Charlotte Ibarra (Charlie Ibarra)

Ran all aspects of a small, successful security integrators. Purchasing, accounting, marketing, HR, customer service, project management.

Concentrated on the promotion of the company. Initially I conducted an external communications audit to decipher how customers felt we were performing and how they thought we could improve as a company. Having completed this investigation, I implemented a five year marketing plan, which involved an overhaul of the website and strategic public relations and advertising plans with industry and lateral media.

Established The New York Sun’s press office, building relationships with New York broadcast media, including WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show; New York 1’s Inside City Hall; MSNBC’s Scarborough Country; CBS’s Inside Edition; and various BBC documentaries. The job involved devising and executing plans to encourage relevant broadcast media to use Sun staff as spokespeople, entering awards, maximizing exposure of the newspaper at relevant and high profile New York events and implementing a circulation-driven sponsored copies program, which assisted in a 48% growth in circulation between March 2003 and June 2004. I further organized and hosted all Sun events, from book launches to advertiser dinners and held the responsibility for the newspaper's internal communications.

Held responsibility for three accounts whilst at The Communication Group. The largest of which was The Crown Estate. I organized the Regent Street Christmas Lights switch-on in London. The free street concert attracted 10,000 with a VIP reception for 400 and achieved coverage nationwide across all forms of media. In connection witht the Christmas lights event I developed and executed a national TV competition, gaining local coverage and generating 3,000 entries. I further set-up and launched the first press office and online press office for a retail street in the UK.
My second client was the Knightsbridge (a luxury residential development) and I was instrumental in the controlled media launch, including coverage in the The Sunday Telegraph newspaper's property section.
My final client was Fulton Umbrellas, for whom I had the sole responsibility of gaining exposure across all forms of media.

Managed revenue generating shows including The House & Garden Fair and Spirit of Christmas. Had sole responsibility for The Sunday Telegraph Catherine Pakenham Award. I was instrumental in the organization and planning of The Daily Telegraph gardens at The Chelsea Flower Show (1998-2000).
In my capacity as commercial fashion coordinator, I managed the Telegraph’s media sponsorship of the ELLE Style Awards and secured the title of media supporter with Zandra Rhodes’ Fashion & Textile Museum. I also promoted all fashion events and fashion journalists to the broadcast media and local, regional and trade press and devised and managed reader fashion and shopping events at various luxury retail outlets.
From an internal communications perspective I coordinated and ran all staff events and edited and contributed to the Telegraph’s staff newsletters. I also held the position of secretary to and member of The Telegraph Charitable Committee.