Pillory Barn rounds off 2020 with new senior hire

Kent marketing and digital agency Pillory Barn has welcomed Sinead Hanna to its team as Strategic Communications Director. 

Founded in 1993, Pillory Barn works with public and private sector organisations across the UK to help them tell their brand stories, attract inward investment and advance business their profile through compelling, sharable content. 

Despite the considerable challenges of 2020 and the global pandemic, Pillory Barn has been able to consolidate and deliver growth through its established portfolio of clients. Managing Director Miranda Chapman took the decision to invest in a new hire to build resilience in resource as the UK starts the planned vaccination programme and businesses step up their plans for recovery. Sinead brings more than 15 years’ experience as a communications and content strategist to the agency and will lead the communications and content team as the industry gears up for 2021’s opportunities and challenges.  

Miranda said: “Like most businesses, the pandemic proved to be a significant challenge during 2020. However, as we work largely in the digital space, we were able to quickly support our client base with digital interventions that hit the all-important bottom line. 

“Towards the tail end of 2020 we could see evidence of clients business planning for future resilience and we want to ensure that we bounce back strongly alongside them. 

“Our agency has previously worked with Sinead on a number projects and she’s a brand fit for us; her focus on delivering results through creative thinking and strategic planning are first class and our team and clients will benefit from her significant experience.”

A Kent native, Sinead started her career as a journalist and news editor before moving into public sector communications with Ashford Borough Council and former quango Ashford’s Future. She went on to revitalise the digital content strategy and PR output at Visit Kent, securing significant national and international press coverage for the county and the DMO’s roster of members. Sinead also spent 18-months as senior brand, communications and content manager at Dreamland Margate, growing the leisure venue’s social presence and media reputation in 2019 and providing creative crisis communications management at the outbreak of Covid-19. As a freelance content consultant, she has also assisted clients such as Canterbury BID, Visit Canterbury, Imagine Experiences, and Guerilla Science to maintain positive public profiles during the 2020 pandemic.  

Sinead said: “I am delighted to be joining Pillory Barn for 2021. I have worked with Miranda and the Pillory Barn team many times over the years as a client and have always been impressed by the breadth of their knowledge and their incredible client service. No other agency in Kent knows the B2B and public sector landscape better, and I hope I can add to their successes this year.  

“I look forward to working with their portfolio of existing clients, and to welcome new businesses to the fold in 2021.”