We are Conran Design Group.
We design better brands that positively transform how people think, feel, and experience the world.
We collaborate with our clients to develop and activate meaningful brands and communications that matter. From research and insight-driven consultancy to effective and impactful delivery, we’re specialists in strategy, communications, design and activation.
With teams based in the UK, US and India, we’re an integrated part of one of the world’s largest communications networks: Havas, owned by Vivendi.
Focused services.
Specialist expertise.
We’re specialists in brand strategy. We conduct rigorous research and develop unique insights that define and position brands. We solve challenges in brand architecture and portfolios. And we develop names, propositions, messaging, content and narrative for brands and products.
We’re communications experts. Our work encompasses everything from annual reports, sustainability reports, corporate websites and investor presentations right through to stakeholder engagement campaigns and sustainability communications.
World class design is in our DNA. We create visual and verbal identities, as well as tone of voice systems. We bring these to life across multiple touchpoints, including packaging and physical environments.
We switch on brands through multiple channels and media, from events and presentations to digital, social, film and animation. We develop brand guidelines and training, and act as brand guardians for many global brands.
Global reach.
Local insight.
Our main UK hub is in King’s Cross where we're part of the vibrant Havas Village London community: more than 20 creative agencies in one building, united by a shared ambition to create meaningful brands and brand experiences.
Our business in New York is a partnership with Havas Health & You. Housed in Midtown, we partner with colleagues from across the network to create and deliver global branding and design solutions for multiple industry sectors.
We opened our office in India in early 2021. Launching a new regional hub during global lockdowns was perhaps an unusual move but we couldn’t be happier with our progress in the region and the exciting opportunities that we're generating.
Meet our team.
Thom Newton
Global CEO
Thom is responsible for the overall leadership of Conran Design Group across all of our regional operations; UK, US and India. He works closely with both clients and internal teams and provides brand and communications advice at leadership level on key global accounts.
Thom works with our clients to ensure their business objectives are met through the implementation of effective brand strategy. He led the recent global rebrand of Reckitt, the launch, renaming and repositioning of Clario and a range of other client assignments across multiple business sectors.
Thom is inspired by the transformative effect that great design can have on business and society and is focused on continuing the growth and development of Conran to attract great talent, build an open, empowering and supportive culture and deliver world class brand and design work.
Thom works with our clients to ensure their business objectives are met through the implementation of effective brand strategy. He led the recent global rebrand of Reckitt, the launch, renaming and repositioning of Clario and a range of other client assignments across multiple business sectors.
Thom is inspired by the transformative effect that great design can have on business and society and is focused on continuing the growth and development of Conran to attract great talent, build an open, empowering and supportive culture and deliver world class brand and design work.
Lee Hoddy
Executive Creative Director
Responsible for creative standards at Conran, Lee is passionate about solving problems through powerful, communication-driven design. He has held the role of design and creative director at many of the UK’s leading branding agencies including Brand Union, Bamber Forsyth and Fitch.
Lee has extensive experience across a broad range of design disciplines, enabling him to inspire and build a multi-disciplinary team of designers to maintain the highest levels of creativity across the agency. More recently Lee has led the creative team to deliver major rebranding programmes for clients such as Reckitt, Danone and Clario.
Lee believes that the best brands are created through a close working partnership with clients – fostering a collaborative approach that delivers authentic creative ideas that are strategically grounded, encourage participation and make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
Lee has extensive experience across a broad range of design disciplines, enabling him to inspire and build a multi-disciplinary team of designers to maintain the highest levels of creativity across the agency. More recently Lee has led the creative team to deliver major rebranding programmes for clients such as Reckitt, Danone and Clario.
Lee believes that the best brands are created through a close working partnership with clients – fostering a collaborative approach that delivers authentic creative ideas that are strategically grounded, encourage participation and make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
Geet Nazir
Managing Partner, Mumbai
Geet is responsible for the leadership of Conran Design Group’s operations in India. Her role involves working closely with clients to ensure brand and business impact.
Geet has over 19 years of marketing and brand experience across New York and Mumbai. At Conran, she led the recent rebranding of Cadilla Healthcare to Zydus and is partnering with current clients to deliver transformative results on product launches, naming and brand identity creation and packaging projects to name a few. In a previous role, Geet was a part of the brand strategy team at Indian Hotels (Taj).
Geet is inspired by the power of design to drive brand and business advantage to clients. Having worked both client and agency side, Geet understands and is inspired by Conran’s vision to deliver on both strategic consultancy as well as design led and impactful execution.
