See also: LinkedIn profile
James Clive-Matthews is a multiformat, multiplatform digital strategist with an ever-increasing desire to cut through the nonsense with content that combines substance with style.
Previously an award-winning journalist, he’s got more than 20 years’ experience in print & online, and combines international commercial & strategic experience with a thorough understanding of the technical and business sides of digital strategy development.
Employment history
Managing Director – Content Strategy | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2019 – present
- Shifting to a more strategic and new business focus following a global reorg
- Clients worked on include: Dassault Systèmes, EY, ICG, Intel, NatWest Group, Spotify, WPP
Managing Director – Creative, Content | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2017 – Dec 2019
- Heading up the European editorial and creative teams
- Advising FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 clients, to CMO level, on digital, brand, and content strategy
- Clients worked on include: Aon, Bayer, Capita, CBRE, Danone, Drax, EY, HSBC, Intercontinental Hotels Group, the IOC, La Prairie, Vinson & Elkins
Editorial Director, EMEA | Group SJR, WPP | Dec 2014 – Dec 2017
- European employee #2 for WPP’s lead digital content marketing agency
- Advise FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 clients, to board level, on digital strategy
- Tripled revenues on one key account, doubled them on another
- Clients worked on include: Aon, Bayer, Dell, Drax, EY, Nestlé, Pearson
Freelance writer, editor & digital media consultant | Sep 1997 – present
- Ranging from ad hoc to long-term (see Other Major Projects, overleaf)
- Clients have included the BBC, OpenDemocracy, Virgin Media, News International
- Shortlisted for multiple awards, including by Reuters, the Guardian
Managing Editor, MSN International | Microsoft | Jul 2011 – Nov 2014
- Oversaw editorial planning & production for >300 editors in 55 markets & 27 languages, leading a globally-distributed team of 15 direct reports
- Grew pageviews from 200m to >1b a month
- Delivered projects worth >$15m in revenue a year
- Managed the $2 million MSN International photo budget
- Lead editorial consultant on a major two-year redevelopment of the MSN CMS
Portal Manager | MSN, Microsoft | Sep 2009 – Oct 2012
- Led strategic & commercial development for MSN Ireland & MSN South Africa
- Grew unique users by 50% & 33% and pageviews by 75% & 50% respectively
- Created an advertorial system that drove €30,000 additional revenue per month
Regional Editor, MSN EMEA | Microsoft | Sep 2009 – Jul 2011
- Developed systems and processes to deliver timely, relevant content to >20 EMEA countries across news, sport, lifestyle, entertainment, travel and key events
- Devised a media asset management system that saved >$600,000 a year
- Delivered content packages that brought in revenues >$5m a year
- Grew monthly pageviews generated by the systems created to 200m
Homepage News Editor | AOL UK | Mar 2007 – Aug 2009
- Oversaw updates for all news and topical finance, sport and entertainment
- Developed processes to increase SEO rankings and homepage clickthrough rates
- Ran coverage of key events including the onset of the global financial crisis
Staff Writer / Sub-editor / Acting Editor, Heritage | Archant Specialist | Nov 2003 – Nov 2006
- Oversaw the first major redesign of this ABC 75,000 magazine in ten years
- Led UX planning for the launch of six Archant Specialist magazine websites
- Worked over the full range of editorial duties, having started as editorial assistant
Research Assistant | House of Commons | Jan 2002 – Aug 2002 & Jan 2003 – Feb 2003
- Assisted Sir Patrick Cormack MP, inc. policy research, representing him at meetings & providing support for his role as editor of The House Magazine
- Organised an annual House of Commons internship programme
Regional Editor for London | VirginStudent.com | 2000 – 2001
- Managed a team of 20 contributors & updating the website
Film Editor & Assistant Editor | UCL Pi magazine | 1997 – 2001
- Managed contributors, assigning stories & laid out the magazine in Quark
Intern | European Commission | Jun – Jul 1997
- Administrative & editorial support in the External Affairs team
Work Experience | The Sunday Telegraph | Jun – Jul 1996
- Administrative & editorial support on the City desk
Major freelance projects
Information Architect / Social Media Strategist | Bluequest | 2006 – 2009
- Website planning, UX & SEO; advising / training clients on social media
Reviewer | The Times Literary Supplement | 2005 – 2009
- Specialising in history, travel and politics
Editor | Gibson Square Books | 2003 – 2009
- Structural editing of non-fiction history and politics
Web Project Manager | Publicis Blueprint | 2007 – 2008
- Planning and overseeing the launch of key client websites
Film Critic | Free Features Ltd | 2004 – 2008
- Delivering multiple monthly film reviews for syndication to local newspapers
Managing Editor | openDemocracy | 2007
- Led an award-winning investigation into an experiment in deliberative democracy in the European Parliament, in conjunction with Stanford University
Digital Project Manager | Haymarket | 2007
- Oversaw development of a digital magazine launch & trained staff on CMS
Online Editor | Pocket Films, BBC Worldwide | 2006 – 2007
- Updating the website, advising print team on digital optimisation
Author | Virgin Books | 2000 – 2007
- Co-author of two books of film criticism
Awards & Activities
- Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, 2017
- Judge, UACES Reporting Europe Awards 2014
- Foreign Policy magazine Twitterati 100 best foreign affairs Twitter accounts, 2012 & 2013
- Winner, European Parliament Prize for Journalism 2010
- Jury’s Commendation, UACES-Reuters Reporting Europe Awards 2008
- Finalist, Best UK Blog, The Weblog Awards 2005 & 2008
- Shortlisted, The Guardian Backbencher Political Weblog Awards 2005
- Finalist, Deutsche Welle International Weblog Awards 2004
Skills & Experience
- Well versed in SEO, SMO, UX, IA, multiple CMS, multiple analytics tools (including Omniture, Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Facebook, Twitter), basic HTML & CSS & more
- Proficient in Adobe Photoshop & InDesign, QuarkXpress, Keynote, Microsoft Office, Windows, OSX, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone & more
- Experienced throughout the full publishing production cycle in both print & online: writer, sub-editor, layout sub, picture researcher, designer, editorial project manager, consultant, managing editor & publisher equivalent
Qualifications
2000 – 2001 | MA Modern History (Distinction), University College London
1997 – 2000 | BA History (2.i Hons), University College London
