Hi Juliet, thank you for agreeing to this interview. What do you do at Whitewater? I'm a Group Account Director, and I've been here since Feb '06 - and still enjoying it!

We enjoying working with you too! But tell us Juliet... what on earth led you here? I started off my career at Saatchi's and quickly realised advertising wasn't for me so decided to go into direct marketing, ending up in agencies such as WWAV Rapp Collins, Rapier and Harrison Troughton Wunderman. I have worked in both the charity and commercial sectors and am loving being back in the world of charities at Whitewater, mainly because the people are so lovely and everyone seems to have the same team attitude to working life. Being totally honest, it's the best agency all-round that I've worked in - and there have been a few!

You are becoming one of our favourite people - what's your philosophy on life? I would say I'm a pretty laid back person with very much a 'laugh at myself' philosophy. I believe you can get through the majority of what life throws at you by laughing at situations (except the really bad ones) and trying to remain lighthearted. That's what I've done anyway and it seems to have worked for me...

We agree! Thanks Juliet!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:58 PM | Permalink

Hi Lucy! What's your role at Whitewater? I'm one of Whitewater's Account Directors

How long have you worked here? Since 2002 - with a year off in the middle to go and have a baby.

Delightful! And what's been your career history (briefly) to date? After uni in 1996 I sent my name off to loads of DM agencies saying i wanted to be an account executive. A small agency called Finex Communications took me on. I stayed there year and a half then moved to Bates Communications as Account Manager, where I worked on Centre Parcs Europe, Halifax and Hyundai. After working on the financial accounts I had had enough, and went off travelling with my now husband for year and a half, and we lived in Sydney for 6 months of that time. We came home eventually and although I wanted to go back to an agency I wanted to do something more worthwhile with my working day. So I started at Whitewater as a SAM in 2002 and have been here ever since.

We're glad you found us! Share your philosphy, Lucy? It's not much of a philosophy but to me friends and family are the most important things in life. I always try to put them first and they are always there to help me if i need them.

What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
Just spending time with friends and family, going out for walks/lunch/dinner. And trying to provide enough entertainment to keep my one-year-old happy, which is not an easy task as she is very demanding - a little like her mother in fact.

Plus to work off all the lunches I try to go jogging twice week as I never make it to the gym.

Jog on! Thanks Lucy!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:56 PM | Permalink

What do you do here Marcella? I'm an Account Director and I've worked here since January 2005.

Do you remember a time before Whitewater? I've worked in DM since I completed my IDM diploma in 1999. My first role was in a small agency with my main client being Coutts Consulting Group. This was followed by a three year stint at WWAV Rapp Collins working mainly on large commercial clients including Dell, BT and British Gas. I really wanted to work on charity so I decided to go freelance whilst I looked for the right role. The right role came along in January 2005, working as a SAM on RSPCA. As an animal lover I have a genuine respect for my client's work, and find the account great to work on. And then in Spring '07 I was promoted to AD!

Well deserved! Thanks Marcella!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:55 PM | Permalink

What do you do at Whitewater Maria? I help out wherever I can, wherever I can be of assistance. Mostly, I'm Steve Andrew's PA: although I'm not easily seen you will never fail to hear me.

How long have you been at Whitewater? Since the beginning of 2006.

Tell us a bit about your history - the events that have led you here? I was born and raised in… well… it gets a bit complicated. Argentina and South Africa make up who I am. I was born in Argentina, grew up in South Africa, then at the age of 18 found myself back in Argentina and realised that my English grammar skills were better than any of the locals, so I started teaching English to corporates.

After 7 years I auditioned for an “English educational theatre for kids” company, which I enjoyed thoroughly for 2 years. At the same time I was trying to find my career in the art field, from graphic design to cariacature to interior design. Finding myself neither here nor there I flew back to South Africa where I worked from admin/secretarial jobs, to being a runner in the art department for the film industry.

As you can see my philosophy in life is pretty much “carpe diem”. It may not follow a pattern, but whatever I do, I do it because I want to; I live life to its fullest, each day as if it were my last…and no regrets, well there are the occasional one or two, but hey! I am only human!

Aren't we all. Thanks Maria!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:54 PM | Permalink

Position I’m Senior Planner, and I have the pleasure of sharing ‘Planner Alley’ with Michelle.

How long have you been at Whitewater? Two years, ish.

