The Team

Associate

Vicky Ferrier is our specialist partner advising on leadership effectiveness.

Uniquely combining experience in investor relations and corporate communications (SABMiller Plc, The Weir Group PLC) with M&A, strategy and commercial finance (P&G, Alliance Boots), Victoria is an experienced and award-winning communications specialist with a passion for creating cultures where people and values are at the heart of the value-creation narrative, not numbers.  She believes what makes the fundamental difference to business performance, is people connecting around stories that inspire them to work towards a common purpose.

She’s a certified NLP and HNLP practitioner; certified Time to Think coach; an EMCC certified Professional Coach; a certified Narrative Coach; certified in the Barrett Values Centre Cultural Transformation Tool and holds a Certificate of Professional Practice from the Oxford Academy of Total Intelligence. She is on the faculty of WYSE, the United Nations-affiliated NGO for emerging leaders.

Leonardo Machado is an independent filmmaker who has developed, produced and directed documentaries and series for networks such as the BBC and Channel 4 that have been screened globally.  Leonardo has also delivered films for FTSE100 companies and their leadership teams.

His passion for telling compelling stories was recognised in 2016 by the prestigious Grierson Awards with the first film he made for a broadcaster listed in the Best Newcomer category.  He has also screened films and spoken at the world-renowned Sheffield Film Festival.  Leonardo is an adviser to Eterna Partners in the production of film and other visual media.

Phil Riggins is the founder of The Brand and Reputation Collective, formed to create a new way of bringing leaders together to manage brands and reputations. Phil believes the best brands recognise emotional engagement and brand credibility are just as important to stakeholders as they are to consumers.  He has worked across sectors and around the world for organisations as diverse as The Coca-Cola Company, Airbus, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the US Department of State.

With over 20 years of industry experience, Ed creates impactful and considered photographic imagery for a wide portfolio of international brands. Working in advertising, editorial and marketing communications, Ed has built a strong reputation as a photographer and director, able to deliver projects ranging from creative music promos to consistent and engaging communication for global corporations, all to an equally high standard.

Hannah Burns is our specialist partner advising on North American communications. She has more than 25 years of experience in providing communications counsel to senior leaders worldwide, having led the efforts at two of the world’s largest investment banks.

She has extensive experience in developing and executing successful global communications plans, at both the corporate and business levels, as well as managing reputational risk, advising on highly sensitive issues and crisis management. Her recognized strategic focus is allied with relevant thought leadership capabilities to significantly raise brand awareness and industry leadership positions.

Partner

Nigel has more than 20 years’ experience in advising global corporations on reputation issues and in managing high-performing communications and brand teams for FTSE 100 businesses.

From complex social and political issues, to significant financial and M&A experience, he aligns reputation strategy to measurable commercial value, combining strategic insight with powerful story telling that inspires, motivates and resonates across all stakeholder groups.

Formerly Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Reputation at FTSE 10 brewer and beverages group, SABMiller plc, Nigel was responsible for the group’s global communications strategy, digital platforms and corporate brand identity and positioning.  Most recently he headed the global media team at FTSE 100 security firm G4S plc, which employs 580,000 people across 100 countries.  Prior to his 15-year career in-house, Nigel was an Associate Partner at Brunswick Group and a consultant at Tulchan Communications Group.

A sailor and beekeeper, Nigel is a weekend regular on the train to Cumbria to escape London with his young family.

Partner

Serra has spent her 20-year career advising complex, global institutions in some of the most high-profile political, regulatory and operational issues of recent times.

During her first eight years in consultancy in London, she worked on a range of financial and corporate accounts with extensive experience in all aspects of advisory work, including financial communications, corporate campaigns and transactions. Moving in-house, Serra then spent 12 years in communications roles in financial services. She was a senior member of the Lehman Brothers global communications team during the collapse of the bank in 2008.  Most recently, she was Group Head of Communications at ICAP plc, renamed NEX Group plc, before co-founding Eterna Partners.

As a native of Istanbul who was bought up in London, Serra loves both cities with a passion. She holds an M.A. with Distinction in Ottoman and Turkish Studies from SOAS and is an enthusiastic Arsenal fan.

Partner

Michael’s experience spans the UK public and private sectors, having worked at the Association of Chief Police Officers where he was responsible for planning and leading public engagement for numerous major incidents.

More recently he was Head of UK Media at FTSE 100 security firm, G4S plc, in charge of strategic direction and day-to-day issues and crisis management across the UK division, including its high-profile detention services unit comprising thousands of employees in prisons, immigration detention and young offender training centres.

Michael has advised and counselled organisations through nationwide incidents, undercover reporting exposés and multiple crises which call into question an institution’s licence to operate.  He is a passionate believer in the value of trust in building effective relationships and more efficient organisations.

Michael is a family man and is often in Scunthorpe, his home town. His partner is from Brazil and he now speaks Portuguese in a bid to keep up with his extended family.

Associate

Jane Atkin is the founder of Jane Atkin Associates, a boutique management consultancy specialising in organisational effectiveness for Corporate Affairs/Communications functions. She helps companies assess and shape their Corporate Affairs capability to ensure the function is equipped, organised and aligned to deliver high value.

Jane has more than 25 years’ experience and began her career in consultancy before moving in-house. Prior to establishing Jane Atkin Associates she was Director of Corporate Communications at both Barclays and Prudential.

Jane is an advisor to Eterna Partners.