Genoa Black targets national and international growth with two new senior appointments

Genoa Black, the strategic marketing company, has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of two senior staff members as it targets further growth.

The business, which has offices in Aberdeen, South Queensferry and London, has welcomed London Director Sarah Stein, and International Development Manager, Allan Conry, to support its global client development strategy.

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The two new appointments will accelerate Genoa Black’s growth ambitions – supporting its Scottish client base and those further afield – and enhance its classic marketing approach to strategy and brand development, talent investment, and the service quality provided by the company.

As former Director of Global Brand Strategy for telecoms giant Orange, Sarah managed the company’s brand across 30 markets and has also worked with many SMEs – helping them differentiate and win competitive advantage.

With a degree in Business with Marketing, she is a brand strategy specialist and has a proven track record in generating the tools and culture to foster best practice and wider brand ownership at an international level. Based in London, Sarah will support the company’s growing client portfolio across both B2B and B2C sectors that are looking to diversify and differentiate themselves in increasingly competitive markets.

She said: “Genoa Black has a strong ethos of getting to the heart of their clients’ needs and delivers high quality marketing solutions for businesses across a multitude of sectors.

“It is a pivotal point in the development of Genoa Black and we are refining our international and strategic marketing approach for our customers globally.

“I am really looking forward to working with Genoa Black and seeing what we can achieve for our company and those we work with.”

In 2017, Genoa Black successfully launched an International Growth Selling Programme on behalf of Scottish Development International, which was aimed at senior leaders in businesses with international expansion objectives.

Former Senior International Trade & Investment Advisor (Oil and Gas) at Scottish Development International, Allan Conry will support Sarah and Genoa Black’s Scottish-based teams.

Allan brings over a decade of experience in strategy, sales growth, and international trade and investment, with an extensive track record of operating in the international business-to-business environment.

As a qualified economist, he is a graduate of the University of Glasgow where he gained an MSc in Economic Development (Dist) and holds a BA (Hons) in Economics from Stirling University. Allan is also a ‘prince2’ accredited project manager and Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) qualified workplace coach.

He said: “I’m delighted to join Genoa Black at what is an exciting time in the company’s development.

“I’m looking forward to capitalising on opportunities to grow the business as we enter new markets, and likewise assist our clients as they seek innovative ways of globalising their businesses.”

Claire Kinloch, founder and Managing Director of Genoa Black, said: “This is a really exciting year for the company. We have grown significantly since our inception, and are now in a strong position to capitalise on the momentum we have built and start accelerating the business for the future.

“Over 80 per cent of our client portfolio operates or is seeking to operate internationally and the success of our work with Scottish Enterprise on the International Growth Selling Programme last year has reasserted the appetite SMEs have for growth.

“Similarly, we are ambitious about our own global future and these two exciting appointments will help us and our customers reach their full potential.”

Gaynor Duthie, Client Services Director, said: “I am thrilled at the appointment of both Sarah and Allan as we enter an exciting period of growth for the business; seeking international opportunities for both our clients and Genoa Black alike.”

Launched in 2013, Genoa Black puts classic marketing approaches and the best independent marketing talent at the heart of its clients’ businesses in order to create a greater return on marketing effort.

It now has a 16-strong team across Scotland, acting for a diverse range of clients including Safewell Solutions, Scottish Enterprise, The Edrington Group, Subsea Technologies Ltd and Gray & Adams.

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