Ben Hollom - Founder & Managing Director
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ben brings more than 20 years of experience to the table with his diverse portfolio of work within agencies and the commercial sector.He has planned and executed complex, multi-strand strategies for high profile brands such as Axa, The FA, Sky and Mazda throughout his career. Ben owned a reputable advertising agency in South Africa from 1994, before moving back to the UK in 2001 to set up and run another successful marketing agency in Bath.
After a number of years working on projects with M2 in a consulting capacity, Ben finally made the arrangement permanent in December 2010, resulting in the birth of his baby, M2 Bespoke.
Ben used to be in a band which played all over the world for billionaires, celebrities, and even royalty.
Ben Hollom
Founder & Managing Director
Tom Naysmith - Founder & Operations Director
Tom is the CEO at M2 Communications, having joined the M2 group back in 2003. With expertise in both the finance and media sector, Tom was instrumental in the acquisition of US-based news and information provider NewsEdge from Thomson in 2007 and the following merger with smaller rival Acquire Media.
Tom was the Chairman of the merged company, heading up its international division until 2009 when he led the management buyout of M2 Communications. He holds a BSc degree in Economics and Politics from the University of Bath.
Tom was the 5th Guildford Cub Scout tea-making champion, two years running. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. He owns two Rhodesian ridgebacks who help him supervise the office.
Tom Naysmith
Founder & Operations Director
James L'Esteve - Client Services Director
James steers the ship at M2 Bespoke, managing the content and delivery of all campaigns across the board and developing engaging, defined and bespoke briefs that best fit each client’s business needs.
His extensive background in content management includes more than 10 years’ experience working within the publishing sector on a wide range of projects. His experience includes working with leading brands in the music instrument field, both editorially and commercially, and creating a magazine and iPad app which won an award at the Content Marketing Awards (CMA).
James blows off steam by touring with his band Empire and frequently plays major festivals, including Download, Glastonbury and Sonisphere.
James L’Esteve
Client Services Director
Rachel Morgan - Senior Content Manager
Rachel puts her 15 years of experience in digital and print consumer lifestyle publishing to good use at M2, liaising with writers and her substantial portfolio of clients to ensure top quality content is delivered on time and to spec.
With a BA Hons in Multi Media Journalism, her expertise in the industry helps guide clients to content success.
Rachel indulges in wine, cheese and throwing pots in her spare time. She also used to test out honeymoon locations for a living.
Rachel Morgan
Senior Content Manager
Toni Waterfall - Senior Content Manager
Toni is part of the furniture here at M2, having been around since 2012 – first on a freelance basis and then joining the team in 2013.
Her degree in English Language and Communication and extensive background in copywriting has earned her the ‘grammar police’ badge of the office. Toni uses her skills to look after big names from the insurance, retail, travel, lifestyle and hospitality sector, ensuring every bit of content her clients receive is tip-top: on brief, on tone and on time.
When Toni’s not at work you can find her testing out new recipes in the kitchen or writing her own ‘foodie’ blog for WHSmith.
Toni is also surprisingly proficient at reciting the alphabet backwards at high speed.
Toni Waterfall
Senior Content Manager
Danielle Clarke - Senior Editor / Content Manager
Danielle is one of M2’s longest serving writers and uses her skills to serve up everything from short and snappy blog posts to in-depth thought leadership articles with a helping of infographic copy and video scripts on the side. She is also a qualified editor with a degree in English Literature and Film Studies.
Danielle can’t get enough of the Great Outdoors or think of a better way to spend the weekend than taking off on her trusty mountain or road bike. Consequently, she’s also M2’s go-to weather girl of a Friday.
Danielle Clarke
Senior Editor / Content manager
Matt Dando - Senior Business Editor
Matt’s background in sports and music writing began at the tender age of 16 when he composed his local football team’s matchday programme. Here at M2 Bespoke he produces a range of content including blogs, website copy and video scripts for a variety of clients and sectors. Matt graduated with a BA degree in Journalism from Brighton where he also obtained an NCTJ Preliminary Certificate.
When he’s not writing, Matt indulges his obsession with the American South, namely Western films, country music, bourbon whiskey and authentic fried chicken.
Matt Dando
Senior Business Editor
Polly Cassidy - Senior Business Editor
Polly is an established member of the writing team here at M2 Bespoke, and our resident legal expert. As well as more than five years’ marketing experience in copywriting and PR, Polly was a paralegal for almost three years, handling both Claimant and Defendant Civil Litigation and Personal Injury Claims.
Polly uses her skills and experience to pen a range of blogs and thought leadership articles across a variety of sectors. She is a graduate of the University of Oxford and also has an MA and two legal qualifications (GDL and LPC).
Polly Cassidy
Senior Business Editor
Lisa Swan - Senior Business Editor
Lisa is an experienced editor and digital content specialist with more than ten years of experience in online content creation, content strategy, web editing, web content strategy, SEO, social media and copywriting.
One of the longest standing members of the team, Lisa’s previous roles included Digital Content Editor at City of Bristol College as well as Deputy Editor at a London-based publishing house. She holds a BA degree in French and American Studies from Middlesex University.
Lisa was once an extra in a Bollywood film. They made her wear bright yellow Lycra. She hasn’t been an extra since.
Lisa Swan
Senior Business Editor
Sinead Dodd - Social Media Manager
Self-dubbed as the ‘office distraction’ (thanks to her eclectic music choices and hilarious anecdotes), Sinead heads up the social team here at M2 Bespoke. She puts her five years’ experience in digital marketing to good use, managing social campaigns for a variety of clients and sectors.
With a background in growing social communities and ad management, Sinead also runs our own social accounts.
Outside of work, you could find Sinead pretty much anywhere; hiking in Scotland one day and playing with monkeys in Antibes the next. She’s got a huge family that she loves spending time with, and she’s slightly addicted to white wine spritzers.
Sinead Dodd
Social Media Manager
Stephen Longwill - Designer
On an average day you can find Stephen diligently crafting design solutions for our clients from a variety of sectors. Whether he’s concocting concepts for infographics or bringing e-books to life, our in-house designer lives and breathes all things design.With a background in illustration, combined with his studies in Graphic Design and Motion Graphics, Stephen’s ability to take a concept and run with it means our clients are in safe hands.
A BA graduate from UCA in Maidstone, he spent the “wilderness years” mixing cocktails and music for a living, before getting a ‘proper job’. And, after six years freelancing, he joined us here at M2 Bespoke.
Besides design, Stephen enjoys bitter-sweet films, joyous music, sweating it out at his local boxing gym and spending time with his family.
Stephen Longwill – Designer
Patricia Johns - Senior Writer/Editor
Patricia is one of the more experienced editors and writers at M2. She has been with the company for 15 years and has edited and written for all of M2’s various newswires and publications, including M2 EquityBites, M&A Navigator and M2 Banking & Credit News.
Patricia has an exceptional eye for detail, making her a valuable asset to the M2 Bespoke editorial team. She holds a BA degree in Business Studies from Coventry University, and worked in the market research department of Barclays before joining M2.
Patricia writes and edits articles and content, covering financial services, IT and technology, insurance, marketing, telecoms, and healthcare to name a few.
Patricia Johns
Senior Writer/Editor
Zuri - Office Dog
M2 Bespoke’s beloved office dog Zuri (meaning beautiful in Swahili) is a four-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback.
She is scared of the rain, the cat and men with beards.
She loves chasing squirrels and being within two metres of Tom at all times.