A little about us...
Mike Gowar
Director
Mike’s list of responsibilities includes everything from running the business to buying the Krispy Kremes. He’s particularly focussed on business development, with a gregarious character that ensures we have a long list of ‘happy clients’. Mike loves fine wine, great company and Trevor Brooking, sadly not all at the same time.
Steve Cluett
Creative Director
Steve brings a wealth of creative experience to Playgroup, having worked in the industry for 20 years. Despite remembering when a Mac was a raincoat, he has managed to keep bang up-to-date with the ever changing communications landscape. A reluctant runner, Steve has, nevertheless, completed two marathons and would happily run to Wembley if his beloved Wolves ever reached the Cup Final.
Linda Skoda
Senior Designer
Linda simply lives for design. She can find beauty in the most unlikely places and is always one step ahead of current trends. A skilled designer and illustrator, Linda also has a passion for cutting-edge architecture, beautiful interiors and brilliantly simple objects. A passion that borders on fetishism when it comes to chairs.
Ben Philp
Senior Designer
Ben is our resident typophile, with a genuine enthusiasm for the craft of the graphic designer and an eagerness to deliver fantastic creative, both on paper and online. Perfectly qualified with a degree in Graphic Design and a 50m breast stroke badge, he likes to unwind with a fishing rod in one hand and a cold beer in the other.
Alistair York
Project Manager
As a project manager Alistair acts as the conduit between client and studio, always with one eye on the brief and the other on the budget. He shares a common passion for good, simple design and spends weekends enjoying his obscure music collection or a foreign movie – très cultured.
Jah Rahman
Finance Manager
Like all good finance managers, Jah is absolutely meticulous and ensures the smooth and efficient running of the office. When she’s not adding or subtracting, Jah loves spending time with her kids, watching movies or cooking the meanest, most fabulous curry in Ilford.
Alan Hynes
Finance Director
Alan brings considerable experience and invaluable strategic support to all aspects of our finances. His geeky obsession with facts and figures extends to an over zealous knowledge of Northern Irish football. Did you know that George Best played for Bournemouth five times?
Ben Sillitoe
Business Development
Ben is that most unusual of creatures, a new biz guy from a creative background. Having studied Graphic Design and Illustration at NUCA, he's now using his illustrative skills to draw up a list of potential new business targets. A lifelong rugby player, Ben's now an experienced member of the Playgroup squad.
Dan Sly
Designer
Dan joined Playgroup after a successful internship having been spotted at the D&AD New Blood exhibition. Dan's super-talented – he lists his interests as: reading, art, design, digital, science, technology, history, space and the universe. That just about covers everything, hopefully he'll find time to do a little designing.
Jenny Sanderson-Byrne
Designer
Jenny is the most recent addition to the studio, bringing with her a keen creative eye and design skills that compliment the rest of the team. Jenny's interests include cooking, going to the cinema, badminton and netball - let's just hope she doesn't get the nets mixed up.
Paul Herbert
Client Services Director
Over the past 20 years Paul has delivered projects for an impressive range of blue-chip clients that include: BT, Thomson Reuters, Japan Airlines and Yahoo. With all the respect, discipline and commitment needed to become a black belt in Aikido and the organisational and motivational skills needed to coach Bromley Under 8s rugby team, Paul has all the qualities of a great Client Services Director.
Playgroup Associates
Tim Moore
Strategic Consultant
Tim’s a true creative thinker - a digital pioneer with one foot planted firmly in the future. Totally unflappable and refreshingly unpretentious, Tim is tenacious in his pursuit of the best possible solution.
Johan Brand
Digital Guru
Johan is a unique character. Like some 21st century Norwegian explorer, he has the uncanny ability to see just what's round the digital corner. His energy and enthusiasm are infectious.
Jamie Brooker
Interactive Designer
Quite simply, Jamie is a fantastic designer and a top bloke. With a natural talent for interaction design and a strong strategic brain he’s always at the top of our phone list – just don’t let him control the Spotify playlist.
Matt Hackett
Creative all-rounder
Matt’s our ‘go-to’ guy for pretty much any creative task. Utterly reliable and with an exuberant character, he can turn his hand to everything from a humble piece of artwork to a complex website.