumer
Kath has over 20 years’ experience in integrated consumer comms working across the retail, technology, FMCG, sports, entertainment, wellbeing and leisure and tourism sectors. She has led the development of commercially successful and award-winning campaigns that have been recognised by The PRCA Awards, EMEA Sabres and CIPR Awards.
She’s passionate about helping brands and businesses to develop a credible and meaningful role within the lives of their consumers. At the Hive she’s responsible for consumer and planning and creates campaigns that are designed to engage audiences based on their interests and passions.
Outside of professional life Kath enjoys a gentle run in a local park, gets joy from singing and dancing when she has the chance, and loves a good theatre show or musical.
Zharina Arnaldo
Partner, Global Media Director
Zharina comes into the Hive with more than 20 years’ experience in a variety of exciting international roles.
She started off her career in brand management, marketing washing-up liquid for P&G, moved to Finland to work with a telecom company in Nokia’s heyday, then pivoted careers and became an international broadcast journalist working for some of the biggest outlets including the BBC, CNN, Reuters and Al Jazeera English – which earned her an Emmy nomination.
Zharina’s media expertise (which spans interviewing stars on the red carpet and covering natural disasters) is key to building out Milk & Honey’s strategic media offering. Her consulting work – advising heads of state and C-Suite executives – and fintech experience from working at Klarna, also comes in handy in helping the agency with its rapidly expanding financial services/fintech portfolio.
When not on the clock, Zharina is busy keeping fit (she has run a full marathon while drinking), teaching yoga or volunteering to help refugee entrepreneurs build their business.
Rachel Proctor
Partner, Global Head of Digital
Rachel is our digital doyen. She is responsible for all digital services across our client portfolio. Rachel also sits on the board ensuring that we continue to develop our integrated offer.
Rachel has been working in marketing communications since 2014 when she graduated with a first-class honours’ degree in business management and marketing. Before joining the hive, Rachel worked with Thomson Reuters in a variety of internal communications and event roles. Prior to that she was part of the awards team at Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
Rachel is a voracious learner and holds diplomas in web design, digital PR and mobile app development. She was celebrated in 2019 as one of PR Week’s ‘30 under 30’ identifying the industry’s leaders of tomorrow.
Richard Green
Non Executive Director
Richard sits external to the business and advises on risk, governance and tax. As non-executive director, his principle role is to keeps the board on their toes. Pushing us to be the best we can be. He works between New York, Sydney and London offering business advisory chartered accountancy services for ambitious growth companies.
Adam Toms
Head of Content
Adam has more than 20 years of communications experience in the public, charity and private sectors.
As head of content, Adam takes complex subjects and translates them into a form that’s understandable, meaningful and interesting to relevant audiences. He has put words into the mouths of Lords, Ministers of State and blue-chip CEOs – and developed the full range of corporate communications collateral.
Before joining the hive, Adam led Editorial at Genomics England, ran his own writing business, was head of communications at a national medical regulator, managed corporate communications within the NHS and has been at the sharp end of major national events such as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Imogen Wallis
Head of Discovery
Imogen is a lover of all things social and SEO. Having been both agency and client side, Imogen began her career 2015 as an account manager for a social media agency. Here she was deep diving into content creation, copy writing and creating event coverage for a range of clients from fashion to confectionary.
Looking to switch things up and work in-house, she then took up the helm of all things marketing and PR at luxury nightwear start-up Yawn. Tackling all sides of the business from PR coverage, social media management, online discovery and PPC. Imogen’s experience, and first-class honours degree in marketing and advertising, has allowed her to gain a fantastic understanding of client struggles from all business angles and how to optimise the digital world.
When not building award worthy digital campaigns, you’ll find Imogen planning her next trip across the world, singing her heart out at a gig or taking her puppy ‘Biggie’ out for some quiet time.
Naomi Powell
HR Director
Naomi sits external to the business and advises on all things people. She is passionate about the human experience and the ever-improving happiness of our team.
Having worked in creative agencies for most of her career, Naomi has a deep understanding of what makes an agency tick. She advises on people related aspects of the employment relationship and ensuring the people strategy is aligned with business values, vision and mission to achieve success. She is an approachable, pragmatic, creative and curious HR leader.
Patrizia Heun
Client Director
Patrizia brings energy and a can-do attitude to Milk & Honey's German office, which she's helping to grow on the Munich grounds. Her passion is telling great stories for clients in an innovative way and her warm personality has helped her to build strong relationships with Journalists in Germany and the UK.
