By Scott Wright

PUBLIC relations agency BIG Partnership has bolstered its senior leadership team, with two additions to its board and a brace of high-level promotions.

BIG, which has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Manchester, has appointed Steph Clark and Victoria Woods to the board. Ms Clark, a former BBC journalist, has led the firm’s Edinburgh office since 2019, with more than 20 years of agency experience to her credit. Ms Woods joined BIG as finance director in February this year, following a four-year spell as director of finance and people at Glasgow travel company Macs Adventure.

Meantime, BIG has announced two internal promotions at senior level.

Charlene Sweeney, a former senior print and broadcast journalist who joined the agency in 2011, has been appointed media relations director. Kat Wallace, who has 14 years’ experience in the public relations industry, has been named client services director.

The changes come as BIG reports a strong start to 2021. More than 20 client wins were notched up in January, including Aldi, Simon Howie Foods and Business Gateway. It followed a challenging period arising from the pandemic, which led the firm to make 18 staff redundant in the autumn.The agency now has 90 staff.

Chief executive Allan Barr said: “BIG has always placed a particular emphasis on career progression and promoting from within, so it’s especially satisfying that the majority of these leadership appointments are coming from within the business. As we emerge from one of the most challenging periods in living memory for Scottish business, it is hugely encouraging that we are able to add this kind of experience to our board and leadership positions.”

He added: “We’ve had a really positive start to 2021 which has seen us emerge from an undoubtedly challenging 2020 in a strong position. Over the last few months, we’ve noticed a significant increase in clients who have been steadily ramping up their marketing spend.”