Katie Whirledge – founder/director
Katie founded Papillon at her kitchen table in 2010, following 20 years’ experience as a journalist, advertising executive, copywriter and PR consultant. She’s seen and (almost!) done it all, and now divides her time between the cosmopolitan Walton-on-Trent and London (where she’s on first name terms with everyone at the restaurants in Euston Station). Clients love Katie because she's commercial, confident and entirely entertaining. We love her because she’s always buying us lunch from The Swan.
Jonathan Boddy – crisis and media communications partner
Jonathan is our crisis guru, a veteran who in the past 20 years has managed every scenario you could possibly imagine. As a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), Jonathan is reassuringly calm is a crisis but does a great job emulating Jeremy Paxman during media training sessions.
Rebecca Cousins – account director
With a background working with the public sector, Rebecca has serious expertise in the care, education and housing sectors. Never one for the quiet life, in her spare time she serves as the social media and marketing board member for the Midlands branch of Women in Social Housing. She has the enthusiasm, imagination and spreadsheets to get your campaigns well across the line. Rebecca is obsessive about two things: good grammar and colour coordinating her outfits.
Matthew Dunkling – account manager
An up-and-coming talent with a background in a huge range of sectors, he supports on the care and education team with his love of writing and digital acumen. He’s made himself essential both as a creative ideas man and as the only one who can work the screen in our boardroom.
Chloe Hardy – account executive
Chloe may well be the shortest member of the team (standing proudly 4ft 10 inches) but she makes up for it with an effective combination of a loud voice and towering heels. Chloe’s brilliance lies in her ability to befriend everyone she speaks to, and asides from her hard work, dedication and enthusiasm, we will always be indebted to her for introducing us to the chicken nugget salad.
Holly Smith – graduate account executive
Holly is the newest addition to our team, joining after achieving a first in Professional and Creative Writing and Marketing at Derby Uni, where she also spent a year in the press team. She’s our star on social media, a creative writing whiz and the master of the pun. Holly got into PR for the people and loves to get under the skin of our leisure and lifestyle brands. Just don’t call her mint car green and you’ll get along just fine.
Sarah Allen – office manager
In an office full of PR creatives, we need at least one person to keep us in line. In addition to taking care of the admin and keeping the office running smoothly, Sarah is also our first aider, fire chief, parking attendant, therapist, taxi driver, tea maker, cleaner, diary enforcer and getter of milk. Needless to say, we wouldn’t last long without her.
Amanda Knight – business director
Shrewd. Sharp. Scottish. Amanda is our business director, who’s been working behind the scenes at Papillon since our inception. Her capable hands not only ensure the budgets are balanced and the bills are paid, but her background as a businesswoman and marketing consultant helps to direct the future of Papillon.