Stranger Collective, Cornwall’s home-grown and award-winning copywriting and

agency, has almost doubled in size in the last three months, with ambitious plans for growth.

The core team, which before consisted of founding partners Helen Gilchrist and Clare Howdle,

writer and producer Nicola Robey and creative assistant Amie Knights, has now welcomed three

new team members.

In April 2015, the agency welcomed Caitlin Gould to the stable, who got to know the team while

working at Invest in Cornwall. Originally from California, Caitlin brings her wealth of experience in

business development and digital marketing to the agency, working with major international

brands like Red Bull, eBay, Wordpress and Zoopla in her previous London-based roles. With a

background in publishing and client management, Caitlin will be heading up the commercial side

of the business, helping to grow and shape the agency, win new business and maintain positive

relationships with current and prospective clients as Stranger’s commercial & client services

director.

In the last month, Stranger has also recruited two new creative team members. New creative and

editorial director Anna Kiernan brings 19 years experience as a writer, editor, lecturer and cultural

critic. She’s worked for the Arts Council, Falmouth University and publishing house Simon &

Schuster, not to mention a huge range of authors, from Brian Cathcart and Joan Collins to

Lemmy from Motorhead. Now part of Stranger Collective’s senior management team, Anna will

help oversee the creative direction of the agency, while leading on projects for Stranger’s

national and international clients – from initial concept to final delivery,

Working alongside Anna, copywriter Alfie Hayward comes from the commercial side of

advertising and has worked on campaigns for everything from Coors Light to Peelable Cheese.

As the agency’s new senior editor and producer, he’ll be leading on local and national

projects, supporting the rest of the creative team and making sure every word Stranger writes is

smart, sharp and effective.

The new hires are in response to the agency’s continued growth, which has seen its turnover

treble in three years, winning new clients including Investors in People, VisitBritain, MADE.com,

Somersault Festival and Plymouth University.

Alongside the expanded core team, Stranger

Collective also draws from an ever-growing talent pool to deliver its work, which includes

freelance writers and associates with specialisms in everything from packaging and brand

storytelling to instructional design, editorial, content marketing and creative strategy.

Founding partner and director Helen Gilchrist says: “We’re really excited to welcome Caitlin,

Anna and Alfie to the team. Everyone at Stranger brings their own special something to the mix

and our newest additions are no exception. Their skills and experience will not only complement

what we already have, but will enable us to do more, reaching further and helping our clients

harness the power of words.”