ROBERT LYLE - MEDIA DIRECTOR

First class Honours graduate in History & Politics, University of York, 1984 where his thesis on Clann na Poblachta involved interviewing Nobel Laureate Dr Sean MacBride and Dr. Noel Browne.

MBA Open University 1996.

Up to 1995 worked as National Accounts Manager for Belfast Telegraph responsible for sales to the UK's top advertising agencies, media independents and clients including Vauxhall, Ford, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Boots, Budweiser, Guinness, Bells, Texstyle World, B&Q, Allied Carpets, Texas, Kwik Fit, Central Office of Information, Halifax, Alliance & Leicester, Nationwide and many others.

Account Direction on National Safety Council (the Road and Fire Safety education body for the Republic of Ireland) including launches of major TV campaigns for Anti-Speeding, Drink-Driving and Seatbelts from 1996 to date; and has worked on various other accounts such as Cookstown, Andersonstown News Group (including the Aisling Awards and the launch of Ireland's first Irish language daily, La), Belfast Chamber of Trade, The Mirror, Dillon Bass, The Maiden City Festival, Fuel Services, Moy Park and Livestock and Meat Commission.

Responsible for the marketing launch of the Belfast Giants Ice Hockey team in December 2000 - when many said it had no chance of success - and for generating the largest sponsorship deals in the history of sport in Northern Ireland with Harp Lager, gem, BTNI, Rover and others for the Belfast Giants.

As Media Director since 1999, Robert has overseen the entire media function. Key developments have included investment in TV ratings data technology and training for Ulster and ROI (via DDS and Nielsen Media), Target Group Index (TGI) and introduction of Media planning systems into the agency including Effective Frequency Modelling, Prophecy, Media in Mind, Intuition and Total Impact Planner. As well as planning and buying across a range of clients, he has also overseen the development of a Media Review Process to ensure that all media performance is fully reported and improved upon.

He lobbied to ensure that Channel 4 Digital broadcasts Northern Ireland regional commercial output instead of national commercial output from March 2001; responsible for RTE setting up a Belfast office to trade airtime and the development of pan Ireland and pan UK media buying skills.

Appointed to Universal McCann UK Board, January 2000 he was previously a Committee Member of the Northern Ireland Branch of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. Sat on Magna Ireland board in 2003 - the media buying alliance of Universal McCann and Initiative Media.

Married to Jane with two children, Patrick and Phoebe, he is an IRFU mini rugby coach at Bangor RFC, supports Liverpool FC and enjoys tennis, cricket and most other sport. Watching films and reading books are his other main hobbies.

As the longest serving employee of McCann-Erickson Belfast, Mairead joined the agency in 1975, from a purely media-orientated background, working both in London and Belfast.

She has acquired an in-depth knowledge of all public sector procedures, having worked with many government bodies for over 20 years, in addition to working with Northern Ireland's largest companies.

As Accounts Manager, she is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the smooth flow and accuracy of all billing procedures, working closely with the Account Directors and Managers to ensure that all client enquiries are answered and resolved efficiently and effectively.

Mairead was promoted to Company Secretary in Summer 1999.

JOHN ABBOTT - FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

John Abbott recently retired from McCann-Erickson.   He is the former Chief Financial Officer of McCann-Erickson UK and Ireland and the former Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer of McCann-Erickson World Group UK.   In these roles he was responsible for advertising billings of up to £900m and a headcount of 1800.

John's vast professional experience and financial expertise ensures that the Directors of LyleBailie International benefit from the guidance and counsel of a world-class advisor, thus freeing them up to focus on delivering for all clients.

DAMIAN DONNELLY - SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR

Damian has over 15 years’ experience managing and producing advertising. Widely experienced in managing campaigns for key public and private sector organisations, including the National Safety Council, now the Road Safety Authority, in the Republic of Ireland, the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government (Republic of Ireland), the Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) and The Electoral Commission.

VALERIE LUDLOW - ACCOUNT MANAGER

BA Honours in American Studies, Queen’s University, Belfast (1999) and MA in Media and Communications at the University of London (2000) Valerie provides account management for a number of the agency’s key clients, including The Electoral Commission, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the Department of the Environment, Road Safety.

AVRIL THOMPSON - STUDIO MANAGER
With over 13 years' experience Avril has extensive knowledge of the advertising industry and now manages a very busy studio with responsibility for all print buying.

BRENDAN McALEENAN - ART DIRECTOR
As winner of the Barclays Bank Graduate Award for Design, Brendan's extensive portfolio of design work includes the Front Cover and Outdoor Poster for the Good Friday Agreement - one of Northern Ireland's most famous media icons.

DAWN McCARTNEY - ADVERTISING PSYCHOLOGIST
As Advertising Psychologist, Dawn manages all Real-time Response Testing to evaluate advertising effectiveness and keep her finger on the pulse of consumer lifestyles. She is an experienced moderator in research projects throughout Ireland and Scotland.

SONIA LAUGHLIN - TV PRODUCER
Sonia joined McCann-Erickson in 1988 and is responsible for all the agency's TV production, commercial editing and corporate videos - playing a significant role in the production of numerous award winning commercials.

KEN SCOTT - CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
Ken joined the agency in 1990 and is responsible for Peugeot, the agency’s longest standing client. With more than 14 years’ experience within the Northern Ireland car market, he has extensive understanding of working with a manufacturer's dealer network.

WENDY McWILLIAMS - SENIOR MEDIA PLANNER/BUYER
In her capacity as Senior Media Planner/ Buyer, she has serviced many major blue chip clients, operating in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland & Great Britain. This extensive portfolio includes P&O Irish Sea, Peugeot, Phoenix Natural Gas, Wake up to Waste, Race Against Waste, Lunn's, Open & Direct, Odyssey Arena & Belfast Giants.