People Old
Our team is drawn from diverse professional backgrounds. Our consultants are former journalists, fund managers, stockbrokers and lawyers. In addition, they have worked in parliament and lectured as academics. Delivering value to our clients depends not only on a thoughtful and creative approach to communications but also on applying experience and judgement.
Jos Simson
CEO
Jos Simson
CEO

Jos provides strategic counsel to clients at Tavistock and brings extensive experience in reputation management and capital markets. In the listed arena, he has advised Boards and Executive teams from the FTSE 100, FTSE 250 to new starts ups. He is a senior transaction adviser across all manner of communications challenges including complex crisis communications, M&A activity, shareholder activism, equity and debt financings, and IPOs.

As a graduate, Jos started his career at a boutique Financial PR firm and joined Tavistock in 2010. He attended Birmingham University and the University of Aix-Marseille where he graduated with a degree in French studies. 

Outside the office, Jos enjoys spending time with his three young children and finding a cold lake to swim in.

Jeremy Carey
Founder
Jeremy Carey
Founder

Jeremy Carey, founder of Tavistock Communications, has over thirty five years’ experience in the public relations industry.

He formed Tavistock in collaboration with a number of colleagues in 1991, prior to which he was a founder director and subsequently Chief Executive of City and Commercial Communications, then one of the top financial and corporate consultancies in the UK.

Jeremy’s experience spans both corporate and financial communications working with both public and private sector organisations across the full range of public relations issues including reputation management, flotations, mergers and acquisitions and crises.

Simon Hudson
Partner
Simon Hudson
Partner

Simon heads up the new energy team at Tavistock, focusing on the energy transition sector. His clients span a wide range of businesses that focus on energy including those engaged with electrolysers, fuel cells, biofuels and energy storage. He advises clients on a full range of corporate activity, having been involved in numerous IPOs and significant M&A transactions. 

Simon began his career in investment markets, fund management and then equity sales. He worked in London and Hong Kong before moving into financial PR and investor relations. He co-founded a financial PR business before establishing an IR focused business that Tavistock acquired in 2003. He has a degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and is a member of the Investor Relations Society. 

Outside of work Simon is a keen dog walker, theatre goer, skier, and restaurant customer. 

Axel Tan
COO
Axel Tan
COO

Axel is primarily responsible for the non-client facing side of the business. He has wide-ranging commercial expertise and has been extensively involved in the transformation of Tavistock, with highlights including the acquisition and integration of Conduit PR. 

Axel was a director of City Insights, which he and his colleagues sold to Tavistock in 2003. His earlier career included roles in accountancy, investment banking and the oil & gas industry, and he obtained a BEng in Computer Science from Imperial College London.  

Outside work, Axel’s interests include adrenaline sports and travelling. 

Lulu Bridges
Partner
Lulu Bridges
Partner

Lulu is a founding Director of Tavistock, with over 30 years’ experience in financial and corporate communications and investor relations. She specialises in the telecoms, technology and media sectors incorporating companies both large and small. Her extensive experience includes a long-standing relationship with Vodafone, which she has advised for over 25 years. Lulu’s clients have included Avast, Zegona Communications and Virgin Media, prior to its merger with Liberty Global. 

After graduating from Exeter University with an Honours degree in Economic and Social Statistics, Lulu began her career with Binder Hamlyn as a trainee accountant before joining WI Carr as a Small Companies analyst.  She is a member of the Investor Relations Society.

Outside work, Lulu can be found exercising and at the theatre.

Charles Vivian
Partner
Charles Vivian
Partner

Over the past 30 years, Charles has advised UK and multi-listed companies across the natural resources sector on financial, corporate, transactional, and crisis communications. He also has extensive expertise on advising corporates, ministries and governments on geopolitical and international strategic communications, with a main focus on Africa.   

Charles started his communications career at Citigate Dewe Rogerson in 1997 before co-founding Pelham Public Relations in 2004. During that time, he created a successful mining practice at the agency as well as growing the company into one of the fastest growing financial and corporate communications businesses in the UK. 

Charles joined Tavistock in September 2017, and his interests include music, rugby, birdwatching, and water skiing.  

James Verstringhe
Partner
James Verstringhe
Partner

James advises clients in real estate, fund management, financial services and emerging markets on all aspects of financial and corporate communications including online strategy and investor relations. He holds various professional qualifications including the CFA’s level 4 Investment Management Certificate (IMC).

Prior to joining the PR industry, he was an officer in the British Army and worked for a short time at a UK blue chip FTSE 100 company in operations management. He has a BSc in Biology from Imperial College London, which included a year studying French at the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier.

