CV & background - Kay Spencer
My career spans marketing, branding, event management, and sponsorship at corporate, agency, and SME levels across diverse industries in New Zealand and South Africa.
Starting in the corporate world, rather than a creative agency, has shaped my marketing career positively, teaching me to think like a client. When preparing to present a strategy, concept, or creative idea, I always consider how I would have reacted to it during my time at Toyota NZ. This perspective often pushes me to enhance my presentations and deliver them in a more compelling manner. This approach has consistently contributed to my clients' success.
As a small business owner, I also have unique insights into what SMEs need from their agencies.
KEY INDUSTRIES
Construction & property development
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Disability support
Professional services
Motor industry
FMCG - haircare, frozen foods
Events & sports promotion
My diverse background brings an extremely broad skill set, allowing me to create cohesive multi-media campaigns tailored to each client's unique needs. This is demonstrated by the breadth of industries in which I have worked successfully. I am adaptable, and when I don't know something, I connect with someone who does.
While running a consultancy has required a high degree of practical involvement, I am, at my core, a strategist and marketing generalist. I add the most value in strategic and relationship-building roles, drawing together the skills of domain specialists to achieve the best outcomes for clients. I enjoy being part of this type of team and have experience motivating both in-house and supplier-based teams to achieve great results.
BLUE CHILLI
Founder / Marketing Consultant
Mar 2015 - Current
FREELANCE MARKETING CONSULTANT
Jun 2008 - Feb 2015
Responsibilities:
day-to-day marketing support for a portfolio of clients
strategist and planner
top-level client service support for all clients
day-to-day operations
business development
creative direction across all disciplines
"Kay facilitated a workshop with our key staff and stakeholders and developed a strategic plan with us to guide our communications and public face. She has ensured that she understands what makes us tick..."
Janet Keys - General Manager, Grace Hospital
"Blue Chilli has been with us since 2018, through the largest growth phase our company has seen. Kay and her team have been a key part of that. I put a huge amount of value in being able to discuss strategy with Kay and getting the benefit of her experience."
Allan Fullerton - Founder & Design Engineer, Powerglide Elevators
"Blue Chilli has a complete understanding of what we want to portray - we can just leave it to them and concentrate on the business of running our organisation."
Fern Ryan - Chief Executive, ConneXu
J WALTER THOMPSON ADVERTISING - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Senior Account Director - Unilever and McCain. Budget 60m rand. Nov 1999 - Feb 2003.
Responsibilities:
client service and communication
brand custodianship
strategic planning
competitive intelligence & consumer research
management of creative development process
management of advertising production process
media planning and monitoring
“Kay managed two large blue-chip accounts, starting her career with us on the Unilever Hair business, and later adding McCain Foods to her portfolio.
Kay soon distinguished herself with her excellent strategic ability and sound creative judgement. She forged strong partnerships with both Unilever and McCain and her clients regarded her as an essential part of their respective teams.
The Hair portfolio was challenging and complex and Kay was commended by both Agency and Client on the manner in which she handled it. The annual agency performance appraisals on both accounts were outstanding while Kay was leading the business."
Judy van Dam - Business Unit Director, J Walter Thompson Johannesburg
“Adjectives to describe Kay - astute, thorough, honest and forthright - and an excellent strategic mind and good listener. She always took on first-person responsibilty, and is an exceptionally good motivator - both within the Agency and with our communication partners."
Alan Bolon - Managing Director, J Walter Thompson Johannesburg
GARY PLAYER GROUP - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Group Marketing Manager. Oct 1995 - Jan 1997.
Responsibilities:
developing a strategic marketing and licensing plan for the Black Knight brand
marketing of all group entities: golf course design, golf equipment manufacture, golf-based real-estate, licensing and merchandising, golf-based tourism, horse racing stud, charitable trust.
brand custodianship
assessing potential licensing partners
developing new markets and opportunities
managing the development of all marketing material worldwide
client service and communication
“Kay truly understands the power of a well-managed brand. Under her guidance, the Black Knight logo has taken on a life of its own”.
Gary Player - Golf Legend / Founder of the Gary Player Group
"Kay had overall responsibility for the development of the brand Gary Player, and was charged with creating a brand which would outlive Gary Player the man. This included strategic planning and the management of all marketing activity.
Kay has managed an extremely diverse range of functions and performed well with a very small budget and little input from others. She is a conscientious, reliable and hard-working person who will seek advice if needed, and debate points with all levels of management ..."
Mike Edy - Managing Director, Gary Player Group
TOYOTA SOUTH AFRICA - JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Event Specialist - 1995 Rugby World Cup
Feb 1995 - Jul 1995
Responsibilities:
Planning & management of hospitality arrangements for 3,800 VIPS across 32 matches.
Liaison with international sponsorship partners including travel arrangements for 80 visitors to South Africa
Allocation & distribution of 4,500 match tickets
Initiating new branding techniques related to the event.
"Kay was recruited specifically for her skills and experience at handling major sporting events.
Her strengths are many, enabling her to quickly become a valuable part of our project team and a central role player in the success of the sponsorship. She would be an asset in any challenging environment."
Anton Falck, National Promotions Manager, Toyota South Africa
TOYOTA NZ - WELLINGTON, NZ
Marketing Strategy / Advertising / Promotion (budget $18m).
Nov 1987 - Jan 1999
Responsibilities:
developing marketing plans for Toyota master brand and sub-brands
planning and implementation of all national advertising
planning and implementation of all promotions including major vehicle launches and conferences
managing all sponsorships including Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup and Whitbred Around the World Yacht Race.
providing direction and guidance for dealership advertising
“Kay’s clarity of thought in identifying a solution, developing a concept, then using personal discipline and judgement to ensure a successful campaign execution has made a not insignificant contribution to Toyota’s leadership of the New Zealand vehicle market.
Other people and Kay are a natural combination. Her ability to create the appropriate culture for a given project and then motivate a team of people drawn from across Company Departments together with external suppliers meant that not only were project objectives achieved, but project members had fun and came away with a sense of personal achievement."
Gary McIver - Marketing Manager, Toyota New Zealand
"Kay has a logical, strategic mind, excellent organisational ability, and strong interpersonal skills which have enabled her to build good working relationships with staff, dealers, and suppliers. She has a keen improvement focus and has been instrumental in developing this culture, both internally and with suppliers."
Alistair Davis, CEO, Toyota New Zealand