Two hellos and one goodbye as CPL One Group appoints Michael Doukanaris and Kathryn O’Reilly to senior roles and bids a grateful farewell to Laura Papworth-Saunders.
We are pleased to have welcomed two new Board members to CPL One Group this month. Michael joins as director of business strategy and operations, while Kathryn takes over as director of finance from Laura.
Michael is the former managing director of London-based content marketing agency 7C3, where he led a major business turnaround – rebuilding the agency’s proposition, operating model and core capabilities to restore the agency to sustained profitability. He has also held roles at The&Partnership (News UK) and Telegraph Media Group. Most recently, he co-founded AI Refine, an AI-powered, human-in-the-loop editorial software platform.
“Michael’s appointment is an important milestone in our Towards 2030 strategy,” says CPL One Group managing director Mike Sewell. “Our vision is ‘to achieve sustained growth and be admired as a strategic, creative and results-driven content marketing agency with great people and great clients’.
“We are proud to be a successful, profitable business but it’s vital that our services and offer continue to be compelling and relevant for current and future clients. I am confident Michael’s influence and expertise will help us achieve that vision.”
Michael adds: “I’m delighted to have joined CPL One Group, a company with a rich history in delivering high-quality content for major brands across many specialist sectors. After just a few days, it’s already clear that in Cabbells and CPL One, we have two incredibly strong brands backed by a wealth of talent. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and making a real difference for the agency and our clients.”
Kathryn is a KPMG-qualified chartered accountant whose experience spans media agencies such as Posterscope and Vizeum (both part of Dentsu), and accountancy practices including Cambridge-based PEM.
“We are so pleased that Kathryn has joined us,” says Mike. “She has had an impressive career to date and clearly understands what makes good agencies tick. She will bring a fresh perspective and overview that will be invaluable as we look to deliver against our Towards 2030 strategy.”
Kathryn says: “Laura and the team have built an excellent finance function, and the CPL One Group is in a strong financial position. However, this can’t be taken for granted and I am looking forward to identifying opportunities to ensure our finance team continues to add value to our business and builds strong partnerships with our clients, suppliers and other stakeholders.”
Laura is leaving us after nearly a decade of exceptional service, moving back into the manufacturing sector where she worked before.
“Laura has had a huge influence on this business since joining in 2017, soon after our management buyout,” says Mike. “During that period, we have almost doubled in size, survived and then thrived during and after the Covid pandemic and completed the acquisition of Century One to form CPL One Group. Throughout that period, she has been a key member of our board and also a brilliant support to me personally. I am looking forward to seeing Kathryn and the team build on Laura’s good work.”
