The founder of Cheshire’s longest-established PR agency is to step down from the business after 27 years.
de Winter PR CEO Hems de Winter leaves in October, handing over the reins to co-director and current MD Kate Cox who has spearheaded the growth of the business over the last decade. She will continue to lead the agency together with its specialist national retail PR offering, The Retail Room.
Founded in 1989, the agency has evolved into a multi-award-winning business working with a range of global brands including MBNA, Royal Crown Derby and Flex.
The next phase of the de Winter success story will see the agency quadrupling the size of its operation in Liverpool city centre where it opened its first office in 2014.
Hems founded de Winter PR in 1989 following a successful career in journalism and local authority PR. Next month he will launch a new venture as business mentor and corporate culture consultant and will continue his public speaking activities and his work with students at various universities across the North West as part of the Young Enterprise programme.
He will continue to support the business in a part-time mentoring and advisory capacity.
Hems said: “It has been an immense privilege to have been able to create and grow a successful business in this fantastic city and to work alongside so many great clients throughout the UK and abroad.
“The highlight has been the opportunity work with so many amazing colleagues. It has been their talents, passion and commitment that have enabled the agency to achieve its 27-year milestone.”
He added: “With her experience and vision, Kate and her outstanding team will undoubtedly continue to lead the agency to even greater growth and success. I’m looking forward to continuing being part of the success story in my new role.”
Kate, a former winner of Insider’s North West Young Professional award said: “Working alongside Hems has been a pleasure and honour. I have never worked with such a wonderful, caring individual. His passion and enthusiasm for people - be it a client, employee or student - is unique. We call it the ‘de Winter Way’ and it is undoubtedly at the heart of much of the agency’s success and growth.”
Kate added: “I have learnt so much and am looking forward to continuing to grow the agency and working alongside the amazing team we currently have in place.”
de Winter is now one of the country’s leading independent PR agencies, featuring regularly in PR Week’s top 40 league tables.
