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Virginia Hicks

Founder and Lead Consultant

Virginia built up a deep understanding and hands-on expertise in advising and managing internal and change communications for organisational redesign, strategic review, HR and IT improvement and leadership during times of downturn, merger, integrations and business recovery and growth.

After two years as an interim with Network Rail and Unilever, Virginia was invited in 2007 - by industry trailblazer, Colette Dorward - to set up the interim business for her expanding strategic communications start-up, Comma Consulting. A recruiter had once suggested this as a potential career to Virginia and she decided now was the right time to move into this new direction. It felt like a risk at the time, but she has never looked back. Initially supporting the consulting clients like RBS and EDF Energy, this resource business grew quickly until four years later - when Colette moved across to the National Trust - Virginia led the breakaway interim business, Comma Partners.

A senior interim specialist business initially, which Virginia ran on her own, Comma Partners has expanded over time into related disciplines like content and coaching. The most recent extension has been a move into permanent resourcing at both senior and mid-market level. She is supported by an extended consulting team, Andy Macleod based in London and Louise White based in Manchester.

Virginia regards this as her best job ever; loving the people contact, the opportunity to advise and guide clients on resourcing, and to mentor and place candidates in roles that enable them to thrive and grow as communication specialists. She is currently on the Advisory Board of simply-communicate and been one of a small team to launch an initiative to highlight and support workplace communications for the neuro-divergent.

Living in West Sussex, Virginia enjoys her garden, dogs and being a hands-on mum. She balances her love of the theatre, fine food (husband Steve is an excellent cook) and wine with regular gym and Tai Chi. Otherwise, you will find Virginia renovating the family home and supporting family businesses in rugby ball replica lamps, acrylic nails and believe it or not, snake breeding.

virginia.hicks@commapartners.com

Andy Macleod

Director & Lead Consultant

Andy loves supporting organisations with a whole range of challenges, whether it’s an urgent interim requirement or a search for an important new permanent hire. With extensive experience in internal communications, Andy and the team at Comma can also resource any wider challenges you may be facing – for example, auditing your IC function, up-skilling your internal communications team, or training, coaching or mentoring your leaders or line managers to become better communicators.

Andy runs regular round table sessions for senior IC pros and also leads a LinkedIn group to support internal communication professionals and their mental health. He has a keen interest in the wider employee experience, something we know organisations are developing at pace in the post pandemic working environment. Currently based in SW London, Andy enjoys live sport, live music, travel, politics, good food and regular trips to see friends now based all over the world!

andy.macleod@commapartners.com

Louise White

Consultant

Comma’s latest recruit, Louise White, joins the communications recruitment industry fresh from her role at Co-op Funeralcare.

Working as an IC professional both through the challenges of a pandemic and specialising in colleague communication with non-desk based roles, Louise knows first-hand the difficulties our clients and candidates are experiencing in the Internal Comms world today. Louise started her career as a CV writer, becoming an expert on personal branding and translating hundreds of senior business leaders and board directors’ skills, experience and positioning into succinct and effective documents.

With her knowledge and experience, Louise is perfectly positioned to advise organisations on their resourcing requirements, while helping IC professionals to secure their next opportunity. Louise specializes in permanent and interim IC Manager/Business Partner recruitment across the UK, developing Comma’s mid-level proposition. As a true advocate for mental wellbeing, Louise is also highly interested in the changing landscape of Employee Experience and how this offering will develop in, and improve, the market. Based in the north, Louise will also help drive Comma’s expansion geographically to offer our expertise to a wider reach of clients and candidates alike.

Louise is proud to call Manchester home, and she’s often found enjoying the thriving music scene or trying out new local eateries with her partner. She balances her indulgences with her passion for running and all things active; loving nothing more than throwing on her trainers to go exploring new places (often followed by a pub lunch!).

louise.white@commapartners.com