Our Team

Tim has worked in the media for 20 years, and founded Alder (previously Alder Media) in 2010. Before that he was Director of the Press Complaints Commission. He has been involved in some of the highest profile media stories in the last decade, has a wide network of contacts throughout the media and the law, and now personally represents a number of leading businesses, charities, schools and individuals.

He has an MA in History from Cambridge University and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.

Susan is Alder’s chief operating officer. She has experience leading and managing highly-successful communications campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands including Microsoft and Unilever, working for major international PR networks.

Sallie’s long career in communications includes working for ITV plc for thirty years in a variety of senior roles. She has successfully handled numerous crisis situations, advising many famous household names in British television, and now advises individuals and businesses from a variety of different sectors.

Anthony was a newspaper editor for 20 years until 2012, and has a total of 30 years’ experience as a journalist, editor and senior editorial executive in the regional press. He is uniquely well placed to advise our clients on a wide range of public relations issues: how best to craft messages at times of crisis; how to build good relations with key editorial figures; how to minimise the risks of bad publicity; and how to draw up and implement robust PR plans.

Tayo specialises in organisational effectiveness and has extensive experience in strategic planning, change management, project implementation, operations management, research, internal audit and impact evaluation across services, retail and charity sectors.

Alison has more than 20 years’ experience covering all aspects of education for print and broadcast media. She has served as education correspondent for national and local newspapers, worked on the BBC’s first education consumer programme and was a feature writer and columnist on the Times Educational Supplement. With her extensive knowledge of schools, she is well placed to help clients build a positive profile.

Steve has extensive experience in both the corporate and consultancy worlds, having held senior communications positions at British Airways, Cable & Wireless and The Football Association as well as a decade spent at one of the world’s leading international consultancies. Equally at home advising businesses or individuals on reputational issues, he has provided high-level strategic counsel and communications services to major clients including Airbus, BAE Systems, Emirates, English Heritage, Panasonic, major law firms and high net worth individuals, including members of overseas Royal families, members of the House of Lords and senior MPs.

Carrie has held senior HR and management positions in a variety of sectors, and was most recently HR Director at News UK. She is our specialist partner in Crisis HR management, helping organisations put their people at the heart of their crisis response and helping them unearth cultural hotspots that lead to reputational damage.

Comfortable with challenging environments and handling crises, Carrie helps leaders develop so they can motivate others and engage with staff during difficult periods.

She has a Master’s degree in organisational and people development; is a qualified coach, facilitator & gestalt practitioner; and is CIPD registered and an NLP practitioner.

Durell advises on governance, compliance and issues management. He works mostly with governing bodies especially in the areas of inspection readiness, effective governance and safeguarding. He is governor of both independent and maintained schools and has worked in both charity and for profit sectors of independent education. Previously as a school leader he specialised in curriculum development, appraisal, performance management, professional development and strategic planning.

Sue is an exceptionally experienced strategic communications adviser and media trainer. She provides effective counsel, PR plans and messaging, helping clients to deal with the effects of bad publicity and emerge stronger.

Her career spans broadcast and print journalism and in-house director of communications roles in the education and charity sectors, meaning she offers a unique combination of skills and insight.

Her most recent role was as Director of External Relations at the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) where she led on crisis and other external communications, including through an election and a pandemic, and managed activity on mental health, inclusivity and state school partnerships. She stepped down in May 2021.

Her previous experience includes investigative and news journalism on Newsnight, BBC News, Watchdog, Dispatches, The Mirror and most other national papers plus radio, magazines and regional media. She then spent ten years as a Head of Media and Director of Communications at Christian Aid, ActionAid UK and health charities before joining HMC, dealing with many of the most high profile national and regional stories.

Sue is a governor of Tonbridge School and a former trustee of the International Broadcasting Trust and Home-Start UK (John Lewis Christmas charity 2020).

Ben has held executive roles at some of the country’s biggest-selling newspapers during almost 20 years working in the media. 

While leading news and features teams at News UK and Reach PLC, he has been at the centre of some of the biggest stories of the last two decades. 

His experience gives him a unique understanding of the media industry, the news cycle and how best to manage a story. 

Ben has a strong network of newspaper, digital and broadcast contacts, allowing him to help clients get their message across or handle a media crisis.

Ben has more than 25 years experience within the media industry, both as a senior journalist and media executive. Prior to joining Alder, he spent almost 10 years as Simon Cowell’s spokesman, and European head of media for Cowell’s company Syco Entertainment, working with many of the world’s biggest stars. He also held the role of Vice President, Communications for Sony Music UK alongside his Syco role.

Before joining Syco, Ben was an award-winning showbusiness journalist at the Daily Mail, and a senior executive at both the Sunday Mirror and Express Newspapers.

Jack joined Alder following experience as a senior consultant at a range of specialist communications firms, advising clients in the worlds of technology, politics and charity.

Jack’s broader experience includes working at The Times and Legal 500, as well as Amicus ALJ, a charity providing representation for those facing the death penalty in the US, and the Kalisher Trust. He has degrees from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and City, University of London. He is a trustee at the Crystal Palace Community Trust.

Sarah joins Alder from London’s Air Ambulance Charity where she managed the delivery of key supporter campaigns across multiple channels. She was previously responsible for handling and resolving social care complaints at Sheffield City Council.

Sarah has a degree in Human Communication Sciences from the University of Sheffield.