A ‘collective’ mentality
As one of several lead communications managers at Three, Lee Marsh’s role is to lead a campaign, decide on the best routes to market and ensure the right communications plan is in place.
Marsh explains: "I act as a crucial pivot point between Three and our customers’ touch points, by ensuring that everyone is aligned and working to the same ambition. We work across the teams in a very collaborative way to ensure the output is consistent and telling the same story.
"There are times when work can be siloed so my challenge when we’re working at a fast pace is to create a ‘collective’ mentality, keep the enthusiasm and passion going, and ensure everyone feels part of the team."
Working as a cohesive unit
For every campaign that his team takes on, Marsh will typically take a briefing from the propositions team and devise a working group across the business, along with a plan to get the campaign fully integrated across all the relevant channels - whether that be TV advertising, digital or whatever is right for the audience.
Marsh explains: "I work with relevant external agencies, such as our media agency, and bring everyone on board internally, ensuring the group is working as a cohesive unit to deliver on the objective at hand".
Sometimes there is a need to work flexibly, as Marsh explains: "I’m usually in London once or twice a week, along with my team. If I need to get on with some focused work then I can work remotely as do any of the team."
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Headspace between major campaigns
Marsh has just led a major campaign that enables customers to use Snapchat as much as they like without using up any data allowance, nor relying on wifi. "This was a massive project and very exciting for all of us. With big projects like this it’s important to make sure we have some headspace before we move on to the next campaign!
At the moment, Marsh is working with the propositions team to see what ideas they’re planning to progress so he can be involved from outset: "It’s important that I’m part of those conversations", Marsh states.
He’s also working on many new initiatives working very closely with the propositions team. "We look at lots of current and potential propositions and ask ourselves, is that historic or should we try and redevelop it and make it fit for purpose again?"
"You need to give people a bit of freedom in order to get the best out of them. We have a scooter by my desk and occasionally someone will pick it up and scoot around the office randomly! It’s things like that which make our fun culture."
Are you a ‘Three’ person?
Marsh says you can tell if someone is a ‘Three’ person by their core behaviours: "I think that typical ‘Three’ behaviours include being able to show agility, making sure you always think about the customer first and what is right for them and definitely working collaboratively."
"It’s about making something as good as it can be and knowing you will get rewarded for it. You get recognised for making things happen here. It also helps that we’re run by an amazing CEO, the type that doesn’t just sit in an office but who plays football with us, has a laugh with us, and that we all work hard with smiles on our faces. We have to live by our purpose and make sure we internally are ‘freeing the fun’."
What’s the culture like at Three? "You need to give people a bit of freedom in order to get the best out of them", he comments. "To give you an example, we have a scooter by my desk and occasionally someone will pick it up and scoot around the office randomly! It’s things like that which make our fun culture."
So, what does Marsh think makes a great fit for his team? "People who are willing to help each other and think of the collective rather than the individual", he asserts. "When you’re truly part of a team there is no room for egos."
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"When you’re truly part of a team there is no room for egos."
What makes a wonderful workplace?
"Team spirit and camaraderie, helping each other and having a positive outlook - all these things make a wonderful workplace for me", Marsh enthuses. "I believe you get the best from people in relaxed and happy environment and that comes from team spirit. Working hard while having a laugh along the way.
"We all believe in what Three is trying to do and we’re all in it together. When you listen to our CMO or CEO about the direction Three is going in, we trust them and feel wholeheartedly confident we will succeed.
"It’s also a brilliant time to be in marketing and being part of something new. We’re constantly evolving and learning all the time", he adds.
From work placement to comms lead
So how did Marsh get to where he is in his career? "I didn’t go to university, shock horror!" shares Marsh, who studied art and design at college and decided a vocational qualification would be more useful. He continues: "I did a work placement with Volvo and from day one of doing data entry I said I needed a more creative role like marketing or advertising."
He became a direct marketing executive and worked his way up to campaign manager. He then got promoted to european campaign manager when his brand director got promoted to Volvo Car Europe and took him with her.
"After a few years I decided I wanted to challenge myself and try a different industry entirely", he adds. "That’s when I landed my role as brand communications manager at Vodafone. I quickly realised my personality wasn’t right for them and it was far too corporate for me." And that’s when he moved to Three.
"Be confident in yourself but also be willing to listen to other people’s advice. You don’t know everything!"
Career tips
Marsh offers this advice for aspiring marketing communications professionals looking to get their foot in the door or progress their careers: "I always say, be yourself and don’t try to change for other people. Know when to challenge and not challenge. I am who I am and I have a certain style, which is more relaxed than many other people.
"Be confident in yourself but also be willing to listen to other people’s advice. You don’t know everything! I want people to see me as a professional but also as a good guy."
To sum up what it’s like to work at Three, Marsh concludes: "When you are in the middle of a massive campaign every day I wake up and look forward to going to work. I want to see the team and the people I’m working with. When friends see my campaigns like the Snapchat one and say, ‘I love that Puggerfly dancing to Toto, is that what you worked on?’ That makes me feel proud. I’m excited to see where the future goes and to be part of it."