Tell us a bit about your history - the events that have led you here? It all started at the International Fundraising Convention in Holland and I teamed up with Whitewater in a darts contest. At the time I was very happily managing the donor recruitment for Dogs Trust. But after we won the darts, during which I managed to skewer our opponent’s foot with a dart (intentionally of course), we kept in sporadic touch. Before I knew it, I was going to an interview at Whitewater and accepting the great job of Strategic Planner. It’s a funny old game. Life and darts I mean.

So the moral of the story is: Be careful who you play darts with, they may end up being your boss. And now, spookily, Whitewater has it’s own dartboard. The circle is complete…

Your Best Whitewater moment? I guess when we won a prize for a long copy tube platform poster we produced for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. It was a truly brilliant piece of creative, for a truly brilliant charity, and it beat a long list of big name agencies to a gong. Very stratifying.

What could we twist your arm with? Good conversation, comics, a full biscuit tin and fine wines. But if in doubt, go for the wine.

Additional skills? I’m a bit of a painter in my spare time, and will happily accept commissions (as long as you’re happy to pose nude).

I’m also pretty good at wiggling my ears.

Yes. We thought we could wiggle our ears too but after that humiliating ear-wiggling smackdown, we would never dare say so again. Thanks Mark.

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Meg, what do you do here at Whitewater? HR/Office Manager... a little bit of this, a little bit of that...

We can't remember a time before you were here - but it can't really have been that long: when did you join? It's been a little while - since 2004.

Can you remember a time before Whitewater? I can: before subjecting myself to running around after you lot, I lived in South Africa and used to sing for my supper... (was in a rock band). I arrived in London about 4.5 years ago and worked as Production Manager for a record label before entering the intriguing world of Whitewater.

What has been your single best moment at Whitewater? Yelling down the phone at British Gas for over half an hour in the middle of the office because they hadn't sorted a long standing problem, then receiving the very large cheque credit we were due

Share your philosophy: 1) Don't read your horoscope til the end of the day. And 2) Not all those that wander are lost!

We want to bribe you - are you susceptible? Yes: to cheese, chocolate, and Johnny Depp.

One chocolate-dipped Depp coming right up! What do you do when you're not organising us? I sing and play guitar.

We'd be lost without you Meg - thanks!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:52 PM | Permalink

You've got a long name and a funny accent. Where do you come from and what are you doing in London? South Africa. I came here after traveling.

Well that explains a lot. Why Whitewater? They hired me.

So we did. You're an account exec on soft, cuddly charities, but we hear you're a fighter in your spare time. What's that about? I do Muaythai which I haven't done in a while.

We'll try to remember not to annoy you. Any pet hates we should know about? Personalised number plates and polo necks.

I think we're all pretty safe then. What's your marketing mantra? Forgot what that means, I would have to look it up.

Thanks Michael-John. You really are a man of few words. Ya.

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Position please? I sit next to Mark Cook because we're both Planners. He has a poster featuring 37 species of squid by his desk which troubles me slightly.

How long enjoyed this position? Only since summer '06, but it feels like much, much longer.

Tell us a bit about your history - the events that have led you to be here: Like Madonna, I reinvented myself a few times in the early years – politics graduate, professional actress, press officer for the Taiwanese government, fluffy PR exec – before a happy landing in marketing. I've worked in a number of commercial sectors, with a lot of time spent on cars, chocolate, booze, washing powder and dog food! All had their merits and taught me a great deal about brands, communications and how to convince people to part with their money. But they're not really doing the world much good, let's face it. Fortunately, I had also picked up a little bit of charity experience along the way (WWF, Great Ormond Street Hospital), so when Whitewater decided they had space for another Planner, I threw myself at them! Apparently, they liked it.

Working at Whitewater is a string of precious moments. But, pick a favourite? Dancing my socks off to Simon Cromey's band at the party after our 16 mile sponsored walk.

Your socks were surely rocking. Share your philosophy: Trust your instincts

We want to bribe you - are you susceptible? To Ewan McGregor, yes.

What do you do when you're not looking at Cookie's squids? I've done a little bit of travel writing 'on the side' - a creative outlet that fits really well with my exploring bug.
And I can do a back flip.

Now that's what I call an additional skill. Thanks Michelle!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:50 PM | Permalink

Niamh, why are you here? I'm Account Director on RNLI and anyone else who wants me.

