Founders
Richard Hillgrove
Richard Hillgrove is the United Kingdom's leading business and political public relations consultant. Those he has advised include BBC Dragon's Den stars Duncan Bannatyne OBE, James Caan and Simon Woodroffe OBE. He is credited with turning around the fortunes of Britain's most loved restaurant brand, Little Chef. After it's purchase by R-Capital, Richard Hillgrove ensured it returned to profitability and a Channel 4 television programme about Little Chef was commissioned starring Heston Blumenthal within months. In October 2004, Hillgrove launched into the PR field coming from a background that included 7 years working in the advertising department for Express Newspapers. When the Express group was purchased by Northern & Shell Media in 2000, Hillgrove gradually climbed through the ranks working for Richard Desmond. After the cost-saving closure of the Manchester office, Hillgrove established the London based 'England Regional' advertising office achieving 17% advertising growth in its first year. Hillgrove then did the same for Scotland and International business. Hillgrove was responsible for generating over £100m revenues for the group and remains close to the Northern & Shell Group. Prior to his arrival in the UK, in his native New Zealand, Hillgrove was an award-winning writer and producer for Radio New Zealand, TV3 and media commentator for Murdoch-owned newspapers, The Sunday Star-Times and Sunday News. He obtained his Master of Arts (Media & Communications) Degree from Massey University and was Editor of 'Chaff' the University Newspaper. He consulted on 'Generation X' to Saatchi and Saatchi, Levi Strauss, Telecom New Zealand and Wilson and Horton (owners of the New Zealand Herald). It's this grounding in both sectors of media - the commercial and the creative - that has ensured that Richard Hillgrove always achieves the maximum results for his clients through his PR.
Lois Hillgrove
Lois Hillgrove is a director of Hillgrove PR. She has worked as a senior level public relations advisor to individuals and corporations and has a wide breadth of experience. Before becoming a PR practitioner in October 2004, Lois was a key member of the advertising sales force of Richard Desmond's Northern & Shell Media. Lois was a high-performing member of OK! Magazine's advertising sales team working across agency and client in the West End team. She worked as a Manager in the Express Newspapers classified sales department managing a successful relaunch and was promoted to the position of Advertorial Manager on glossy magazines at Northern & Shell working with L'Oreal and many other female-targeting brands. Previously, Lois worked as a manager for MCI WorldCom having come to this position from employment at the Daily Telegraph as an assistant to the City Office and to the Leader Features department where she worked closely with the late Lord Deedes. Lois Hillgrove is married to Richard Hillgrove and has one son, Richard John David Hillgrove.
