How our people see
the world
Bridge F61 consultants are the best mixture of talent from across the marketing spectrum that we can find.
We pay them well, treat them like grown-ups and live in a constant state of learning from one another.
But more than that, we’ve assembled a properly diverse group.
When your founders are two middle-aged men, the only sensible approach is to build a team that offsets their view of the world.
Our spread of talent, and the Bridge culture in which we operate, allows us to apply our Y-shaped Thinking to client briefs.
Are you a Calculator or a Cravat?
Inside the Bridge we talk about Calculators and Cravats to describe how different people see the world.
Calculators love data, analytics and fact. Cravats love intuition, creativity and uncertainty.
Consultancies recruit calculators. Agencies hire cravats.
We love both. Because when we mix them together, the Bridge magic happens.
We call it Y-shaped Thinking.
Our founders
Will Harris
Will Harris is one of the co-founders of Bridge F61. His career began in agencies where he worked on a succession of great brands, including Orange, Tesco, Stella Artois and Pepsi.
In 2000, as Chief Marketing Officer, he led the rebrand that created O2 before moving on to Nokia where he was UK Marketing Director and then CMO for Asia. After roles as global CMO of two LVMH brands, Will became CEO of Mission Media. In 2015, he became Chief Marketing and Strategy officer at Karhoo, and in 2016 he took on the role of CMO for Battersea Power Station, Europe’s biggest regeneration scheme. In summer 2018, Will founded Bridge F61 with his friend, John Nichols.
As a creative strategist, Will is passionate about building plans that don’t just live in a presentation, but have real-world impact.
John Nichols
John Nichols is one of the co-founders of Bridge F61. His career began in retail and commercial marketing working for Oddbins, Seagram, Kingfisher, Sainsbury’s, Nokia and Microsoft.
John became West Europe Marketing Director for Nokia in 2010, and then moved to Finland in 2013 when he became Global Brand Director for Nokia. This included global geography GTM program execution.
In 2014, he made partner at Microsoft and after an amazing time with what is now the world’s most valuable company, he decided to leave the corporate world in 2017. After several years of consulting for innovative tech start-ups and big brands, he called his old colleague Will to discuss what might happen if they went into business together . In summer 2018, Bridge F61 was born.
John believes that measurability is a necessity, not a luxury, and results are everything. He is obsessed with technology, purpose-driven brands and working with great people.
The team
Sonja Healy
Creative Partner
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She began her career in advertising, before managing some of the UK’s biggest events and executing brand strategies multiple UK businesses across e-commerce, airlines, fashion and tech.
As well as orchestrating major B2B tech summits, and experiential brand launches, her strategic comms and brand visual skills have helped her turn failing platforms into award-winning functions. Sonja has spent her life as a true global citizen.
Born a Finn, she was educated and developed her career across the Middle East before returning to Europe (and maybe Finland, one day).
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James Ebdon
Partner
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James began his career as a consultant, before joining Nokia in 2003. Over the course of ten years, James rose through the ranks, running UK marketing strategy, operations and governance. In 2013, James founded Sheldraker - a consultancy offering marketing strategy services to leading brands and agencies, before becoming Marketing Director of the Oscar and Emmy award winning Oxford Metrics Group Plc.
James moved on to become Marketing Director of Freeformers, a digital transformation consultancy, before his role as CMO at AnyVan, establishing brand leadership and digital performance for the now £150m funded logistics marketplace.
In 2019, James joined Bridge F61. James is passionate about digital transformation, world-class strategic planning and analytics, and robust marketing execution.
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Nicole Ocansey
Partner
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She began her career in the UK hospitality industry, leading the digital marketing team at one of London’s most pioneering social culture brands, Street Feast. At Battersea Power Station, she was responsible for delivering a brand new digital comms and content strategy to launch Phase 1 of Europe’s biggest urban regeneration project, growing the brand’s digital footprint exponentially.
Nicole is passionate about content strategies, and believes that brand messaging relevance is at the heart of consumer loyalty, retention and stable business revenue and profitability.
Nicole is a detail-driven, digital native who takes great pride in ensuring Bridge F61 clients get exactly what they need, when they need it.
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Charlotte Bossick
Consultant
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Charlotte started her career as an archaeologist for the Museum of London, before moving into their marketing team where she managed their business development and digital comms.
Since then, she has moved around the arts and heritage, and worked for some of the UK's most prestigious organisations including the Historic Houses Association and The London Library.
Charlotte is an experienced, design-conscious marketeer. She enjoys building brands from the ground up and deploying digital-first marketing strategies.
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Noel Eves
Consultant
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Noel has served in Managing Director, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at some of the UK’s fastest growing D2C companies. He has deep expertise in digital, e-commerce and D2C.
Noel is an experienced Fractional CMO and Board Adviser and has successful completed a number of advisory projects with clients including Grenade, Be Military Fit, Lollipop AI, Catapult Sports and leading Private Equity firms Lion Capital and Livingbridge.
Prior to his D2C leadership roles Noel worked in senior management positions at big corporates, including seven years in commercial buying, analytics and brand management roles at Tesco.
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Jordan Otty
Consultant
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Jordan completed his BSc in Management at the University of Bath, and recently graduated with a Distinction in MSc Business Analytics from UCL.
Jordan first developed an interest in the world of marketing analytics during a year-long placement at a digital consultancy, where he was responsible for expanding the company’s operations into Europe.
Before joining Bridge F61, Jordan spent a summer developing his passion for coffee by working at a speciality coffee roastery and café. At Bridge F61, he brings the same level of passion and enthusiasm into every client project.
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Maya Bhose
Consultant
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Maya began her career in the advertising industry developing campaigns for household brands including Mars, Fiat, Baileys and Wonderbra. She then moved client side into marketing in the telecomms sector working on the creation of the O2 brand and Microsoft's entry into the smartphone market.
Maya's love for TV (which remains to this day) saw her switch to Broadcast Media working in the UK at UKTV, NBC Universal and Food Network and at Astro in Malaysia where she led a team of 130 in restructuring an entire Master Brand and 14 sub brands ahead of an IPO.
Maya is passionate about marrying creative thinking with commercial needs. She loves developing and evolving brands; bringing their promise to life wherever they are experienced.
More recently she had become involved in the Third Sector and is piloting a stepping stone into voluntary organisations for people over 50 with transferable skills.
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George Watling
Consultant
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George is a graduate from the University of Leeds where he received a BSC degree in Economics.
His experience in hospitality and retail means George puts the customer at the front and centre of all his work. Since University, George has worked internships in financial services and capital management firms where he further developed his analytical thinking.
At school, George excelled in Art and is passionate about bridging his analytical skills with his creative thinking to produce balanced, unique and audience-centric solutions for a range of clients.
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Zain Hirani
Consultant
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Zain’s background is in financial services, working in strategic industries including renewable energy and telecoms.
After completing an MBA at INSEAD, he broadened his experience to include a education technology, financial technology and VR/AR.
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