Geet has over 19 years of marketing and brand experience across New York and Mumbai. At Conran, she led the recent rebranding of Cadilla Healthcare to Zydus and is partnering with current clients to deliver transformative results on product launches, naming and brand identity creation and packaging projects to name a few. In a previous role, Geet was a part of the brand strategy team at Indian Hotels (Taj).
Geet is inspired by the power of design to drive brand and business advantage to clients. Having worked both client and agency side, Geet understands and is inspired by Conran’s vision to deliver on both strategic consultancy as well as design led and impactful execution.
James March
Category Director, Health
A healthcare brand, strategy and communications specialist, James is responsible for managing our Conran Design Group healthcare unit.
James has 20 years experience working client and agency side. His background is a mixture of brand, advertising, digital and PR, with a track record of growing health brands. James has extensive experience working with GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer, Novartis, AbbVie, J&J, ViiV, Gilead, AZ, Teva, BI, Unilever and Reckitt, amongst others.
James is inspired by the transformative role that great design can play in healthcare.
James has 20 years experience working client and agency side. His background is a mixture of brand, advertising, digital and PR, with a track record of growing health brands. James has extensive experience working with GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer, Novartis, AbbVie, J&J, ViiV, Gilead, AZ, Teva, BI, Unilever and Reckitt, amongst others.
James is inspired by the transformative role that great design can play in healthcare.
Karen Almeida
Head of Reporting
Karen heads up our corporate reporting practice. With over 25 years’ experience, both client and agency side, she advises companies on developing informative and engaging reporting and communications and navigating an increasingly complex regulatory framework.
Karen has worked extensively client side – she was Head of European Investor Relations at Reuters for 5 years – and agency side for leading communications consultancies. Karen has led over 200 FTSE and international annual reporting projects for clients including: Rolls-Royce, Phoenix Group, Nokia, AstraZeneca, ITV, National Grid, Croda and Shell.
Karen loves working for Conran because of the pride the agency takes in delivering thought-provoking insight, creative excellence and collaborative relationships. She enjoys working with our clients because they value our expertise, creative challenge and problem-solving approach.
Karen has worked extensively client side – she was Head of European Investor Relations at Reuters for 5 years – and agency side for leading communications consultancies. Karen has led over 200 FTSE and international annual reporting projects for clients including: Rolls-Royce, Phoenix Group, Nokia, AstraZeneca, ITV, National Grid, Croda and Shell.
Karen loves working for Conran because of the pride the agency takes in delivering thought-provoking insight, creative excellence and collaborative relationships. She enjoys working with our clients because they value our expertise, creative challenge and problem-solving approach.
Victoria Wright
Business Director
Victoria is responsible for making sure our clients' brand objectives are met, developing approaches for the implementation of strategy and creative that align to their budgetary and timing considerations. As a leader of our client services team, she makes sure we deliver with a proactive and collaborative approach.
Since joining Conran in 2009 Victoria has played a key role in the creation and management of our in-house design team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, brand creation and support for Phoenix Group, annual and sustainability reports, and the repositioning and rebrand of Railsbank.
Victoria is passionate about delivering world class work for our clients and is a strong believer in the power that positive and open collaboration has to deliver both positive results for clients, and a rewarding and empowering experience for our people.
Since joining Conran in 2009 Victoria has played a key role in the creation and management of our in-house design team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, brand creation and support for Phoenix Group, annual and sustainability reports, and the repositioning and rebrand of Railsbank.
Victoria is passionate about delivering world class work for our clients and is a strong believer in the power that positive and open collaboration has to deliver both positive results for clients, and a rewarding and empowering experience for our people.
Juan Pedraza
Creative Director
As Creative Director, Juan leads a multi-disciplined creative team in the generation and delivery of meaningful and impactful creative solutions for our clients. Juan has over 20 years' experience in the industry, specialising in branding and corporate communications.
A highly motivated and passionate strategic creative thinker, Juan has recently worked with clients such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Sanofi and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, building compelling brand identities and powerful communication solutions that effectively deliver against the strategic vision and commercial ambition of our clients.
Juan is inspired by collaboration with other creative minds, striving to challenge conventions and explore opportunities to solve problems in novel and imaginative ways. He believes this is the key to delivering creative solutions that engage and delight audiences.
A highly motivated and passionate strategic creative thinker, Juan has recently worked with clients such as Teva Pharmaceuticals, Merck, Sanofi and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, building compelling brand identities and powerful communication solutions that effectively deliver against the strategic vision and commercial ambition of our clients.
Juan is inspired by collaboration with other creative minds, striving to challenge conventions and explore opportunities to solve problems in novel and imaginative ways. He believes this is the key to delivering creative solutions that engage and delight audiences.
