CV

For more details, please see my LinkedIn profile

James Clive-Matthews is a multiplatform digital marketing and content strategist with an ever-increasing desire to cut through the nonsense with a combination of substance and style. Companies worked for include Micosoft, Intel, Dell, PwC, EY, Bayer, Pfizer, HSBC, Aon, WPP, Nestle, Danone, the BBC, and more.

Previously an award-winning journalist, he’s got 25 years’ experience in print & online, combining international commercial & strategic experience with a thorough understanding of the technical and business sides of digital strategy development.

He’s currently in the process of setting back up as an independent consultant after 15 years in strategic leadership roles in major global corporations.

Employment history

Freelance writer, editor & digital media consultant | Sep 1997 – present

  • Ranging from ad hoc to long-term
  • Clients have included the BBC, OpenDemocracy, Virgin Media, News International
  • Shortlisted for multiple awards, including by Reuters, the Guardian

Global Technology Content Lead | PwC | Oct 2022 – Jun 2024

  • Guided the evolution of PwC Global’s technology content marketing strategy as part of the Global Marketing Organisation (GMO), working with teams across the PwC network
  • Edited flagship thought leadership, developed new content formats, created new global case study guidelines
  • Advised on and copywriting for key global technology messaging
  • Sat on the GMO’s SEO committee
  • Acted as a senior editor on and contributor to strategy+business magazine, the publication that popularised the term “thought leadership”

Managing Director – Content Strategy | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2019 – Sep 2022

  • Shifting to a more strategic and new business focus following a global reorg
  • Clients worked on include: Dassault Systèmes, EY, ICG, Intel, NatWest Group, Spotify, WPP

Managing Director – Creative, Content | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2017 – Dec 2019

  • Heading up the European editorial and creative teams
  • Advising FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 clients, to CMO level, on digital, brand, and content strategy
  • Clients worked on include: Aon, Bayer, Capita, CBRE, Danone, Drax, EY, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, the IOC, La Prairie, Vinson & Elkins

Editorial Director, EMEA | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2014 – Dec 2017

  • European employee #2 for WPP’s lead digital content marketing agency
  • Advise FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 clients, to board level, on digital strategy
  • Tripled revenues on one key account, doubled them on another
  • Clients worked on include: Aon, Bayer, Dell, Drax, EY, Nestlé, Pearson

Managing Editor, MSN International | Microsoft | Jul 2011 – Nov 2014

  • Oversaw editorial planning & production for >300 editors in 55 markets & 27 languages, leading a globally-distributed team of 15 direct reports
  • Grew pageviews from 200m to >1b a month
  • Delivered projects worth >$15m in revenue a year
  • Managed the $2 million MSN International photo budget
  • Lead editorial consultant on a major two-year redevelopment of the MSN CMS

Portal Manager | MSN, Microsoft | Sep 2009 – Oct 2012

  • Led strategic & commercial development for MSN Ireland & MSN South Africa
  • Grew unique users by 50% & 33% and pageviews by 75% & 50% respectively
  • Created an advertorial system that drove €30,000 additional revenue per month

Regional Editor, MSN EMEA | Microsoft | Sep 2009 – Jul 2011

  • Developed systems and processes to deliver timely, relevant content to >20 EMEA countries across news, sport, lifestyle, entertainment, travel and key events
  • Devised a media asset management system that saved >$600,000 a year
  • Delivered content packages that brought in revenues >$5m a year
  • Grew monthly pageviews generated by the systems created to 200m

Homepage News Editor | AOL UK | Mar 2007 – Aug 2009

  • Oversaw updates for all news and topical finance, sport and entertainment
  • Developed processes to increase SEO rankings and homepage clickthrough rates
  • Ran coverage of key events including the onset of the global financial crisis

Staff Writer / Sub-editor / Acting Editor, Heritage | Archant Specialist | Nov 2003 – Nov 2006

  • Oversaw the first major redesign of this ABC 75,000 magazine in ten years
  • Led UX planning for the launch of six Archant Specialist magazine websites
  • Worked over the full range of editorial duties, having started as editorial assistant

Research Assistant | House of Commons | Jan 2002 – Aug 2002 & Jan 2003 – Feb 2003

  • Assisted Sir Patrick Cormack MP, inc. policy research, representing him at meetings & providing support for his role as editor of The House Magazine
  • Organised an annual House of Commons internship programme

Regional Editor for London | VirginStudent.com | 2000 – 2001

  • Managed a team of 20 contributors & updating the website

Film Editor & Assistant Editor | UCL Pi magazine | 1997 – 2001

  • Managed contributors, assigning stories & laid out the magazine in Quark

Intern | European Commission | Jun – Jul 1997

  • Administrative & editorial support in the External Affairs team

Work Experience | The Sunday Telegraph | Jun – Jul 1996

  • Administrative & editorial support on the City desk

Major freelance projects

Information Architect / Social Media Strategist | Bluequest | 2006 – 2009

  • Website planning, UX & SEO; advising / training clients on social media

Reviewer | The Times Literary Supplement | 2005 – 2009

  • Specialising in history, travel and politics

Editor | Gibson Square Books | 2003 – 2009

  • Structural editing of non-fiction history and politics

Web Project Manager | Publicis Blueprint | 2007 – 2008

  • Planning and overseeing the launch of key client websites

Film Critic | Free Features Ltd | 2004 – 2008

  • Delivering multiple monthly film reviews for syndication to local newspapers

Managing Editor | openDemocracy | 2007

  • Led an award-winning investigation into an experiment in deliberative democracy in the European Parliament, in conjunction with Stanford University

Digital Project Manager | Haymarket | 2007

  • Oversaw development of a digital magazine launch & trained staff on CMS

Online Editor | Pocket Films, BBC Worldwide | 2006 – 2007

  • Updating the website, advising print team on digital optimisation

Author | Virgin Books | 2000 – 2007

  • Co-author of two books of film criticism

Awards & Activities

  • Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, 2017
  • Judge, UACES Reporting Europe Awards 2014
  • Foreign Policy magazine Twitterati 100 best foreign affairs Twitter accounts, 2012 & 2013
  • Winner, European Parliament Prize for Journalism 2010
  • Jury’s Commendation, UACES-Reuters Reporting Europe Awards 2008
  • Finalist, Best UK Blog, The Weblog Awards 2005 & 2008
  • Shortlisted, The Guardian Backbencher Political Weblog Awards 2005
  • Finalist, Deutsche Welle International Weblog Awards 2004

Skills & Experience

  • Well versed in SEO, SMO, UX, IA, multiple CMS, multiple analytics tools (including Omniture, Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Facebook, Twitter), basic HTML & CSS & more
  • Proficient in Adobe Photoshop & InDesign, QuarkXpress, Keynote, Microsoft Office, Windows, OSX, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone & more
  • Experienced throughout the full publishing production cycle in both print & online: writer, sub-editor, layout sub, picture researcher, designer, editorial project manager, consultant, managing editor & publisher equivalent

Qualifications

2000 – 2001 | MA Modern History (Distinction), University College London
1997 – 2000 | BA History (2.i Hons), University College London