With a degree in PR & advertising, Patrizia kicked-off her career in PR at The Hoffman Agency in London, which fostered her excitement for B2B tech. Over the years, she's worked with several multinational clients in the tech sector and in various areas - from AI over semiconductors to telecommunications, 5G, e-commerce, and surveillance technologies.
In her spare time, you'll find her on a sailing ship, learning how to play the Ukulele (which might still take some time) or traveling the world.
Lewis Oakley
Client Director
Lewis is top of his game, recently achieving recognition as one of PRWeek’s 30 under 30. The annual list which charts the UK’s PR stars of the future.
Lewis’ drive is to create stories that not only generate press interest, but stories that also deliver the value his client is looking for.
He also specialises in working across Europe with agency partners. In total, Lewis is working with five agencies across Europe to grow the reach of his existing accounts. Not only adding value for his clients but forging a connected comms strategy blueprint for the future.
Outside of the 9-5 hours, Lewis uses his PR skills to push for better understanding of bisexual people. He regularly contributes to Metro, HuffPost and Independent on the subject as well as a weekly podcast, Bisexual Brunch. This work has seen him recognised by the Pride Power List as one of the most influential LGBT+ people in the UK.
Beverley Noble
Client Director
Bev is a data geek with a passion for insight–driven campaigns. She uses her joint loves of storytelling and analytics to design campaigns that help deliver impactful results for her clients. Most days, you can find her working with the team to secure media opportunities and co-ordinating through the line activity.
Before joining the hive, she worked at LEWIS Communications delivering B2B and B2C campaigns with a range of tech clients.
Georgia Cobden
Client Director
Georgia joined Milk & Honey to bolster its strategic consumer communications offering, bringing with her seven years of experience delivering hard working press offices and award-winning integrated campaigns for global brands across Travel, FMCG, Retail, Hospitality and F&B industries.
She is an energetic and creative collaborator with a passion for campaigns that create positive social impact and behavioural change for consumer brands, organisations, and Government.
Georgia is a qualified Mental Health First Aider and member of the Harringay Council Volunteer Programme, Wellbeing Walks. Things that make her most content include spending time with loved ones, trips to vineyards and distilleries, exploring new cities and dancing to her favourite music.
Conor Douglass
Client Director
Conor joins as Client Director into the New York team. Formerly of Edelman, Conor started his career focused on political campaigns, from a local mayoral race in 2013 to a US Congressional race in 2016. He also spent four years in Washington, DC working on Capitol Hill and in public affairs before arriving in NYC in 2019 to work for Edelman where he represented large F&B brands like PepsiCo and Campbell’s and supported professional services firms.
Outside of work, Conor is volunteers with an environmental group in Brooklyn that supports sustainability efforts in the community. He also stays active on the tennis court and the occasional hike in upstate New York.
Tushar Parmar
Client Director
Tushar is a media junkie who has worked across a range of B2B and B2C campaigns. He combines strong research and writing skills with his creative flair, delivering results that generate impact and add value.
Starting out as an intern in 2015, he hasn’t looked back since. His experience includes digital SEO and B2B agencies where he used research, data and videos to secure coverage.
Graduating from Northumbria University, he also held a role at The Business Desk, covering regional Yorkshire news. At the Hive, he is responsible for Milk & Honey’s volunteering programme. Outside the office, he enjoys playing and watching (sadly the latter of late!) cricket and rugby whilst also exploring the live music scene.
Sanjiv Winayak
Client Director
A graduate in Astrophysics and Philosophy, Sanjiv been working in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle PR since 2013. Passionate about data driven ideation, Sanjiv brings an objective, measured and results driven approach to his work. Prior to joining Milk & Honey, Sanjiv worked with brands such as Teva and Planet Organic.
In his spare time, he cooks and plays tennis, with his aspirations in either field far outweighing his ability.
Calli Haramaras
Senior Client Manager
Calli joins Milk & Honey’s North American team with her can-do attitude and problem-solving spirit. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism and international studies, she moved to New York City to kick off a career in PR with Ketchum.
Calli has worked across large corporate and consumer accounts from Mastercard to KPMG and Capital One, telling their stories and elevating their thought leadership. Outside of the hive, Calli spends her time exploring the city, taking Cody Rigsby’s classes on Peloton and learning how to speak Greek.