Maren Steffens
Creative Director
Maren is a conceptual thinker and a creative leader helping brands to transform on a global and local scale as well as launching new products through innovative, strategic design solutions.
Maren works with clients to make sure their objectives are met through effective, strategic design thinking. She leads the global rebrand and portfolio harmonisations of various high-profile brands such as Danone, Nutricia, Teva and Sandoz alongside other international high profile clients.
Maren has a passion for brands and storytelling through innovative design thinking. With an eye for design excellence, her pragmatic approach ensures the delivery of effective outcomes. She also enjoys inspiring and nurturing diverse talent to their next level of growth.
Maren works with clients to make sure their objectives are met through effective, strategic design thinking. She leads the global rebrand and portfolio harmonisations of various high-profile brands such as Danone, Nutricia, Teva and Sandoz alongside other international high profile clients.
Maren has a passion for brands and storytelling through innovative design thinking. With an eye for design excellence, her pragmatic approach ensures the delivery of effective outcomes. She also enjoys inspiring and nurturing diverse talent to their next level of growth.
Ian Howlett
Business Director
Ian is responsible for both managing key client relationships within Conran Design Group, as well as defining digital strategy for all of our clients, drawing on his 20+ years of experience of managing and developing digital agencies.
Ian is a highly experienced brand and digital professional with experience across a broad range of sectors including financial services, publishing, media, charity and corporate. Ian leads our relationship with key clients such as Shell, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Tesco.
Ian is inspired by the opportunity to combine design and technology to deliver outstanding brand experiences for audiences that result in measurable change.
Ian is a highly experienced brand and digital professional with experience across a broad range of sectors including financial services, publishing, media, charity and corporate. Ian leads our relationship with key clients such as Shell, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and Tesco.
Ian is inspired by the opportunity to combine design and technology to deliver outstanding brand experiences for audiences that result in measurable change.
Kieron Molloy
Creative Director
Working across brand and communications projects, Kieron ensures our creative solutions deliver against the commercial and strategic challenges of the brief, forging strong working relationships with our clients in the process.
Kieron has recently led the creative teams on a number of high-profile projects, including a brand refresh for GSK’s investor audience; a compelling new think tank for Phoenix Group; and a campaign brand for the launch of Sport England’s radical new 10-year vision.
Kieron believes it’s important we use design to make a more meaningful connection with our audiences. Design may only be one part of the output, but it’s the fundamental driver of the piece – it sets the tone, it engages the audience on an emotional level, and it’s the key ingredient in making any experience memorable.
Kieron has recently led the creative teams on a number of high-profile projects, including a brand refresh for GSK’s investor audience; a compelling new think tank for Phoenix Group; and a campaign brand for the launch of Sport England’s radical new 10-year vision.
Kieron believes it’s important we use design to make a more meaningful connection with our audiences. Design may only be one part of the output, but it’s the fundamental driver of the piece – it sets the tone, it engages the audience on an emotional level, and it’s the key ingredient in making any experience memorable.
Steven O'Neil
Associate Managing Partner, New York
Steven is responsible for delivering the highest standards of client services and for growing the CDG offer in North America. Steven has 20 years of experience working in both large and small agencies, specializing in branding and packaging.
Steven has experience across a wide range of categories and has worked on reenergizing iconic global brands as well as building foundations for cultural institutions and non-profits.
Steven’s passion lies in building lasting client relations and is inspired by the storytelling power of design to change behavior, connect with audiences and propel brands forward.
Steven has experience across a wide range of categories and has worked on reenergizing iconic global brands as well as building foundations for cultural institutions and non-profits.
Steven’s passion lies in building lasting client relations and is inspired by the storytelling power of design to change behavior, connect with audiences and propel brands forward.
Mayuri Nikumbh
Head of Design, Mumbai
Mayuri is responsible for spearheading the creative stewardship and shaping the creative vision for Conran Design Group, Mumbai.
Mayuri helps clients to realise strategic brand transformations through impact and relevance and has worked on brands including Abbott, Microsoft, Nestle, Nivea, Paperboat, PepsiCo, TATA and Viacom 18. She has led award-winning projects through her expertise in design strategy, creative direction, deep understanding of culture and consumer behaviour as well as contextual trend-spotting. At Conran, she led the brand transformation for Zydus.
Mayuri is inspired by tackling problems through the power of good design. A people person – she finds motivation in collaborative efforts driven by human stories.
Mayuri helps clients to realise strategic brand transformations through impact and relevance and has worked on brands including Abbott, Microsoft, Nestle, Nivea, Paperboat, PepsiCo, TATA and Viacom 18. She has led award-winning projects through her expertise in design strategy, creative direction, deep understanding of culture and consumer behaviour as well as contextual trend-spotting. At Conran, she led the brand transformation for Zydus.
