The Team

Simon QuarendonManaging Director

Simon joined Keene in 2008 and as the consultancy’s Managing Director has strategic oversight of all clients. His career in communications spans 28 years, during which time he has held senior management positions in some of the UK’s leading PR agencies.

During his career, Simon has advised numerous blue chip clients and has worked on a number of large scale communications programmes. Simon has extensive international experience and was a previous Secretary General of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO), a trade association representing over 1,000 PR agencies in 28 countries.

Geoffrey LawlerSenior Adviser, Public Affairs

Geoffrey provides strategic parliamentary and government affairs counsel to our clients. He has worked in public affairs for 20 years working with major companies, trade and professional associations, public sector bodies and voluntary organisations.

Before that, he served as a Conservative MP for Bradford North and worked for the Conservative Central Office.

He is co-founder of Democracy International Ltd which helps promote and develop democratic values and practices in newly emerged democracies and has served as an international election observer for the British Government, the EU and the UN.

Belinda LawsonSenior Consultant

Belinda Lawson brings over twenty five years of PR experience to Keene, spanning the consumer, lifestyle and corporate sectors. Prior to joining Keene, Belinda was a director at award winning agency, Lawson Dodd. Recognised for her creativity, Belinda brings a wealth of skills and expertise to the company.

Jackie ElliotNon-executive Director

Jackie brings experienced and intelligent advice to Keene’s management. She is the former Geneva-based communications director of luxury watch company, Rolex. Prior to joining Rolex, she was EVP of MS&L, the global public relations firm within the Publicis Group, and chairman of the UK’s Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCA). She became one of the Founding Fellows of the PRCA in 2010.

Rory FletcherSenior Consultant

Rory joined Keene in 2004 and has developed and implemented UK and EU contact building programmes and government relations campaigns for clients on a wide range of issues. His experience spans the transport, technology, and manufacturing sectors as well as public service with particular strengths in political monitoring and intelligence gathering, briefing decision-makers and advising clients on strategy. He runs the Secretariat of an active and influential All-Party Parliamentary Group.

Rory graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons) and has travelled widely in the United States, Australasia and South East Asia.

Suzanne HolidaySenior Consultant

Suzanne joined Keene in 2008. She holds extensive experience in public relations and marketing spanning travel, property and lifestyle sectors. Suzanne currently manages our portfolio of airline and tourist board clients.

Prior to Keene, she handled the launch of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Baton Relay and managed high profile campaigns for, amongst others, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Tourism Victoria and the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure.

Suzanne holds a First Class Honours degree and spent a semester studying in Australia. She has travelled extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia.

John StanleySenior Consultant

John joined our Public Affairs team in 2008 and has developed and managed communications strategies across a broad range of clients spanning national governments, multinational corporations, international public-sector bodies and blue-chip airlines. He has extensive experience in the aviation sector and has devised and led South Asian, Middle Eastern and European political, commercial and media engagement campaigns for a variety of clients, including the world’s latest metropolitan airport system.

He previously worked in the UK Parliament for MPs and Peers on both sides of the House and has spent time working in Brussels, where he led a policy research team for a European think-tank. He has also lived and worked in India, Tanzania and Russia.

Lara JacobsConsultant

Lara recently joined Keene from a boutique travel and lifestyle PR agency and works across Keene’s PR client portfolio. She has worked with destinations, hotels, restaurants, contract caterers, venues and event companies.

She graduated in 2005 with a Languages for Business Degree at Oxford Brookes University and spent an academic year living and working in Spain. Lara loves to travel and speaks fluent Spanish and French.

Samantha KirtonConsultant

Samantha is a PR consultant with a career spanning over 10 years in public relations, marketing and sales, specialising in the travel and tourism industry. She brings a wealth of experience incorporating airlines, tourist boards, luxury safari camps and hotels.

Either in the course of duty or just for fun, she’s visited Australasia, the USA, Africa, Europe and much of the British Isles – from the Outer Hebrides to the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly, and is continually exploring Cornwall and Devon.

Peter WoodmanConsultant

Peter joined our Public Affairs team in 2010 after successfully completing an internship with the firm. He works across a wide range of clients including foreign governments and manufacturing companies, providing political intelligence and monitoring as well as strategic advice on campaigns.

Before joining Keene, Peter spent a year working as an English Language Teacher for the British Council in China, where he also worked for a local magazine and set up and ran a successful political blog.

Peter graduated with a degree in History from University College London and also holds an MA in War Studies with Distinction from King’s College London. He has travelled widely across Europe, North America and Asia.