Emily Moss
Partner
Emily Moss
Partner

Emily is a highly experienced capital markets and communications adviser who has built a strong name in the mining and metals community. She has a proven track record advising boards and management teams over the last 14 years on all forms of media strategies and investor relations including IPOs, M&A activity, equity and debt fundraising (having advised on over £3.5 billion of transactions), crisis management as well as financial calendar work. 

Emily joined Tavistock in January 2011, prior to this she spent three years at a top five AIM and leading natural resources PR agency based in the City of London. She is a member of the Investor Relations Society and holds a degree in Geography from Newcastle University.  

Emily has a daughter called Flora and a border terrier called Truffle, and she loves to travel when she can. 

James Whitmore
Director
James Whitmore
Director

James is a real estate specialist with deep knowledge and expertise in every commercial and residential sector. Having worked at Tavistock since 2013, his experience ranges from transactions and IPOs through to corporate narrative and campaigns work. 

Before joining Tavistock, James worked for 25 years as a real estate journalist, including as executive editor of Property Week. He won many awards for his writing including the PPA’s Business Writer of the Year in 2007, one of the top prizes for business magazine journalists. He was later named the International Building Press’s Business/Financial Journalist of the Year and LSL Property’s Property Business Journalist of the Year, and he holds a Classics degree from the University of Durham. 

Away from work, James tries to stay fit, reads spy novels and shares his children’s passion for Spurs and Formula 1. 

Nick Elwes
Director
Nick Elwes
Director

Nick heads up the energy team at Tavistock, having advised energy and oil and gas companies, both listed and private, for numerous years.

Nick has worked in both the agency and corporate arenas, having previously been a Director of Communications at an AIM listed oil and gas company. His portfolio spans numerous sectors, and he has extensive transaction and IPO experience. Nick also spent two years in South Africa managing College Hill’s Johannesburg office. He holds a degree in Retail Management and Publishing from Oxford Brookes University.

Outside the office Nick is a confirmed Francophile appreciating the tastes of France, enjoys watching most sports with most of his time taken up by his family (and his dog, Popcorn!). 

Gareth Tredway
Director
Gareth Tredway
Director

Gareth is part of Tavistock’s mining team, working with a range of international clients that are listed on the world's major stock exchanges, including NYSE, TSX, LSE and the ASX. His knowledge of the sector and financial markets are invaluable when communicating complex economic studies and technical mining terms to the generalist investor community, as well as creating content for clients. 

Gareth has over a decade of experience as a journalist covering commodities and resources companies for a number of publications in the UK, South Africa, and the US. He spent over seven years with Mining Journal, leaving the publication as its deputy editor, and was the online editor at Automotive Logistics, a publication covering global logistics and supply chains for the automotive sector, including electric vehicles. He was employed as a private client investment advisor at Vestact, in Johannesburg, South Africa before moving to the UK. 

Gareth is a massive sports fan and a bit of a movie buff too. 

Heather Armstrong
Director
Heather Armstrong
Director

Heather works across various teams, focusing on the TMT and real estate sectors. She has over a decade’s worth of experience advising clients on all aspects of financial communications and IR, including strategic capital markets engagement, IPOs, M&A activity, and crisis management. 

Heather came into financial PR having spent two years as a financial media analyst with an international research firm. From working with AIM growth companies, to FTSE 100 stocks, Heather has skills in effective messaging and sell-side analyst relations across a number of sectors including financial services, industrials and a specialisation in TMT, having advised clients such as Vodafone, Avast, Strix and Directa Plus. 

Prior to Tavistock, Heather worked for an international PR agency and went on to help found a boutique investor relations firm. She holds a joint honours degree in Anthropology and Geography from Oxford Brookes. 

Outside of work, Heather is training for her Army Reservist application.

Henry Adefope
Director
Henry Adefope
Director

Henry is a financial services and investment industry communications specialist. He has helped transform the business fortunes of market leaders to disrupters through impactful executive communication that drives positive business outcomes.

Over the past 12 years he has devised cutting-edge messaging and media campaigns for organisations across every conceivable specialism - private markets, alternatives, long/short equity, real estate, special situations, and sustainable strategies.

Clients have included the likes of Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors, Barings, and BNP Paribas.

An LSE and Yale graduate, Henry began his career at Goldman Sachs and Broadwalk Asset Management. He is a member of the CFA Society and a Chartered Member of the Charted Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

Tim Pearson
Director
Tim Pearson
Director

Tim has advised a range of both private and listed businesses across a variety of different sectors, with experience in both financial and corporate communications. He has been involved in IPOs and equity financing on both the London main market and AIM, as well as corporate profiling and reputation management. Recently he has advised on the launches of a new SME focused challenger bank and a specialist African-focused reinsurer. 