Sianna Peal
Senior Digital Client Manager
If you’re looking for a dynamic, creative, and results-driven marketing strategist, then look no further. With over five years' of digital marketing and PR experience in the USA, Sianna knows how to optimise her clients' performance and raise brand awareness.
Before joining Milk & Honey North America, Sianna used innovative strategies and market analyses that got her clients results. Sianna is a motivational leader, who places collaboration at the heart of success, ensuring business objectives are achieved while developing people's talent and industry knowledge.
Outside of work, you’ll find Sianna at the park with her dog Ahsoka, or chatting over brunch with her friends.
Liza Kinnear
Senior Client Manager
Liza specialises in all things B2B finance and fintech, having carved her niche in this space over the past four years working in agencies. With an LLB Law degree and MSc in Political Science, Liza veered into the world of PR to bring together her key passions - writing, research and comms.
Working across businesses of all different shapes and sizes to build their brand in the media and ensure consistent coverage, Liza drives quality exposure in front of target audiences.
Outside of work, you'll find Liza trying new food spots, having a laugh at comedy gigs, and exploring new places.
Chavaey Waithe
Digital Client Manager
Chavaey joins Milk & Honey having finished her Masters’ degree in Psychology at the University of Glasgow. As part of the digital team, she combines her passion for storytelling and eye for detail to tell meaningful brand stories and lead campaigns.
She joins us with experience working in-house and agency side spanning across government affairs, social media and PR for brands such as Macquarie Group and Battenhall. As a passionate social justice advocate, you will find Chavaey working on causes near and dear to her heart outside of work.
Lizzie Elkin
Client Manager
Lizzie is extremely passionate about using communications as a force for good. She loves working with interesting and ethical brands, using her media savvy to secure top-tier coverage that makes a difference.
After finishing her degree at the University of Nottingham in History and Politics, she moved to London to pursue a career in communications and PR. She thrives on building strong media and client relationships, helping brands find their impact.
Lizzie is the first president of the Employee Ownership Trust.
Out of the office, you’ll find Lizzie listening to music and podcasts, painting or playing netball.
Petrina Marks
Executive Assistant to Founder & CEO
Petrina is a seasoned EA with over 20 years of experience working with CEO’s and senior executives. Like any top level EA, she can juggle a variety of projects and tasks, whilst keeping the board in check and is also a super talented baker.
Having worked with Kirsty in a previous agency, the two work together in sync. Petrina is energetic, innovative and motivated with strong attention to detail. She keeps the office humming, occasionally fuelled by some fabulous edible creations.
Reggie Okehie
Senior Client Executive
Reggie is passionate about research and communication, having completed a degree in PR, he combines the knowledge from his degree with his passion for the PR industry to help deliver the best possible results to clients, and support the team.
In his spare time, he volunteers as a coaching assistant at his local athletics club, watches a lot of football, and listens to music.
Anna Tattersall
Senior Client Executive
Anna has a creative eye, bringing with her an artistic flair and an enthusiasm for content creation. With an upbeat and can-do attitude, Anna is an exciting addition to our happy Hive.
After graduating from the University of York with a first-class History of Art degree, Anna moved to London to start her PR journey. Having previously held a role as an art editor of a student-led art, culture, and fashion magazine, Anna brings innovative style across her client portfolio.
In her spare time, you can find Anna staying active, travelling, or visiting the latest art exhibition.
Linnea Lipson
Senior Client Executive
Linnea uses her passion for creative storytelling to deliver impactful coverage on behalf of her clients.
After graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a degree in Journalism and Integrated Marketing Communications, she went on to work with Rogers & Cowan PMK. As part of the Brand Strategy and Thought Leadership team, she worked across a variety of accounts including Verizon, Yahoo and Relativity Space, honing their thought leadership and media strategies.
Outside of the office, you can catch Linnea searching for New York’s best bowl of pasta, working her way through the city’s art museums and finding new concert venues.
Jin Lee
Senior Client Executive
Jin is a passionate and driven PR professional with experience working across industries including B2B and B2C clients. In addition to her deep earned media experience developing unique and compelling pitches, she’s experienced in developing and executing influencer campaigns to reach a consumer-focused audience.
After graduating from Smith College with degrees in Government and East Asian Studies, Jin moved to New York and pursued a career in law as a legal analyst. After a career change, she went on to work at SourceCode Communications and 5WPR, working across CPG, consumer tech, and B2B portfolios before joining Milk & Honey.
