Susanna Freedman, Managing Director
Susanna has over a decade’s experience in the design and marketing industries. She has worked in both the UK and in the US, learning every aspect of her trade and developing the skills needed to understand her clients’ businesses. However, it is her drive and enthusiasm that marks Susanna apart and these qualities have underpinned her desire to grow Tsuko into an industry leading brand consultancy.
Her high-energy commitment to excellence, to her own learning and to developing Tsuko keeps Susanna on the front-line, providing strategic consultancy on client projects as she manages the business. Such has been her success, that Susanna has earned a forceful reputation in the business world and the Institute of Directors’ Regional Director of the Year in 2005.
But it is her clients that matter most. Susanna is immensely proud of the work Tsuko has produced and commercially effective creative thinking continues to be her motivation.
John Slater, Chairman
John has been a major force in the
design industry for more than 20 years.
In 1991, he left the position of joint managing director of Tayburn Ltd to
found Northcross, a new kind of brand agency. He led and nurtured Northcross through organic growth and acquisition, until it reached a turnover of £5m. His intuitive grasp of brands and business
led to his high-level involvement with Nike, Direct Line, Intelligent Finance and Seagram.
A designer and strategist, John provides a practical and tactical dynamic to the team. For John, Tsuko’s open, energetic culture for developing businesses and brands to perform at their optimum is both challenging and invigorating.
Kay Smith, Design Director
An expert in all aspects of marketing and business communications, Kay has directed design teams in all areas of graphics across branding, literature, web, exhibition and branded environments.
She has over 20 years of director level experience with companies that include Tayburn and Northcross with whom she produced award-winning work for Gleneagles Hotel, Direct Line, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Intelligent Finance. Tsuko clients include mform, Ryder Cup Limited, Golf Publishing, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Murray Beith Murray and The Scottish Book Trust amongst others.
Kay says that the best part of her job is creating solutions for the real business challenges that face her clients.
Louise Arnold, Account Director
Louise’s expertise is in Direct Marketing and Sales Promotion, having worked at IMP (now known as ARC worldwide), The Leith’s sister agency ‘One Agency’, Stand and 1576 Advertising.
She has over 10 years experience working across high profile accounts including WHSmith new store openings across the UK, all local marketing activities, organising instore book signings and events with David Beckham, the Spice Girls and Monica Lewinksy! Louise is also extremely proud of her work on one of Scotland’s largest brands Tennents Lager, where she was responsible for branding and promotional items for T in the Park and the Tennents Scottish Cup.
Other major accounts where Louise has brought her brand of passion and diligence are Barbados Tourism Aurthority, Glenfiddich, Land Securities (Livingston retail developments) National Australia Group (4 banks) and Robert Wiseman Dairies to name but a few. Louise’s specialist experience is key to Tsuko’s truly integrated and multi-channel marketing offer
Lloyd McDermott, Events & Business Development
After 4 years studying Leisure Management at Buckinghamshire University, Lloyd spent 2 years working as a manager for Fat Duck Events in Sydney, Australia. On returning to Edinburgh Lloyd became a partner at Raw Promotions (Scotland) Ltd where, for seven years, he was Head of Events and Business Development. Lloyd recently joined the Tsuko team after a brief spell freelancing for Random House Publications, the Triptych International Music Festival and the agency 1576 where he worked with Land Securities and the CIS Cup.
Lloyd’s vast events experience involves working with a varied range of clients from the entertainment, drinks, leisure, fashion and sports industries including names such as Fox Studies, Diageo, Tennants, Mercedes-Benz and Regular Music amongst others.
Lloyd’s skill with both people and events means his role is supporting our clients’ brand and sales promotion activities, specifically with event management. However he is also responsible for business development and building Tsuko’s client portfolio.
Lorna Moffat, Office Manager & PA
Lorna joined Tsuko in 2005 as office manager and PA to Susanna Freedman. She is tasked with managing office procedures, finance, ensuring Tsuko operates efficiently and assisting clients in their communications with the company. Lorna graduated from Sussex University with an honours degree in the History of Art and has over ten years experience as a PA and office manager across a range of industries, including PR and property management. Her calm approach to problem solving and organised nature are valuable in ensuring that daily office life runs smoothly.
Rob McLeod, Head of Research and Planning
Rob has over ten years experience in marketing research consultancy and strategic planning. He has worked on commissions with Alliance Trust, Bank of Scotland Corporate, Beiersdorf, Heineken, Holsten (UK), Land Securities (Livingston retail development), mform, Royal Mail Online, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), The Scottish Book Trust, VELUX and, amongst others, the Universities of Birmingham, Napier Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde, Abertay Dundee, and Edinburgh’s Telford College.
