With 20 years of brand management and consultancy experience, I steer the Huxly ship. I drive my fantastic team to come up with the ideas that leapfrog brands to the front of their category.
I love to be creative both inside and outside the office and can always be found crafting – sewing is my latest obsession.
Will Leigh
Director of Innovation
A trained chef with 20 years’ experience across FMCG brands, I lead product development and innovation work at Huxly. I’m all about getting hands-on in the kitchen to bring new product ideas to life.
When I'm not at work I'm found cooking up something new in the kitchen or exploring the countryside with my dog.
Libby Mayo
Chief Commercial Officer
As CCO, I get the right people in the room to answer your strategic challenge and make sure that we meet our pitch promise. I enjoy nothing more than making new global connections.
In my spare time, I’m a fitness and wellness fanatic that always on the lookout for what’s new in the ‘better for you’ space.
Guy Grimsley
Senior Director
After 11 years as a brand consultant and another 8 working client-side, I still find consumers endlessly inspiring. My role is about shaping Huxly projects into something incredible.
Outside the office, I am generally found on or behind a stage – singing, dancing, acting, and sometimes all three at once.
Ffion Moon
Brand Strategist
At Huxly, I use my MSc in Psychological Research Methods to understand consumer needs and how to meet them. I love working with leading food and drinks brands to create the next big thing.
Outside of Huxly, you’ll find me bingewatching the latest Netflix hype or fangirling over Taylor Swift.
Holly Helas
Senior Strategist
At Huxly, I work across innovation, semiotics and positioning projects. With a degree in sociology and anthropology, I love to understand people, culture, and ultimately why we do what we do.
At weekends, you’ll find me putting my housemates through their paces as a personal trainer.
Kristy Mitchell
Strategy Director
I lead branding and innovation projects within the Huxly US team. My passion is collaborating creatively with clients to expand both our thinkings about possible new futures and products.
Outside of Huxly, I’m also an artist, tri-athlete and stargazer.
Tanja Hiestermann
Consultancy Operations Manager
Based in South Africa, I lead Huxly’s PM team. After 27 years in market research project management, the thrill of delivering a successful project never grows old.
On the weekends, you’ll find me hanging out in the bush with a nice glass of wine.
Maria Palla Valiente
Senior Brand Strategist
Uncovering the meaning behind consumer behaviour is what makes me tick. As a trained semiotician, I love decoding verbal and visual trends within a category to create stand-out propositions.
On weekends, you’ll find me gardening with my kids or browsing street markets for antique art.
Melissa Straza
Strategy Director
With two decades of strategy experience, I’m part of the Huxly US team. My approach to helping clients is a balanced mix of creativity and attention to business realities.
Outside of Huxly, you will find me trying new restaurants with my family or planning my next big travel adventure.
Shazia Khan
Strategy Director
I’m an ex-Ogilvy planner with experience across Asia and the Middle East. I love everything about branding, especially capturing that “Ahaa” insight and transforming it into a distinctive proposition.
Outside the office, I’m notorious for making elaborate restaurant lists on Google Maps and eating my way through them.
Aliki Papakonstantinou
Associate Brand Strategist
With my background in Psychology, I’m interested in spotting consumer behavioural patterns. At Huxly, I love using this skill to build great brand and innovation strategies.
On the weekend, you’ll find me exploring new areas, or knitting if it’s a Sunday!
Alexander Fielder
Strategist
Since graduating from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Business Economics, I’ve found my passion for brand strategy. At Huxly I’ve broadened my experience through working with a range of global FMCG giants.
At the weekend, I enjoy running around London parks or playing tennis or squash with friends.
Nikki Jenks
Senior Strategist
My experience with brands started in events – creating on-brand and memorable experiences. At Huxly I channel this into creating brand and innovation strategies that people really connect with.
Outside of Huxly, you'll find me shooting some hoops on the netball court or throwing some shapes on the dancefloor.
Ellie Dent
Director of Design Strategy
A design obsessive & strategist, I lead Huxly’s Design Strategy work. I’m never far from a post-it, and I love asking the big ‘so what?’ questions that lead to great creative strategy.
Outside of Huxly, you’ll find me stuck into a novel or digging away at the Oxford City Farm where I am a board trustee.
Irene Mokone
Senior Qualitative Project Manager
As part of the Huxly PM team, I make sure projects glide seamlessly from start to finish. I’m always intrigued by consumer behaviour - wanting to know why and uncovering the unsaid.
If I'm not chasing deadlines, you’ll find me behind the sewing machine upcycling pieces or fabric shopping.
Oliver Wall
Associate Brand Strategist
I’m all about storytelling and creating brands that people can truly get behind. I have a master’s degree in Branding & Identity and experience in graphic design and video editing.
On weekends, I like whipping up new dishes, enjoying movies, and occasionally diving into a video game.
Grace Thomas
Associate Brand Strategist
I’m a brand strategist with a post-graduate diploma in International Marketing, passionate about helping brands create meaningful connections with audiences across cultures.
Outside of work, you’ll find me playing netball, browsing vintage shops or keeping up my Spanish at language exchanges.
Josie Brownlee
Brand Strategist
As a strategist with a quantitative research background, I love getting to the deeper truths that motivate consumers by pairing their personal stories with the nitty-gritty data.
Outside of Huxly, I’m usually out on a run that ends up at a new bakery or a good pub.
Tanita de Ruijt
Creative Food & Beverage Strategist
With my background in professional cooking and an MA in Anthropology of Food, I translate cultural insights into groundbreaking recipes and product opportunities.
I also love exploring the diasporic restaurants of Suburban London and searching for the best vintage item of clothing.
Gugu Ratji
Associate Strategy Project Manager
I’m a project manager with a knack for keeping things flowing smoothly. I thrive on using my organisation skills to guide Huxly teams to success.
Outside of work, I love recreating elevated versions of my childhood meals and baking with my daughter.
Megan Powell
Director of Strategy
I’m fascinated by all things culture and lead Huxly’s semiotics work. I demystify consumers’ relationship to what they see, to create products and packaging experiences that they really love.
On the weekend you can find me dissecting a museum exhibition or an episode of reality TV.
Karen Poole
Senior Director
A senior brand consultant with 25 years’ experience, I get the big picture and purpose. I take the nuggets of consumer insight and forge them into clear strategic direction.
I love learning new languages, so outside of work you’ll find me on Duolingo trying my hand at Portuguese or Japanese.
Julie Green
Head of Project Delivery - Tangible Innovation
I’m the architect behind the tangible innovation team. I build the processes and tools that enable our strategists and chefs to push the boundaries and create the extraordinary.
When I’m not immersed in project timelines, you’ll find me travelling and exploring new places.
Interested?
Become our newest teammate
There isn't a set model for the next Huxly team member - we're a medley of originals.
Whether you're an aspiring strategist, an experienced innovator, or a powerhouse of project management - if you're interested in working for us get in touch!
We share all of our job vacancies on LinkedIn. You can view available roles, job descriptions and apply there too.