Outside of the office, you can catch Jin outside with her dog, staying active, or finding the next best sushi restaurant.
Lola Carter
Senior Client Executive
Lola is driven by a desire to help purpose-driven organisations shake up the status quo.
Lola graduated from the University of Sussex with a first-class Psychology degree in 2021. Shortly after, she kicked off her career and has since gained experience in delivering insight-driven campaigns for a variety of consumer, B2B and not-for-profit clients.
Naturally inquisitive and passionate about developing meaningful and long-lasting relationships, Lola is fascinated by great comms and how it can influence consumer behaviour.
Outside of working hours, you’ll find her experimenting with extravagant vegan recipes in the kitchen and exploring her new stomping ground of SW London.
Maz Chowdhury
Client Executive
Maz values connecting people with purpose. She is focused on being a positive impact on those around her, thus uses these tools to come up with creative and emotive ideas for clients.
Fascinated with the notion that PR can be a force for positive change, she studied PR and Media at Sheffield Hallam University to enhance her knowledge of the industry and its practices. In 2021, she graduated with a first-class degree and began working in communications and marketing for a social enterprise in Cambridge. This enterprise in particular, provides work experience and learning opportunities for young women who have suffered negative life experiences.
Maz moved to London in early 2022 to join the hive. Away from work, she will be found creating content for her food page on Instagram, listening to podcasts, doing yoga and going to music events with friends.
Ashleigh Spiliopoulou
Client Executive
Ashleigh loves to bring inspiring individuals, organisations and events to life through language and design. Telling stories is her passion, especially when they can be used to shed light on meaningful, purpose-driven causes.
She feels most alive when connecting with people, particularly when she is able to get below the surface level and discover what really makes someone tick.
She’s a graduate of Loughborough University where she also trained and competed in the Heptathlon.
Outside of the office Ashleigh is always on the go. She’s a regular gym-goer and yogi but can also be found exploring new areas of London with her Pentax film camera in hand, mostly in search of cute coffee shops, the best restaurants or vintage flea and flower markets.
Alexandra Fielker
Client Executive
Alexandra has always been fascinated in the impact of communication, leading her to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Communication Science, Business and Economics as well as her Master's in International PR at the University of Munich.
She joins Milk & Honey's German team after gaining PR-experience in different communication agencies working for tech and lifestyle clients. With her calm but curious nature she is interested in a variety of topics, coming in handy when working for Milk & Honey PR's multifaceted clients.
Outside her job, she is passionate about reading and loves to try out new pastimes, such as dancing and painting.
Caroline Fisher
Client Assistant
Caroline has a passion for storytelling and is eager to deliver meaningful and insightful stories in new and inventive ways.
With an honours undergraduate degree in Creative Writing and English Literature from Trinity College and a master’s in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh, Caroline is eager to bring her writing skills to the world of PR.
To get away from the loud buzz of London, you can find her reading in a local coffee shop, learning how to paint, or working on her creative writing.
Sydney Portigal
Client Assistant
Sydney joins Milk and Honey’s North American team to utilize her strategic eye in finding creative and inventive solutions for client asks.
After graduating from Emory University with a degree in Political Science, she moved to New York City to join global financial technology firm The London Stock Exchange Group. Throughout her time there, Sydney lead multiple project-management workstreams, focusing on multiple areas across the business, from global onboarding to developing key internal communication launches.
Away from The Hive, Sydney loves to (attempt to) cook NYTimes recipes, increase her never ending book collection, try the endless new restaurants and bars popping up around the city, and spend time with her family and friends.
Kovida
Client Assistant
Kovida joins the hive fresh from her Master's Degree in Strategic Communication from the London School of Economics, which focused on corporate communications and international marketing. Prior to Milk & Honey, Kovida had turned her hand to journalism, marketing, and internal communications.
An avid writer and researcher, Kovida is passionate about using her skillset to positively impact businesses and people that make a difference to the world around us.
Outside of work, she is chasing the sunniest spots in London, reading and reviving her interest in art, culture and languages.
Jonah Miti
PR Apprentice
Jonah has a key understanding and interest of the tech space, and values business and PR in the modern climate. He is approachable and eager to increase his knowledge in the work environment. Jonah is someone who strives to achieve and always looks to increase his wider business knowledge.
Jonah has just finished sixth form after completing a two-year course in business and music technology. His hobbies include being an anime and manga enthusiast, gaming, music, and music production. He has recently increased his interest in literature. He also enjoys films and skateboarding.
