Nicola Green 

Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Director
Virgin Media O2
UK

 

 

In June this year, Nicola Green was named Virgin Media O2’s chief communications and corporate affairs director after the telecommunications company was formed through the merger of Liberty’s Virgin Media and Telefonica’s O2. Green’s appointment came after 18 years with Telefónica, which operates the O2 mobile network in the UK, including being named director of corporate affairs in 2019. 

Since joining O2 in 2003, Green – who received one of PRovoke Media's 2019 Outstanding Individual Achievement SABRE Awards – emerged as one of Telefónica's key executives. Green previously led consumer PR at Orange, where she built sponsorship properties such as BAFTA and Glastonbury Festival. Green was also a brand manager at Dr Pepper, and has worked in agency, looking after a number of FMCG brands at Burson-Marsteller.

Can you share a moment in your career when you saw PR’s direct impact on business performance?
The network outage in 2012 where we increased the reputation of our organisation during this crisis.

What are the communications industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities in the year ahead?
Challenges: To maintain creative ideas when not returning to the office full time. Opportunities: Further demonstrating the role of communications around the board room.

What have you most admired about this industry over the past year?
The way we have pulled together and maintained employee engagement whilst continuing to deliver the organisation.

What has most disappointed you about this industry over the past year?
We should have taken a step back and collaborated better and shared experience of how others worked during the pandemic.

How have you switched off from work and maintained wellness in lockdown?
I've found this a hard time and if I found myself in a similar position again (and I hope this never happens) then I would definitely focus on this more.

Which book/movie/TV show/podcast/playlist/other cultural source has helped you get through this year or provided inspiration?
Happy Place podcast by Fern Cotton.

If I wasn't working in marketing/communications, I would be...
A property investor.

Sum up 2021 in one word.
Optimistic.