A Consumer Behaviour specialist, Rob has applied his knowledge and experience academically and commercially and was previously head of planning at 1576 Advertising.
Rob’s experience and desire to apply theory to practice has fuelled fresh thinking – not just within the agency, but across its wide breadth of clients.
Simon Philips, Art Director
Simon’s first job in advertising was at Mitchell Patterson Aldred Mitchell in London in 1994. Followed by time with WCRS as an art director where he worked on BMW, Buzz Airlines, Camelot, Land Rover, Orange, and Vodafone. Simon moved to Scotland to join Frame© in Glasgow in 2000.
In 2004 Simon moved to 1576 Advertising and produced award winning ideas, working on many prestigious and varied clients including; Alliance Trust, Bank of Scotland, BuildStore, Davidson Chalmers, Denholm recruitment, Gillespie Macandrew, Gleneagles Hotel, National Museums of Scotland, OVD, Pomegreat, Scottish National Trust, Seafish, Shop Livingston, Sunday Post, Talk Radio, Visit Scotland and Wisemans Dairies. As reward for his hard work, Simon was teamed up with creative director Pete Bastiman who he continues to work with at Tsuko today.
Gayle Rice, Design Research Manager
Gayle holds a Research Masters (with Distinction) in Design, and is an Honours graduate in Graphic Arts. Gayle has designed and led research commissions to inform communications strategies as well as brand creation, development and repositioning projects within Tsuko for clients including Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Investors in People Scotland and the Institute of Directors.
At Tsuko Gayle uses both her research-based approach, and her design skills to add to the skill mix amongst the creative team, and to produce user-focused creative solutions.
Whilst working full-time as Design Research Manger at Tsuko Gayle is conducting a PhD at Glasgow School of Art ‘Examining the roles of visuals in social intervention programmes’. Her research focuses upon user centered design methodologies and the interactive roles users play when engaging and communicating with products and services.
Andy Smith, Head of Digital
With over eight years experience in developing digital solutions Andy has worked with the likes of Jaguar Cars, Land Rover, Heriot Watt University, Sustainable UK and countless other smaller companies to produce tangible improvements to their digital communications. This experience puts Andy in an ideal position to ensure the success of digital assignments through his technical knowledge and applying the power, benefits and efficiencies of cutting edge technologies and techniques to client projects. He manages most web development and digital projects on behalf of Tsuko.
Tracy Milne, Project Coordinator
Tracy joined Tsuko in 2004. Her role is integral to every project as she keeps communications flowing between clients, colleagues and suppliers; ensuring that all jobs run smoothly from their initial proposal through to delivery of the finished item. Before joining Tsuko, Tracy worked in both the private and public sectors in coordination and communications roles. She now employs her strong organisational and interpersonal skills in our team to produce perfect results.
Adam Smith, Designer
Adam graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from the Edinburgh College of Art in 2007. After completing a series of varied placements and freelance projects, he joined Tsuko as a Designer. With a background in design for print and web, alongside animation, he has the essential foundations ready to build upon.
Ali Black, Trainee
Ali is Tsuko’s most junior member of staff and uses his coding skills to assist the Head of Digital in the building of Tsuko’s websites, as well as helping the office run smoothly. When he is not writing code, most days you will find him answering the telephone, keeping the database up to scratch, supporting the Office Manager in all manner of things, as well as providing an unending supply of tea and coffee for meetings.
Emma Cathcart, Designer
Emma is an Honours Graduate in Graphic Design and has worked in the design industry for 6 years. At Tsuko Emma is responsible for taking projects through from concept to delivery for clients such as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Ryder Cup Publishing, Investors in People and Erskine Stewarts Melville School. Emma is skilled in designing for web as well as for print in and in using all design packages such as InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. Her approachable and helpful attitude ensures clients enjoy the design process.
Rosie Smith, Designer
Rosie graduated with degree in Visual Communication as well as being fluent in French and Spanish. She has travelled extensively and brings all that experience and skill to Tsuko along with over 5 years working with quality organisations both in terms of agencies and clients.
At Tsuko Rosie handles brand, print and web projects from strategy and concept through to completion, dealing calmly and efficiently with clients whilst applying sensitive attention to detail to her work.
Harvey Dog, Agency Therapist
Marketing is a demanding discipline, and so the potential for stress-related disorders is great. It is also known that pet owners enjoy better mental health. We are attempting to fuse these two theories with the aid of relaxation expert Harvey.
Harvey encourages staff to block negative thoughts and allow their alpha-theta brainwaves to guide creativity. Leading by example, Harvey’s methods include lounging around Susanna’s office floor, sticking his head in the kitchen bin and following anyone in possession of meat-based products. This releasing of ‘the inner canine’ has so far produced impressive results and outstanding work.