Haven't we seen you around before? Yes, I used to work here many moons ago, progressing from an Account Manager to Senior Account Manager before going Clientside for a while. Then I came back to work on Our Lasting Tribute before going travelling.

Wow, where did you go? Easier to say where I didn't go. I didn't go to North America, Antartica, India or the Middle East. I ran out of time (and money) after 21 months and came back just in time to get this gig!

Everybody probably asks you this but where was your favourite place? Well China was pretty cool because it's so mad and dog-sledding in Siberia was a highlight. If I have to pick, it would be Zambia because I worked in a community centre in Katete.

Sounds fab. So why do you keep coming back? I love charities and Whitewater people are very passionate about the sector. I like the range of experience here and the open culture. But most of all I love the wine and wotsits at Friday Night Drinks.

Us too! Now tell us something we don't know about you. There's nothing you don't know. Due to the evil influence of aforementioned wine.

Too true. Anything you'd like to ask us? Yeah, do you really have to use that picture? My head looks really big. Enormous in fact. The camera lies!

Yes, we do. Thanks Niamh and welcome back. Again.

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Declare your position please: Creative Director

And how long have you been experiencing these symptoms? Since joining Whitewater in May 2002.

Surely this can't have come out of the blue? I worked at the League Against Cruel Sports for nine years, producing campaigning, information and fundraising communications for the public, League supporters and key influencers.

In 1990 I joined WWAV Rapp Collins as art director specialising in the charity sector. During my time there I worked on over 20 non-profit clients as diverse as NSPCC, Oxfam, RSPCA, African National Congress, English Heritage, FoE, Cancer Research UK, the Labour Party, Shelter, Scope and RSPB.

Became a Creative Group Head in 1997. Spent six months in 1999 in the Netherlands, establishing the Creative Department of a WWAVRC Group agency, WWAV van Rooij. Later that year I was promoted to Creative Director, responsible for WWAVRC’s charity clients.

Have there been any rays of sunshine in this sea of darkness? What has been your best moment at Whitewater? Being given Maria Bavio as a secret santa present. Actually it was the packet of cigarettes she was holding but by then it was too late...

Share your philosophy: Kill the banker.

We want to bribe you - are you susceptible? To ladies' feet.

Additional skills: photography, modelmaking, forgery

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:28 PM | Permalink

Position please? Senior Creative Artworker

And how long have you been at Whitewater? We could look it up, but we're feeling a bit lazy. I know the feeling. I started here in Sept '04.

Tell us a bit about your background - enquiring minds, and all that. I had been working for the last eleven years in the industry, at various design, marketing and advertising agencies and publishers, on all sorts of projects from corporate report and accounts to a weekly wildlife magazine! Then I ended up at sunny Whitewater...

Share your philosophy: If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing properly!

We want to bribe you - are you susceptible? Offer me snowboarding in the winter, and in the summer... mountain-biking in the Surrey hills!

What do you do when you're not senior creatively artworking? Systems problem solving and maintenance, gadget buying and using, photography and trying not to injure myself (seriously) in any of my sporting activities!

Safety first! Thanks!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:14 PM | Permalink

So how does working at Whitewater keep you out of trouble? I'm gainfully employed as Creative Services Manager

Since when? I joined in December 2003.

Why Whitewater? I'd always wanted to work in London, and after four and a half years working for an agency in Hampton as Traffic Manager, I decided it was time to move on and experience something very new. Whitewater was different to anything I'd done before. I had no DM or charity experience, but thankfully I was given the opportunity to try it out and I'm still here. The people are great, and even though at times things can be really busy and stressful, when I hear a job is performing well, it's worth it.

Your favourite moment so far? A photoshoot involving two eight-week-old kittens and a lot of mud.

Share your philosophy Work hard, play hard.

What else are you good at? An expert shouter, swearer and delegator. Oh, and organising cracking Christmas parties.

Your best incentive? Compliments.

Great interview - thanks!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:13 PM | Permalink

Hello - who are you? I'm Paul, one of Whitewater's Account Executives and I work on the RSPCA account. I started in May 2007.

Oh! Where did you come from? I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I worked at a company called WA Salvage on the client side. It's a warehouse retailer, a sort of cross between Poundstretchers, B&Q and Matalan. We had a mascot called Luigi Sava Da Moni. He wore a hanky on his head. Before that I worked in an Irish Bar at a Casino while I was finishing my degree. I also sang in a band. I have never worn a hanky on my head.

