Two senior hires boost Black Vanilla’s Channel Islands and UK offering

Channel Islands and UK agency, Black Vanilla, has made two senior appointments to its public relations team that will bolster its offering in both Jersey and Guernsey, and accelerate its plans for growth in 2024.

Sarah Allum has joined the organisation as an Account Director and will lead the agency’s business development and client relationships in Jersey. Katy Melhuish will join the Guernsey management team as a Senior Account Manager overseeing a number of the agency’s Guernsey-based clients.

Sarah began her PR career after moving to Jersey 16 years ago and brings a wealth of business experience having worked for a Times top 100 firm to SMEs and start-ups. She has particular experience in crisis management, internal communications, stakeholder and media management, copywriting and end-to-end strategic PR campaign management for many sectors.

Katy holds a degree in Public Relations & Advertising from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. She began her career in-house in the consumer PR team at Specsavers before moving to London to expand her industry experience. Katy has gained a wealth of experience and UK media connections working with clients across various sectors in London and will support Black Vanilla’s Guernsey team and deliver on clients’ strategic objectives.

Black Vanilla’s Agency Director, Nichole Culverwell, said: ‘We are very happy to have Sarah and Katy on board. We have significantly strengthened our senior team, building the strategic advisory capacity our clients require to help them meet their objectives and build their reputations.

‘Both Sarah and Katy bring considerable experience and new ideas to our team.

‘Based in Jersey, Sarah’s appointment will also allow us to strengthen our offering on the ground and makes Black Vanilla a true pan-island PR agency.

‘In addition, we now have two members of staff who are working remotely in Bristol and Manchester, allowing the agency to serve businesses based in the UK, and also connect our Channel Islands clients to their customers and other key stakeholders there.

‘We are sad to say goodbye to Account Manager, Chris Leaman, who will be leaving the agency in February after spending three years with the team. Chris is leaving the island to take a career break travelling Europe and Australia and we wish him the best of luck.’