Virginia Hicks
Having specialised in corporate and change communications for over 15 years, I made a career change last year when I joined Comma. Here I have set up the newer ‘interim management’ side of the business which is building on my in-house experience – where hiring help was a time- consuming necessity - and my recent time as a freelancer with Network Rail and Unilever.
My communication career took off during my six years with Thorn EMI during the demise of Rumbelows, the re-positioning of Radio Rentals (now Box Clever) and the demerger of Thorn and its subsequent buy-out by Nomura.
From 1999, when I joined Glaxo Wellcome’s new manufacturing division, I focused on employee communication where I set up and managed the internal communication function for the global organisation and was closely involved in the lengthy merger communications with SmithKline Beecham.
I moved from pharma to retail in 2001 as the first Head of Internal Communication at Marks & Spencer. During a challenging time for the brand when the focus was on 'securing the recovery‘, I led the extensive programme of change communications which included employee engagement for the 70,000 people across retail, corporate and financial services.
My early career was in sport firstly with the International Tennis Federation and then the sponsorship consultancy, Alan Pascoe Associates. I still try to keep fit with Pilates, and swimming when I am not renovating our house. I studied History at Reading and now live in London with my husband and young daughter.
