Andrew Cole
Andrew Fletcher Cole
Carbon management consultancy - business manager
Currently resides in: Western Cape, South Africa
Born
in Cape Town
South Africa
I assist organisations become more sustainable by translating insights about their levels of resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions into actions that can mitigate their overall carbon footprint. A believer in purposeful collaboration, I am focused on improving the products and tools offered by Carbon Calculated, a carbon management consultancy. As business manager, I am responsible for marketing and growing our network of clients and partners, while also ensuring existing clients receive exceptional service.
Business Address
12 High Riding Close, Cape Town, South Africa, 7979
Professional details
Current Position(s)
Independent communications consultant |
Fletcher Cole Consulting
2011 -
present
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
Consulting to PR agency Positive Dialogue project managing communications for Expo18, South Africa's largest indoor golf expo, as well as to MEDO (the Micro Enterprise Development Organisation), overseeing media relations and communications strategy for them. Also a post-graduate student (part-time) in Sustainable Development at Stellenbosch University.
Previous Position(s)
As in-house communications specialist at Red Bull (Mango-OMC client), oversaw communication outputs for several projects: media relations for the four-city qualifying tour for Red Bull Manny Mania, the largest international amateur skateboarding competition (including video production and managing social media content); launched the application phase of the Red Bull Music Academy in South Africa (media relations and issues management); organised Maximum Signal Control in Cape Town, the first event on a ten-city global tour before the 2012 Red Bull Music Academy (media relations, talent management, media collateral creation and event management); PR for Red Bull X-Alps, an extreme alpine event in Europe featuring South African Pierre Carter; and developed a radio show concept for the Red Bull Studio to find and foster local musical talent.
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
Managed the Virgin account for Atmosphere Communications, liaising with the head of brand in South Africa, preparing and executing on communications plans, including the creation of a survey on youth attitudes toward entrepreneurship and negotiating a partnership with The Big Issue to publish a special edition guest edited by Richard Branson and Virgin Unite.
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
Launched a public awareness campaign from the South Africa Breweries to combat alcohol abuse in the country (including an ad campaign to address drinking and driving), managed InterContinental Hotels Group brand PR and managed communications planning for South African Bituminous Products Association, as well as ad hoc writing and presentations for Pick n Pay and SABMiller.
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
Managed several accounts in the travel, energy, Internet (online publishing) and financial services sectors, including Chevron South Africa, kulula.com (similar to WestJet in Canada), Sanlam Employee Benefits and the 24.com network of websites (South Africa’s largest online brand). Also moonlighted as a freelance travel and copy writer when I found some time.
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
As the primary client contact, I oversaw the execution of a broad-based media relations plan for various business units within Sanlam Investments (www.sim.sanlam.com), one of South Africa's leading financial services companies. Working primarily with the employee benefits, investment management and private investments sides of the business, I helped secure a measurable increase in media coverage and recognition of the company as a progressive thought leader in its industry.
Consultant |
MANGO-OMC
2007 - 2008
Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations
As a freelance PR consultant worked with MANGO-OMC to provide senior PR counsel, media relations support and writing services to MANGO-OMC, including clients such as the Africa Centre for HIV-AIDS Management at Stellenbosch University, Natural & Organic Products Exhibition (including the premiere of The 11th Hour documentary) and launch of getclosure.co.za, South Africa's leading cusumer affairs website. Also acted as a regular contributor to South Africa magazine, with articles on a range of subjects, from the business of tourism in SA to wireless banking in Africa.
Consumer Goods, Fashion and Retail
As part of a 12-month contract, provided corporate communications support for hotel and resort launches in Asia and the Middle East, as well as PR counsel to on-property public relations directors and direction to four public relations agencies. Led the revamp of the Press Room on fourseasons.com, updated a tribute video on the company’s founder, submitted regular Web site content and oversaw b-roll production for various properties. Conducted a comprehensive audit of U.S. media to gauge brand perceptions of Four Seasons versus the competition and benchmark corporate, on-property and agency PR services. Participated in, and prepared executives for, interviews with tier A and hospitality industry media. Oversaw a novel partnership with TheKnot.com, including events in six cities and on-property filming. Produced and distributed P.S. - a punchy weekly e-newsletter to more than 1,900 media subscribers.
ICT and Telecommunications
Corporate communications counsel on all internal and external initiatives impacting company reputuation. Oversee public relations strategies and implementation, including announcements, presentations, speeches, news releases, proactive media relations and issues management. Lead and coordinate internal communications, including executive communications, company-wide events and employee-focused initiatives. Liaise with colleagues and broadcasting industry colleages on matters such as signal theft, adoption of High Definition TV and regulatory decisions impacting our business.
Manager - Media Relations |
Bell Canada
2001 - 2003
ICT and Telecommunications
Managed communications annoucements and issues relating mainly to the Internet side of Bell's business. Oversaw the production of news release and related media materials, acted as company spokesperson and organized executive interviews. Managed major announcements including a world first in Tele-robotics surgery, a significant Sympatico-MSN partnership and a major VoIP deal with Nortel Networks.
Arts, Culture and Entertainment
Oversaw the production of publicity materials for major motion pictures from Disney, Touchstone and Hollywood Pictures distributed in Canada. Managed interviews, junkets, media events and Disney's participation at movie festivals in Montreal and Toronto.
Educational history
Secondary
Ashbury College, Ottawa, Canada (1992)
Tertiary
Stellenbosch, South Africa | 2012 - present
Sustainable Development Planning and Management - Sustainable Cities
The Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development (PgDip Sustainable Development) is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time programme. It is a 120 credit Honours-level degree which comprises eight core modules.
Toronto, Canada | 1997 - 1999
Public Relations Management Certificate - PR planning and media relations
Started at McGill University (Montreal), I completed my part-time studies at Ryerson University.
1992 - 1996
B.Sc. - Anatomy and Cell Biology
Activities
Memberships
Member, 2011 - present
The ManKind Project helps men make the difficult transition into a new sense of purpose and healthy mature manhood. It effectively helps men to transcend their current limitations; enabling them to join together and create the structures, institutions and communities that will foster peace, safety and accountability in society.
MC & organiser, 2010 - present
PechaKucha is presentation format that includes 20 images displayed for 20 seconds each, keeping talks concise. Offering a casual atmosphere in which to learn, network and be inspired by speakers' accomplishments and passions these bi-monthly gatherings are a hotbed for creativity and learning.
Member, 2009 - present
Slow Food Mother City is a local chapter of the international Slow Food movement which celebrates, protects and promotes foods that are good, clean and fair.
Member, 1997 - present
Founded in 1970, The International Association of Business Communicators provides a professional network of about 15,000 business communication professionals in over 80 countries.
