Rosemary Simmons
Summary
Contagious enthusiasm for bringing support, creativity, awareness and recognition to the not for profit sector. A proven entrepreneur with commercial business acumen along with significant management and people skills. A driven business leader who cultivates a positive and collaborative partnership with staff teams and third parties, internally, externally and with critical stakeholders. A Marketing Communications Strategist with a reputation for bringing together strong teams. Innovative strategic thinker with substantial experience in both managing people and campaigns online and of offline. Competent professional well-versed in executing business strategies, preparing and implementing business plans and overseeing financial performance. Thorough knowledge of market changes and trends paired with strong grasp of corporate finance and performance measures.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Fundraising & Marketing
Irish Cancer Society
12.2023 - Current
- Reporting directly to the CEO, this role encompasses many responsibilities including the strategic development of new, innovative and sustainable ways of fundraising
- Developing best in class donor experience/journeys
- Working with and across all facets of the organisation to create impact and fund services to ensure that no one in Ireland faces a cancer journey alone
- Leading a dedicated team of fundraising professionals
- The Marketing aspect of the role encompasses overall responsibility for ICS brand equity and reach across all paid media, social media, donor engagement and sponsorship.
- In addition as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, I play a role in the overall management and leadership of the organisation in collaboration with the board of directors.
Head of Fundraising
Irish Cancer Society
09.2021 - 12.2023
- In collaboration with the Director of Engagement and Fundraising,this role oversaw the strategy imnplementation and performance of the National Campaign, Corporate, Community, Regular Giving, Philanthropy/Major Donor & Bequests functions. Including the overall overall operational responsibility for the iconic Daffodil Day campaign ( value 5.7 million euro)
National Campaigns Lead
Irish Cancer Society
09.2020 - 09.2021
- Responsible for leading a team of twenty across National Campaigns, Community and Corporate Fundraising
- Integral to the strategic direction and implementation of multi-faceted fundraising campaigns.
- Responsible for all brand collaborations and sponsorship negotations.
Interim Corporate Partnerships Manager/Fundraising Project Manager
The Irish Cancer Society
01.2020 - 09.2020
- I held the interim role of Corporate Partnerships Manager with the Irish Cancer Society from January to July inclusive (mat cover)
- During this time, a particularly challenging time for the corporate sector and indeed the charity sector, I was responsible for the continuity of significant partnerships, new partnership development, sponsorship projects and grant proposals
- I lead the corporate team and integrated our work with others across the Society to help sustain a corporate fundraising income stream and deliver a target in excess of €2million.
Strategic Consultant
Simmons Consulting
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Operated in a consultant capacity across a broad spectrum of NFP and corporate clients, mentoring on business development and strategy, while deliberately developing seeking to develop my skills in the charity sector.
Director of PR and Strategy
Marketing Network Group & Prior Communications
01.2011 - 01.2018
- I was appointed to Director of Marketing network group to re-establish its Public Relations brand and service and set up a new team to service new and existing clients
- Clients included Keelings, Maxol, Comans Beverages, Aviva, Interflow, Eircode, Citizens Information, Solas, Departments of Communications, Justice and Social Protection
- Reporting to the board on behalf of the business unit, I was responsible for all strategic direction of the Public Relations service for all clients in the group and the growing profitability for the PR unit
- In addition, I played a planning and management role across all the group companies and a role in developing marketing and promotional campaigns for several client accounts
- On a day-to-day basis my role was to lead and develop campaigns on a client’s behalf
- For some clients we offered the full spectrum of integrated marketing programmes
- As a senior consultant, I adapted and influenced campaigns as appropriate to ensure we maximised full budget potential
- In addition, I continued to oversee integration to ensure that the client brand was presented in a cohesive manner across all marketing disciplines
- This included influencing digital platforms, traditional advertising media, media relations, marketing collateral and in some cases public/trade bodies
- In performing this role, I engaged at both senior executive and stakeholder level from the outset
- I was however across the full project execution and worked with mid and junior management level.
Strategic Consultancy (part–time)
01.2009 - 01.2011
- During a non-compete earn out period, I was involved in business expansion and marketing comms development for a new start up business exporting indigenous Irish brands to the United States.
Managing Director of Direction @JWT
01.2001 - 01.2007
- Following the sale of my independent business to the global network WPP I continued to run Direction the agency on behalf of JWT
- During this time I was invited to join the board and shareholders of DDFH&B advertising and reported to the board on all the non-advertising communication units.
Managing Director / Owner
Direction Marketing
01.1992 - 01.2001
- Established agency partnership in 1992 and became sole owner in 1993
- Developed a well renowned sales promotion and communications agency, servicing clients including Nestle, Pepsi, Bank of Ireland, eircom and Unilever
- Developed the business into a profitable business unit with a team of entrepreneurial, ‘can do’ staff
- Built the profile of the business and merged with DDFH&B/JWT group and the business was acquired in 2001.
Education
Skills
- Marketing Communications
- Brand Development
- Business Development
- Consumer Relations
- Media Relations
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Crisis Management
- International relations
- Multi-faceted campaign management
- Human Resources Management
- Acquisition
- Project Management
- Leadership
- Stakeholder management
Relevant experience/highlights
- Board Director Cluid
- Pro bono work for National Children’s Hospital
- Pro bono work for Headway
- CSR partnership development, broker and director for Maxol/ Make A Wish
- CSR partnership development, broker and director for Maxol/ AWARE
- CSR partnership development between Keelings and ISPCC
- Marketing support Make-A-Wish
Other achievements and accreditations
- Member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland
- Founding member and past chair of APMC (Association of Promotional Marketing Consultants) in Ireland.
- Represented Irish interests in the Brussels-based EACA (European Association of Communications Agencies) was also an active participant in PCAI (Promotion Consultants Association International) and was the only Irish agency owner represented
Timeline
Director of Fundraising & Marketing
Irish Cancer Society
12.2023 - Current
Head of Fundraising
Irish Cancer Society
09.2021 - 12.2023
National Campaigns Lead
Irish Cancer Society
09.2020 - 09.2021
Interim Corporate Partnerships Manager/Fundraising Project Manager
The Irish Cancer Society
01.2020 - 09.2020
Strategic Consultant
Simmons Consulting
01.2018 - 12.2019
Director of PR and Strategy
Marketing Network Group & Prior Communications
01.2011 - 01.2018
Strategic Consultancy (part–time)
01.2009 - 01.2011
Managing Director of Direction @JWT
01.2001 - 01.2007
Managing Director / Owner
Direction Marketing
01.1992 - 01.2001
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