Ben Ayers
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Head of social media at communications agency Carat
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Info
- SummaryAn award-winning communications professional with a background in journalism and public relations, I have a proven track record in delivering ambitious strategic goals.
As Head of Social Media at Carat I am leading the agency approach to engagement strategy and the integration of ‘social planning’ alongside various operating companies within the Aegis Group. Working with account teams and client directors, my team delivers first-class strategic planning while embedding social media expertise into the agency.
Previously, working on social media strategy for ITV, I led the development of vibrant communities around programme and channel brands, boosting engagement and developing commercial opportunities for the ITV sales team. I helped drive the ‘two screen’ behaviour that informed ITV’s foray into dual screen applications, most notably for the World Cup and previously, entertainment juggernauts like The X Factor and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!Specialties: Social media communications, web strategy, community management, branding, coordinated communications across all media, briefing journalists and senior management, writing, online communications policyExperience- Oct 2010 - PresentGroup Associate Director, Social Media / CaratI lead the agency approach to social media, having formed a specialist strategic consultancy to service planning teams and clients. The social strategy team delivers first class integrated strategy based on insights, while embedding 'social by design' practice into the planning teams. Clients include Disney, Autotrader, Diageo, J&J, Lego, Shop Direct Group, Vauxhall, Beiersdorf, Kellogg's and ASDA.
- Mar 2009 - Oct 2010Head of Social Media and Community / ITV
- Jul 2008 - Mar 2009PR Manager, ITV Consumer / ITV
- Apr 2007 - Jul 2008Senior Publicist, Factual and New Media / ITV
- Oct 2005 - Apr 2007Publicist, Factual and Entertainment / ITV
- Apr 2003 - Oct 2005Press Officer / Science Museum London
- Oct 2002 - Apr 2003Media Relations Officer / Comic Relief
- Apr 2001 - Nov 2001Assistant Publicist, Factual Programmes / BBC
- Oct 2000 - Mar 2001Media Relations Assistant / Comic Relief
- May 1999 - Oct 2000Reporter / Southern Daily Echo
Additional Information-
Websites:
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Honors:Revolution Award: Best use of Social Media (The X Factor), April 2010
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Interests:Cycling (road and MTB), history, archaeology, Scrabble
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Tweets
- @OzzieP it's tense out there. You get a sense of it when a passenger too. Cabbies getting v.wound up by cyclists (perhaps not surprisingly)
- A cabbie drove at me just now. Swerved just in time but if hadn't would probably have broken leg or worse. Was deliberate as my side of road
- “@fitzyrichard: Sandberg: the first lady of Facebook takes the world stage http://t.co/hcKMPY0u" < a White House contender (fancy her a bit)
- Thompson has done a pretty good job at Beeb. Like Obama, built for the rough ride & won't get full credit due. Lesser mortals & all that...
- “@alxbaxter: Mark Thompson to leave BBC after the Olympics http://t.co/NNL7QLtV” < Fincham?! No chance
- @wadds @vikkichowney I'm annoyed I'm annoyed. Anyway, a real girl on my train is telling her friend not to reveal she is pregnant on Twitter
- @vikkichowney @tom_watson amen
- @KeirSimmonsITV @tom_watson It's all got silly. We'll look back on this and laugh at the pomposity & agendas (see my recent tweets)
- 'Wheels' by #foofighters is pretty perfect middle of the road rock tune (no offence, Dave)
- Secrets of the Staffordshire Hoard #bbc http://t.co/l7pVJo1r < WOW
- @sarahlucyellis @grammar_puss Brilliant!!
- It's #askkermit day (he's a client, you see)
- @amy_runner good luck!