And yet something made you leave the sunshine and golden beaches for these dank shores? I wanted to live where the lights are slightly brighter. Perth is a little small at times and extremely isolated - London is much bigger. Besides, it doesn't rain that much here does it?

Hah! You're very charitable. Tell us something interesting about yourself. Well I believe that if you're going to do something, you may as well enjoy it. Or what's the point in getting out of bed each morning?

Good question. What do you add to the Whitewater team?
An irrepressible sense of humour, dedication, bad posture and I can move my little toe all by itself.

Just what we've been lacking. Cheers, Paul!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:11 PM | Permalink

Great – a new boy! Tell us all about yourself. My name’s Paul and I’m the latest addition to the planning department.

Mark and Michelle are two heavyweight planners – can you keep up? I hope so. Before coming here, I spent a few years working at charities such as THT and Shelter and three years at WWAV working on CRUK, RNIB and Crisis as well as Sony and British Gas.

Pretty impressive. Thanks. You’re welcome. So how did we convince you to join our merry team? I was pressganged into working at Whitewater by Steve and the team in the pub.

Of course you were. But I haven’t looked back since. Well that’s because we’ve kept you super busy. What have you been working on? Anything and everything. A couple of pitches, research for the MS Society, several exciting briefs…

Yikes! What do you do to relax? You wouldn’t think it but I am a gym bunny and Pilates bore. I have also rediscovered the joys of photography and still use my first camera. It’s an old Pentax - lovely.

Fantastic. We could do with some decent pictures around here. What’s your subject matter? My favourites are portraits. But if I say travel, can I pass off my holidaying as a creative pursuit?

Absolutely. Anything else we should know? I have a thing about banana trees and there are loads in the garden. I love feeding them - I think in a different era, I would be growing prize-winning veg…

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Paula! Deputy MD really keeps you busy! How long have you been doing what you do for Whitewater? I joined Whitewater in 2004, and was promoted to Deputy MD in spring '07.

What really sticks in your memory from that time? At our last Christmas party I must have had a bit to drink because I decided it would be a great idea to teach Steve A to Ceroc (that's French rock and roll dancing for those who don't know). Well, I tied him in complete knots, and tried to convince him that his wife Claire would love his new found skill. Poor Steve... he just looked scared!

What philosophy do you bring to Whitewater? Don’t bullshit. Honesty and teamwork are really important. Oh, and I really believe that what goes around, comes around.

We want to bribe you: what's the best way? A good bottle of Barolo, or a two week holiday in St Lucia. I prefer the St Lucia option.

Don't blame you. What else do you bring to the company? Having grown up by the seaside, I’m a demon pebble skimmer (record 10 skips). I do a half decent impression of Miss Piggy, and I can dance a bit too.

A really well-rounded suite of talents. How did you acquire these skills? I grew up in an idyllic seaside resort in West Dorset. Went to Uni - business studies – then headed north to the “big smoke”. I worked at Amex for five years client side, then moved to a small mail order consultancy where I really got to grips with the nitty gritty of direct mail (although I hasten to add, commemorative porcelain plates were never something we offered).

I realised I loved client service, so I decided to move agency-side, firstly BHWG for a couple of years then WWAV where I spent 9 years and clocked up experience in a whole range of sectors. It was while working on a large pharaceutical client at WWAV that I started to yearn to go back to working for non-profits and was delighted to be offered this important role at Whitewater.

I've got 18 years DM under my belt (suddenly I feel very old!), in charity, financial services, IT, utilities, mail order, airlines, automotive and pharmaceutical. One of the highlights was being part of the launch team for the NSPCC Full Stop Campaign, and running the Dell Europe account for 3 years (gruelling but great).

That's a lot of know-how. Thanks for finding time to talk to us Paula! You've been great.

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:10 PM | Permalink

Richard hails from the fairyland that is Dartmoor, but relocated to London due to an irrational and debilitating fear/love of otters. A gun-slinging sheriff-hater with folk tendencies and a horse named Acorn. Hobbies include cider and.... many other things far too exciting and dangerous to discuss on the world-wide-interportal.

We're frightened.

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:07 PM | Permalink

Hi Richard! What essential work are we keeping you from? I'm Finance Manager - I make sure you get paid on time.

