Account Director - Food and Beverage

Who We Are: PURPLE is a global lifestyle communications agency with offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, London, Hong Kong & Singapore. For more than two decades, PURPLE has been the leader in culturally connected, results driven brand communications. With the original founding team still leading the business, we bring together our cross-generational and diverse personal networks globally to connect people and brands, build strategy and drive commercial success. Our in-house talent pride themselves on their international networks, working collaboratively across luxury and creative industries to deliver game-changing earned media campaigns that are always bespoke, non-traditional and often provocative. Understanding the world of luxury and the ever evolving possibilities to lead in the space, we offer connected services across Communications, Events, Social Media, Partnerships, and VIP & Talent. PURPLE doesn’t follow the cultural zeitgeist, we create it. Who You Are: PURPLE are looking for an ambitious and enthusiastic senior candidate to join its lifestyle team in the London office. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in successful food, drink, restaurant and bar launches, global PR and marketing campaigns, brand collaborations, staff management, and overall brand strategy. Our offices are based in London and Purple also has full-service offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Hong Kong. Reporting to the Senior Account Director, your responsibilities include creating and implementing PR strategies; maintaining the client base as well as growing the department and leading an enthusiastic junior team. Responsibilities include overseeing media relations and brand positioning campaigns on behalf of top tier restaurant and hospitality clients based in the UK. This candidate will have a roster of editorial contacts spanning Editors, critics and food and lifestyle writers. They will also have the ability to create and implement high impact, unique, and relevant cultural programming and content for Purple’s clients. Key Responsibilities Strategize, execute, and manage global media relations campaigns across lifestyle, travel, food and business media. Manage, influence and guide junior team members, and provide support and guidance on the below: Daily management of the F&B PR team. Focus on developing written skills with more junior team members. Day-to-day point person for high level client contacts ranging from founders to CEOs and Managing Directors. Develop media outreach strategy and timeline for launches with relationship to overall project timeline Build on existing media relationships while creating new contacts (long-lead and short-lead, mainstream media, trade and blogs), working to secure positive coverage for Purple clients in the media. Collaborate with division heads and project teams as necessary to seamlessly integrate cultural programming into project strategy and schedule and ensure successful execution of press and social media campaigns, special events, retail collaborations, and/or other deliverables Maintain active involvement in and relationships with the fashion/travel/art/design/architecture communities. Skills and Experience 6-8 years of PR & marketing experience Superior high level media contacts and broadcast, print and online media Experience managing account teams Established relationships with influencers within Purple’s areas of focus, including fashion, travel, beauty, lifestyle, music, art and culture Excellent written and verbal communication skills Exceptional problem-resolution skills, including the ability to think creatively and prioritize multiple assignments in a dynamic and fast-paced environment Ability to be a team player in an environment that requires and rewards collaboration BA/BS Required