Before joining Tavistock, Tim held roles at KPMG and Mattison Public Relations. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Birmingham.

In his spare time, Tim is a 9-handicap golfer and was once in the final of the TV quiz Fifteen to One

Rebecca Hislaire
Associate Director
Rebecca Hislaire
Associate Director

Rebecca primarily advises companies in the energy and consumer sectors, with current clients including Elcogen, ATOME and Milk & More. Rebecca has over ten years’ experience in financial and corporate PR, and she has advised on IPOs, M&A activity and strategic communications for a range of FTSE 100 and AIM-listed clients, as well as private businesses. 

Prior to joining Tavistock, Rebecca worked at Teneo and StockWell Communications, after originally starting her career at M: Communications. She holds a certificate in Investor Relations (CIR) and has a BA in English with Journalism from the University of Wales, Bangor. 

In her free time Rebecca enjoys running and yoga.

Jade Davenport
Associate Director - ESG
Jade Davenport
Associate Director - ESG

Jade’s core focus at Tavistock is annual and sustainability reporting, as well as compiling ESG-specific content for clients in the mining sector. With her experience in integrated annual reporting, Jade has a solid track record of compiling and conveying information relating to value creation, preservation, and erosion.     

Jade has extensive experience in the mining industry, having reported, researched, and written on the sector for more than 15 years. She is the author of Digging Deep: A History of Mining in South Africa, and has a Master of Arts (cum laude) in Historical Studies from the University of Cape Town.  

In her spare time, Jade is an avid amateur genealogist and can usually be found scouring historical records or hunting down ancestral graves.

David Cracknell
Senior Adviser
David Cracknell
Senior Adviser

David is a special advisor to Tavistock, working on clients including ITM Power, Magrabi and Milk & More, as well as running media engagement sessions for CEOs. He ran his own successful PR consultancy before joining Tavistock, and has advised presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, FTSE firms, a Premier League football club, Rolls-Royce, Tata Steel, De Beers, Northern Rock and Lloyds Bank. He is an award-winning and experienced PR advisor, corporate communicator, political strategist, and crisis and reputation management specialist.  

Prior to his move into the PR world, David was a renowned journalist, having been the youngest ever Political Editor of The Sunday Times and won awards for his scoops during the Blair/ Brown years. He holds a law degree from the University of Oxford. 

David owns an ancient woodland in Kent and is Vice-Chairman of the Woodland Heritage charity. 

Katie Hopkins
Consultant
Katie Hopkins
Consultant

Katie works with clients on all aspects of financial and corporate communications for both private and listed businesses. Her portfolio includes companies within the TMT, financial services, energy, and retail sectors, across Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. She has worked on numerous transactions and campaigns, with her clients including Vodafone, Avast, B.P. Marsh, eEnergy and MAGRABi. 

Prior to Tavistock, Katie trained as an auditor at BDO, obtaining her AAT qualification, after which she lived abroad for two years, working a ski season in St Anton and living in Australia.  

When not working Katie can be found either playing or watching sport – usually hockey, tennis, football or golf – or attending a gig. 

Tara Vivian-Neal
Associate Director
Tara Vivian-Neal
Associate Director

Tara is a member of the natural resources team, working with clients ranging across the commodities sector: including battery metals and materials, gold, silver, and diamonds. She has experience with AIM and fully listed clients, as well as those listed on the ASX and TSX Exchanges.  

Prior to Tavistock, Tara worked in the hospitality industry in Zambia, specialising in media and marketing, in addition to co-ordinating logistics and operations. She holds an Honours degree in English from the University of Cape Town and joined Tavistock after completing an internship. 

Outside work Tara enjoys great food, good wine, and bad jokes.

Adam Baynes
Consultant
Adam Baynes
Consultant

Adam works in the natural resources team on a portfolio of, primarily listed, clients with operations in North America, South America, Africa, Australia and Europe. He worked on the IPO of AIM-listed Bradda Head Lithium, the de-listing of Bacanora Lithium, and is on the crisis support team for Ukrainian iron ore producer, Ferrexpo Plc.

Adam gained an honours degree from the University of Leeds in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies, during which he studied in Spain and Brazil, and is fluent in both languages. 

Adam is also an avid skier with a bucket list item to ski on all 7 continents. 