Understood - we'll keep this short. How long have you been with the company? I started in June '06. Time is flying, so I must be having fun!

What happened BW (before Whitewater)? I've been working in Finance for quite a few years now: started work as a Junior Accounts Clerk for a local company in Kent and then decided to commute into the big City. Since then I’ve worked in the fashion industry right through to the public sector and currently enjoying life in charity fundraising.

Obviously you're pretty nifty with a spreadsheet - any other skills? As yet undiscovered.

Your philosophy? Spontaneity is more fun.

We think so too. Thanks Richard!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:04 PM | Permalink

Hi Sarah! How does Whitewater keep you busy? I'm Senior Account Manager on Brooke, Orbis and MS Society.

Do you come here often? I joined in November '06. Still pleased to be here.

So how did life's maze of possible paths lead you here? I literally fell into DM, after falling off a bar stool and was rescued by a nearby girl (just as drunk!) who happened to be an AD for WWAV. We got talking and I explained I was a Marketing Exec for a computer recruitment company - having recently completing a Business & Finance degree on the south coast - and was looking for a challenge. She arranged an interview for me and I got the job as an Account Manager working on Compton & Woodhouse: yep, plates and figurines (welcome to the world of DM and little clay personalities!!). Incidentally, Nick and Barry were one of the first creative teams I encountered (...and I still pursued a career in DM?!).

From plates and figurines I moved into the world of financial services when I left WWAV to join DP&A, where I worked on the launch of the Goldfish Credit Card. A great experience, working closely with the project team that involved agencies for above-the-line (slick ad types, very good looking!), PR, media and the design house. We worked hard and played even harder and wouldn't have missed the experience for the world.

It took six months of island-hopping in Greece to recover from DP&A (hard work but someone had to do it). Then I freelanced for a year at numerous agencies (GGT, Tequila, Black Cat, LGIM to name a few), before returning to WWAV to work on Legal & General, LTSB, Yell.com, BT, Pfizer and Capital One. My second visit to WWAV lasted for six years.

Then I became a mum and found I had a real yearning to stop getting people into debt (credit card accounts) and found out there was an opportunity to move into the charity sector with Whitewater. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and feet: the rest, as they say, is history!

I am loving every minute and I have been here for 1,260 minutes (and counting) so far...

Has there been a best moment among those 1,260? Asking Steve outright in the interview if I can have the job! There's nothing like being upfront, is there?

It seems to have worked for you! What's your philosophy? What goes around comes around, and smile and the world smiles with you.

Super-AM, mother, island-hopper... is there room in one woman for any more skills? None that I can mention in public. OK I can share this one, I have a real passion for eating out although luckily I'm not rich enough to eat out every night as I would be the size of a house. The skill part comes in as I've mastered the art of persuading my husband that it is absolutely essential we eat out!

Are you open to bribery? Yes: anything chocolate and holidays to warm, sunny climes with long stretches of deserted beaches.

Thanks Sarah!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:02 PM | Permalink

Sarah: what do you do at Whitewater? I'm the Account Manager for Our Lasting Tribute.

And how long have you been here? Since May 2005.

Can you tell us a little about your background? I went to St Andrews University (long before Will's time – such a trend-setter) to study French. In the end, I decided to graduate in psychology, but not before spending an absolutely amazing year in Toulouse – in a purely studious capacity, obviously. Following France and Scotland, I decided to discover the East, heading out to Fukui – a rural area of western Japan – to teach English on the JET Programme. Two and a half years later, amid fears of turning too ‘kawaii’, I returned to the UK to pursue a dream of starring in Les Misérables. So I joined the Japanese Embassy in London as a Research Assistant in the Economics Section. (And went to musical theatre school in the evening.) A year later, I decided to audition for ‘proper’ drama school and won a place at LAMDA – following in the esteemed footsteps of David Suchet and Harriet Walter. Upon graduating, I wondered if I was really cut out to be a thesp (had enjoyed the singing and dancing far too much to be taken seriously) and took some time out to pursue other career options. A desire to ‘help other people’ led me to the doors of Whitewater last year, where I now work on the Our Lasting Tribute team, which helps to ease my altruistic conscience.

We know how busy you are Sarah – thanks for agreeing to this short, but revealing interview!

Posted by Whitewater Team at 12:01 PM | Permalink

What's your name and where do you come from?