We are Elizabeth and Mike, and we are Herdwick Communications.
We do what we do well because of our extensive experience and by working together; it's how we create incredible work.
“We both love what we do and how we do it.”
Before Herdwick, Mike steered brands through start-up, exponential growth, economic and political turmoil, and crises that have significant moral implications. The difference is that he's lived them from start to finish. It's what drives him. Moreover, he likes to get involved and participate, which gives him an innate ability to see a path to resolving problems.
Both Elizabeth and Mike are tenacious and won't give up; it's a quality that means they never stop pursuing the right thing for the businesses they engage.
Mike has worked in highly operational businesses for nearly thirty years, including the aviation sector, where reputation is built and challenged daily.
His tenure in the travel industry is not the only measure of his experience; it is how he has protected and enhanced reputation that is the true barometer. He has always tried to operationalise reputational risk to make it part of everyday life. It keeps teams drilled, ready and practised. It makes results sustainable.
Elizabeth has always been interested in current affairs. The public relations industry presented the opportunity to combine this lifelong interest with her professional career. Mike and Elizabeth understand the effect communications can have on an organisation's reputation.
To achieve this, practitioners need to have a seat at the decision-making table. Elizabeth knows the value this holds and the importance of earning the place and maintaining it.
Whether being part of an international PR agency network focusing on energy, finance, telecommunications, tourism, transportation and governments or leading the in-house team, Elizabeth has always been able to see the implications of the broader issues.
Elizabeth’s strategic thinking focuses on delivering results to protect and enhance reputation. There can be no doubt that board members, business leaders and executives value both her and Mike’s senior counsel.
Mike and Elizabeth believe that sustainability must now be embedded into communications strategy and that as practitioners we should recognise that this is now a must not an option.
Elizabeth has found that building long-lasting relationships with stakeholders has been one of the most rewarding elements of an effective communications programme. Along with performing the 'environmental spanning role' of understanding the journalists' needs whilst communicating effectively for the organisations she has represented.
These principles form the fundamental values that Elizabeth and Mike have built into Herdwick.
Mike Evans and Elizabeth Maclean are accredited through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. In addition, as members of the Institute of Directors they are committed to the Code of Conduct for Directors, demonstrating good governance.
