Freshwater appoints new board member as it announces trading in line with ‘positive expectations’

Freshwater UK, the leading independent communications consultancy, has appointed managing director Angharad Neagle to its plc board as the group prepares to announce another year of organic growth.

Angharad Neagle, who is 39, has held operational responsibility for leading Freshwater’s client-facing, new business and marketing teams for two years, a period in which the group has increased its revenue by more than ten per cent.

She now becomes the sixth member of the formerly AIM-listed group’s board, joining chairman David Howell, founder and chief executive Steve Howell, deputy chief executive John Underwood, finance director Haydn Evans and independent non-executive director Marie Louise Windeler.

With Freshwater’s 2015 year-end approaching on August 31, the board is advising shareholders that full year trading is likely to be in line with its positive expectations.

“When the final audited results are published in December, we expect to be able to report another year of revenue growth, building on the seven per cent achieved in the prior year when Angharad stepped into the managing director role,” said Steve Howell.

“The business is doing well across the UK in its priority sectors – such as healthcare, transport, energy, consumer and not-for-profit – and in all the specialisms that contribute to our online and offline integrated offer.

“Angharad’s leadership in developing teams that can win new business and then deliver work of exceptional quality has been central to our success over the last two years, which have been our best since 2008.”

Freshwater was recognised this year at the PRCA Public Affairs Awards in London for its collaboration with the League Against Cruel Sports in mounting the #WhatTheFox campaign, which successfully halted a move to reverse the fox hunting ban.

The group’s clients include Barts Health NHS Trust, Thompsons Solicitors, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Welsh Government, Specsavers, BT, the Cavendish Square Group of NHS Trusts, Associated British Ports, First TransPennine, South Wales Chamber of Commerce and The Vale Resort.

Freshwater’s 55-strong team is based in Cardiff and London where the group will be moving into new offices in October to accommodate expansion.

“I’m very excited to be joining the board of one of the UK’s most successful independent communications consultancies,” said Angharad Neagle. “The growth we’ve achieved is a testament to the talented team at Freshwater, the outstanding results they produce and their ability to build great relationships with our clients. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from all my colleagues in my role as Group MD. Together, we’ve grown existing accounts and won new ones, and I’m confident we will continue to build on this success.”

A graduate of Cardiff University in Journalism, Film and Broadcasting, Angharad’s early career included working as a senior press office for South Wales Police and as communications manager at the Mid and South Wales Safety Camera Partnership.

She joined Merlin PR and Marketing in 2006 and was promoted to account director shortly after Freshwater acquired Merlin in 2008.

In 2009, she was given responsibility for Freshwater Creative, which won a CIPR Excellence Award in 2011 for the UK’s best integrated campaign on the strength of its hard-hitting promotion of the organ donor register for the Welsh Government, Invisible Death Row.

In 2014, Freshwater had a turnover of £4,127,178 and generated net profit before tax of £515,974. Its results for year ending August 31, 2015 will be announced on Monday 7 December.