Charles Baister
Consultant
Charles Baister
Consultant

Charlie works within Tavistock’s new energy and ESG teams. His responsibilities are split between looking after companies delivering the energy transition, such as AIM-listed ITM Power, ATOME Energy, and Libertine, and advising Tavistock clients across all industries on ESG. He edits Tavistock’s weekly energy transition newsletter, ‘ALL CHANGE’.  

Charlie is a graduate of the LSE and Cardiff University, where he was awarded a BSc in History and Politics and an MSc in International Relations respectively. He has recently completed the CFA Investing in ESG certificate. 

When not in the office, you will often find Charlie hacking his way round North London’s golf courses. 

Cath Drummond
Consultant
Cath Drummond
Consultant

Cath is an investor relations and public relations consultant with 10 years' experience across natural resources and banking. Cath joined Tavistock from AIM-listed mining company, Andrada, where she was in-house investor relations. Prior to moving into strategic communications, Cath spent four years at Investec Bank as a Business Analyst and Consultant in Johannesburg.

Cath holds a CFA Level 1 and a Bachelor of Business Science degree, Finance Honours from the University of Cape Town. 

Sandi Major
Finance Manager
Sandi Major
Finance Manager

Sandi joined Tavistock’s accounting team in 2009, and as finance manager she is responsible for the day-to-day administration of Tavistock’s accounting function. 

Prior to joining Tavistock, Sandi worked at a children’s entertainment company in accounts payable. 

Outside work, she has a passion for pyrography (wood burning), camping, hiking, and rescuing poorly birds. 

Scarlett Holmes
Office Manager
Scarlett Holmes
Office Manager

In her role as Office Manager, Scarlett looks after all aspects of office life, supporting both senior management and the wider team. She oversees Tavistock’s marketing strategy, is heavily involved in the company’s ESG journey, and assists in organising both internal and external events. 

Prior to joining Tavistock, Scarlett worked for four years as Design & Production Manager at a design business, and before that for two years teaching English in Madrid. She holds a BA Honours degree in Spanish from the University of Bristol. 

Away from work, Scarlett enjoys mastering new recipes and going to the ballet. She volunteers part-time for The Listening Place, a London-based charity offering face-to-face mental health support. 

Olivia Rhodes
Associate
Olivia Rhodes
Associate

Liv is part of Tavistock’s real estate team, working alongside James and James, across the real estate and financial services clients, both listed and non-listed. She advises clients throughout Europe on their financial and corporate communications. 

Liv holds an MA in International Relations and Affairs from Newcastle University, and prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Law (Hons) degree, also at Newcastle. 

Liv is a self-professed politics fanatic, with a particular interest in US and UK relations, and when not in the office you will find her exploring London’s bookshops. 

Saskia Sizen
Associate
Saskia Sizen
Associate

Saskia sits on Tavistock’s new energy team, working with a number of both private and public companies, including AIM-listed ATOME Energy and Estonian based Elcogen. She is responsible for day-to-day logistics surrounding the new energy team accounts, as well as monitoring any media coverage and analyst commentary. Alongside our energy clients, Saskia also works with consumer clients and contributes to our specialist ESG offering.

Saskia joined Tavistock in 2022 following a successful internship. Prior to that, she worked in consumer PR at W Communications, and she holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Reading.

Outside the office, Saskia enjoys a range of sports, from horse riding to skiing.

James Whitaker
Associate
James Whitaker
Associate

James sits on the Tavistock natural resources team and works with primarily AIM and fully listed clients with operations across the globe, including Wheaton Precious Metals, Ferrexpo Plc and Taseko Mines. He is also part of a wider team conducting regular media monitoring and analysis.

James previously worked in operations at a fintech startup. Before that, he completed a data research internship studying high-growth private companies and the wider UK investment ecosystem. James holds a BA Honours degree in History from the University of Durham.

Outside of work he enjoys reading, particularly dystopian and existentialist fiction, cold water swimming and visiting London’s theatres.

Non-Executive Directors
James Laing
Non-Executive Director
James Laing
Non-Executive Director

James Laing sits on Tavistock's advisory board as a non-executive director and special advisor.

James has over 25 years’ experience in financial markets having held senior positions at Standard Life Aberdeen and more recently at Rothschild & Co.

At Rothschild & Co, James helped launch the Investor Advisory practice in 2019, where he co-headed its Shareholder Engagement division advising clients on IPOs, M&A, shareholder activism and ESG.

Prior to Rothschild & Co, James was Deputy Head of UK & European Equities and Head of Corporate Governance for the UK and Europe at abrdn (formerly Standard Life Aberdeen).

James is a member of the Code Committee on the UK Takeover Panel, and the FCA's Listing Authority Advisory Panel. He is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee for Governance Group in the UK.