The brand team.

Alister has been with Chalk + Ward since 1999 and has over 20 years’ experience working with some of the South West’s leading national and international brands, including P&O Cruises, WKD, Wiltshire Farm Foods, Mole Valley Farmers, Co-op, Age UK, Enterprise Inns, Michael Caines, Hunter Stoves, and DS Smith.

A strategic creative, who is both commercially perceptive and a conceptual thinker, Alister recognises the value that strong creative is imperative to a brands success. An offline and online creative branding specialist, Alister leads the creative team across all of the agency’s clients.

Alister joined the board of Directors in 2018 and has nurtured a collaborative approach between teams, ensuring every creative project delivers dynamism and is the absolute best it can possibly be.

In June 2024, Alister took over the helm as Managing Director.

Q. What’s the best thing about being at Chalk & Ward?

After nearly 25 years working for Chalk & Ward, I believe the best thing are our people. Yes, people move on and new people join, but over the years we have paid close attention to ensure we employ good people, genuine people who want the best for our clients and most of all, enjoy what they do. This pays dividends to our clients, because they benefit from the high standards we set.

Q. What do you like to get up to outside the agency?

I am married with two girls, so I have become the taxi driver every parent promises themselves they won’t be. When I escape I usually grab my bike and head out for a ride round the backroads of Devon or I can be found watching football, rugby, cycling, F1 or any other sport I can find on the TV! I’m also a massive music lover, so I’m always up for a live gig and a beer!

Gemma has over 20 years’ experience in brand strategy and growing clients’ businesses.  She came to Chalk & Ward following a successful career in Leo Burnett London as a strategic branding specialist, as well as running her own Brand Consultancy business.

She is an exceptionally strong strategic thinker and respected for her ability to approach problems objectively, challenge the norm and develop brand strategies that succeed for clients. She also developed the Chalk & Ward proprietary ‘Core Values’ branding system, proven to help create strategically powerful brands that resonate with target audiences.

Gemma joined the board of Directors in 2021 and is passionate about growing the business whilst continuing to maintain the genuine and collaborative ethos which is at the heart of everything we do.

Q. What’s the best thing about being at Chalk & Ward?

What brought me to Chalk & Ward was the high level of strategic thinking as they were the only agency in Exeter who were doing it properly and to the same standard I had always been used to and what has kept me here since 2012 is the people. One of our own Core Values is ‘Genuine’ and it’s such an important one because it is the ethos of how we are with our clients and each other – I look forward to coming in to work every day which is great thing!

Q. What do you like to get up to outside the agency?

I have two young girls so I have limited free time outside of work!  I have always loved reading so when I’m not running around like a headless chicken, I do manage to get in some reading time which can sometimes be my kindle propped up whilst I’m cooking dinner! I used to be an amateur dramatics performer so love going to the theatre, the cinema or going out for dinner and drinks with friends and family, usually with a glass of wine or two.

Imogen is our senior graphic designer. With a passion for both print and digital, she specialises in creating brand identities, and jumps at any opportunity to include illustration in a project.

Imogen has grown up surrounded by creativity, and after studying graphic design at Falmouth University, and working in the industry for over 5 years, this creativity is now at the heart of everything she does.

Working with a wide range of diverse clients has meant that her style can be adapted to meet every client’s needs.

Q. What’s the best thing about being at Chalk & Ward?

One thing I really value about working at Chalk & Ward is that every clients need is different, this means I am constantly being challenged to be flexible and versatile in my approach. I like the fact that this keeps me on my toes, it ensures that my ideas are always fresh, and I never become complacent. Another aspect that I love is how everyone in the agency works together, there’s an amazing line of communication between the different departments and every project feels like a team effort.

Q. What do you like to get up to outside the agency?

As un-cool as it may sound, in lockdown, I discovered an appreciation for bird watching, I would pass time by popping down to the quay with my binoculars and spotting kingfishers, and it’s something I still take joy in! A slightly cooler hobby is stick and poke tattooing, whether it’s on myself, my friends, or anyone willing to trust me with a needle and ink. Another creative outlet for me is pottery, I am no expert, but I thoroughly enjoy getting stuck into it. Something else I love to keep up in my spare time in yoga, keeps the mind and the body feeling good!

Laura has worked in the media since 2006, training and working as a senior reporter on daily newspapers across the South West. She then moved into copywriting and PR and has extensive experience as a writer, content planner, and contributing editor for magazines. She is also a published childrens author!

Laura has worked with a range of clients including,financial services, luxury travel, healthcare and retail, and charities including ShelterBox and Oxfam. She is also a crisis communications specialist, helping to control the narrative and media coverage to limit reputational damage for several high profile clients.

Q. What’s the best thing about being at Chalk & Ward?

I really enjoy working with the team at Chalk & Ward – everyone’s committed, skilled and fun to be around. We work in a collaborative way, so it means everyone brings something different to the table – sometimes that includes biscuits! Having flexibility around my working life is a plus point too because I have a busy family life. I also enjoy the variety of work I get to do for different clients from care homeowners to architects.

Q. What do you like to get up to outside the agency?

I have three children, so a lot of my time outside of work is spent looking after them! I like to be active, so I often go out on my bike with my children and our dog, armed with a pocket full of Jellybeans to keep moral up. I am a fan of Pilates and more recently, Pvolve. Perhaps unsurprisingly, I also enjoy settling down to read a book.

Thanks to a degree in media and communications and a Master’s in Psychology, Emily has a broad understanding of marketing from how to appeal to the right target audience and how best to communicate impactful messages. 

With a background in in-house marketing for Taylor Wimpey, Emily also brings an analytical mindset and a flair for developing creative campaigns to the team.

Stepping into agency life, she’s eager to work with our diverse range of clients and to produce creative campaigns that deliver results and make a real impact. Emily is particularly keen to build on her strategic abilities.

Q. What’s the best thing about being at Chalk & Ward?

I always wanted to be on the agency side of marketing and Chalk & Ward are a longstanding and trusted agency with a good mix of local and national clients. It’s a kind and collaborative working environment and they have a good company ethos and values.

Q. What do you like to get up to outside the agency?

I enjoy a good game of padel, and I love going on walks through the countryside or by the sea at Exmouth or Torbay.  I also like exploring Devon’s charming villages like Beer or Widecombe in the Moor.