Mayuri is inspired by tackling problems through the power of good design. A people person – she finds motivation in collaborative efforts driven by human stories.
Ben Solomon
Creative Director, New York
Ben is the creative lead in the NYC office, helping shape and deliver work that elevates our clients' ambitions and purpose, through strategically aligned, and beautifully executed design.
Ben has extensive brand development and identity design experience across industries including health and wellness, finance, tech and manufacturing. Recently he led the corporate identity development for Viatris, continues to support the growth of Zoetis Diagnostics, and oversaw the identity design of several new Havas agencies.
Ben is inspired by the knowledge, experience, and vision that clients bring to the table when they come to Conran with their challenge. Through working together closely, we create meaningful brands that authentically connect, and hopefully transform, peoples’ lives for the better.
Ben has extensive brand development and identity design experience across industries including health and wellness, finance, tech and manufacturing. Recently he led the corporate identity development for Viatris, continues to support the growth of Zoetis Diagnostics, and oversaw the identity design of several new Havas agencies.
Ben is inspired by the knowledge, experience, and vision that clients bring to the table when they come to Conran with their challenge. Through working together closely, we create meaningful brands that authentically connect, and hopefully transform, peoples’ lives for the better.
Neil Matthews
Production Director
Neil is responsible for leading our production team. He supports in all areas of the business, collaborating with creative and client services teams to ensure that we are delivering the best solutions to the highest standard for our clients. He has a broad range of experience managing production teams working within the design and print industries.
Neil has a very hands-on approach and a strong command of the latest techniques in the production process. Recent work includes the implementation of rebrands such as Reckitt, Railsbank and Nykode.
Neil enjoys being part of one of the country’s leading multi-disciplinary design agencies as it affords the luxury of working on some of the world’s leading brands. The opportunity of working with such high-profile clients means that we get to work at the highest level in the industry.
Neil has a very hands-on approach and a strong command of the latest techniques in the production process. Recent work includes the implementation of rebrands such as Reckitt, Railsbank and Nykode.
Neil enjoys being part of one of the country’s leading multi-disciplinary design agencies as it affords the luxury of working on some of the world’s leading brands. The opportunity of working with such high-profile clients means that we get to work at the highest level in the industry.
Charlie Skinner
Strategy Director
Charlie is responsible for understanding the business context and brand challenges of our clients. He provides clear recommendations supported by solid insight to make sure the brand strategy supports clients' business and marketing objectives. He helps guide the branding process with planning, development and delivery of creative solutions, ensuring a consistent narrative.
As a seasoned brand strategist with a background in insight, Charlie has worked all over the world on projects involving corporate rebrand, purpose, brand architecture, positioning, naming, visual identity and messaging.
Charlie studied psychology and always enjoys getting to the heart of a brand or a company – understanding its psychology, including all the tensions and contradictions – discovering why it exists and what it really means to people. Then distilling this into a clear brand strategy which inspires creative and amplifies this out to the world.
As a seasoned brand strategist with a background in insight, Charlie has worked all over the world on projects involving corporate rebrand, purpose, brand architecture, positioning, naming, visual identity and messaging.
Charlie studied psychology and always enjoys getting to the heart of a brand or a company – understanding its psychology, including all the tensions and contradictions – discovering why it exists and what it really means to people. Then distilling this into a clear brand strategy which inspires creative and amplifies this out to the world.
Tim Parker
Strategy Director
Tim helps ensure everything we do is rooted in and guided by strategy. From the framing of challenges to the development and delivery of creative solutions. Ensuring the work creates commercial impact and drives desired business outcomes.
Tim has a background in insight and strategy, having spent over 17 years advising global brands across geographies and sectors, from Mars Petcare and Colgate Palmolive, to Warner Media, Visa and IG. He thrives on tackling thorny challenges, distilling complexity into simple narratives, and delivering impactful strategies fuelled by rich insight.
Tim enjoys working at Conran as he is constantly stimulated. He enjoys working with great people who inspire him to do work that he is proud of, adds value, and has impact.
Tim has a background in insight and strategy, having spent over 17 years advising global brands across geographies and sectors, from Mars Petcare and Colgate Palmolive, to Warner Media, Visa and IG. He thrives on tackling thorny challenges, distilling complexity into simple narratives, and delivering impactful strategies fuelled by rich insight.
Tim enjoys working at Conran as he is constantly stimulated. He enjoys working with great people who inspire him to do work that he is proud of, adds value, and has impact.