- Fantastic to see south London school pupils so inspired by Bill Gates visit
- Via @MediaWeek some good TV sector analysis http://t.co/PrPeuv1g < ITV's new format 'adplay' sounds interesting @jonblock :)Jan 25, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Re last tweet, am reminded of this Harry Enfield character: "You don't wanna do that..." http://t.co/C1eJMumSJan 25, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- The snidey social media Cabal is largely self-serving, smug, narrow, pointless & boring. Be critical, sure, but open minded & productive
- @katecomments @caratuk thanks Kate, we'll see :)
- Twitter definitely doing some random unfollowing. Srsly, nothing personal!Jan 24, 12 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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Posts
- Mar 23, 11
We went for a fantastic walk up and around St Catherine's Hill in Winchester at the weekend with friends Chris and Kitty (and our wee bairns). Although I well remember the angst surrounding the Twyford Down bypass in the early 90s (if it happened now there would probably be a TwyfordTwavesty hash tag on Twitter) I've never seen this stone, inscribed with 'THIS LAND WAS RAVAGED BY...' and a list of names including one M Thatcher. It was odd in that it seemed like something from such a distant time. My ties with Winchester have all but gone, but it holds so many amazing memories. I strolled down the hill with Galliano's 'Twyford Down' in my head and Daisy (now 3 months) giggling wildly for no apparent reason. Perhaps she knew I was happy.
- Feb 18, 11
Tweets are often too short. And life's too short for Deck.ly. So when I just want to reflect on something interesting but can't articulate it in a tweet, here it will be.
There's a fire juggler who does his thing here, close to the main entrance of Waterloo station. This morning, I watched him as I waited at the lights, balancing against a pole while sitting on my bike. It was pretty standard stuff. The same stuff everyone sees him do every day. (Except noone really *sees* him).
But today, because I was waiting at the lights, I was watching pretty intently. Suddenly, out of the blue, he chucked one of his burning clubs four times higher that the others and then caught it behind his back! He looked up, smiling, as if expecting a reaction from the passers by. But he was to be disappointed. Not one of them saw his moment of brilliance. It was sad watching the look of pride that he'd pulled it off turn to one of sadness when he realised that literally not one single person had seen it. Or so he thought. He didn't know I saw from across the road.
For a split second I thought I'd go up and tell him what a blinding little trick he'd pulled off and chuck in a quid while I was at it. But the lights changed and the thought flittered away as quickly as it had arrived. On I peddled.
Fast forward a few hours. Having a drink with @decibelthinks and another colleague at lunchtime, the conversation turned to the idealogical (and political) quagmire that is 'the big society' and, more specifically, situations where our society feels made up of such staggeringly different individuals, each trying to go about their lives with their heads down, that finding some commonality and compassion is virtually impossible. We reflected on situations where, from healthcare professionals to car dealers, we had been 'failed' - often as a result of dreadful communication or an unwillingness to empathise.
The common thread in all the examples of the shortcomings we each described was that in each case, none of us had done anything to help our 'tormentors' adapt their behaviour and take some of our observations on board. We didn't 'have a word'.
It got me wondering what society would be like if we did that a bit more. Y'know, gave feedback. It's not very British, but maybe if we got a bit better at giving our unique insight, we might all develop that little bit better collectively.
And of course that doesn't just mean expressing ourselves when we're not happy with the behaviour of fellow human beings. It's also about acknowledging stuff that makes us feel good, that impresses us. Like the surprisingly slick catch of a burning club at 9am on a Friday morning, probably after sleeping rough on a cold city street.
- Dec 29, 10
I've been messing around with iPhone photo apps when I get a spare minute - usually on the loo (!) They are by far and away the apps that give me that tingly 'wonder' that we talk about in relation to technology. I imagine that when I get an iPad I'll feel the same about tools like Flipboard. Words Free, the iPhone version of Scrabble, is the other one that has kept me amused this Christmas - especially during those night feeds!
- Dec 14, 10
- Nov 21, 10
I just looked up 'sage' on Google images - that wee chap looks a bit lost
- Sep 22, 10
Here's my new Brompton. I bought it on eBay for £595 - but ONLY because the guy selling it had the receipt (otherwise I'd avoid eBay for bikes). He bought it with an insurance voucher a couple of weeks ago. First impressions are that it's really straightforward - a sort of Martin Bell of bikes.
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Photos
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Checkins
- Terminal 5LHR Airport
- The Old Pro541 Ramona St.
- Facebook 1050 Building 11050 Page Mill Rd
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- Google UK123 Buckingham Palace Rd
- Chessington World of AdventuresLeatherhead Road
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- Cupola Pizzeria845 Market St., 4th Fl, Ste 400
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- The Green Man36 Riding House Street
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- Carat10 Triton St.
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- Hampton Court Palace GardensHampton Court Rd.
- Hampton Court Palace GardensHampton Court Rd.
