Q+A with Charlotte Ashby and Jo McConnell

We’ve been delighted to welcome two new members to the CubanEight office over recent weeks, so it’s a big hello to Charlotte Ashby and Jo McConnell.

Charlotte and Jo have joined the team as we continue to grow and expand, and bring with them a huge amount of experience in the PR industry.

What were you doing before you joined CubanEight?

Charlotte: I ran my own PR agency in London for 11 years and then I decided to give myself a gap year

Jo: I was an Account Director at London agency Kilpatrick PR

Best PR achievement ever?

Charlotte: The one that stands out was getting the new Walkers Crisps ad previewed on News at Ten. Unfortunately the client started to think that was normal.

Jo: Getting the cover and a 3 page feature on my client in FT How To Spend It Magazine – my heart still beats faster every time I think about it!

What are you most excited about in your new role?

Charlotte: Learning new things, particularly about new sectors and industries

Jo: A new challenge, a new direction and combining my approach with Cuban Eight’s – to hopefully create some great campaigns!

Favourite campaign you have ever worked on?

Charlotte: There have been many, but most recently it would be the campaign I ran to launch Sharwood’s Kashmiri Chilli chutney – we persuaded Joanna Lumley to put her name to the product and gave profits from each bottle to the Gurkha Welfare Trust. At the risk of sounding like a gushing school girl, Joanna Lumley was easily the nicest celeb I have ever worked with. She was contracted to do a couple of magazine interviews at the launch and in the end did over 20. She phoned the next day to thank us for organising such a great event – a lesson in charm!

Jo: Too many to say, as a fashion and beauty addict I have had the luck to work on countless amazing brands… John Smedley is very close to my heart as we did a huge amount of brand progression work with them

What area of the industry are you most excited about at the moment?

Charlotte: All the new ways to get good stories out there

Jo: I am continually impressed with the growth of digital media and wonder what its future will hold

And finally, so we all know, how do you take your tea?

Charlotte: Well stewed, lots of milk, no sugar – I don’t know the pantone reference but American Tan is probably quite close

Jo: Milk (skimmed please!) and no sugar, thank you…

By Annabel April 2013