Monday Meets Katie Champain - Project Marketing Manager

In this week’s edition of #MondayMeets, we sit down with Katie Champain , Derwent London’s Project Marketing Manager, to uncover what drives her passion for marketing and how she’s making an impact within the company.

What inspired you to pursue your current role?

My career began in a PR and marketing agency on Carnaby Street, where I was thrown in at the deep end working across the agency’s property clients. My primary client was Shaftesbury (now Shaftesbury Capital). I managed London destinations Carnaby and Soho, driving footfall through experiential campaigns and events. Still being new to the city myself, this was a brilliant way to explore, and it was here that my placemaking and brand positioning experience began. My property skills developed further when I moved to my next agency role working with Grosvenor, managing the PR and marketing for another London neighbourhood, Belgravia.

After six years in agency, I was ready to transition in-house, leave PR behind and focus on marketing. So, when the role at Derwent London came my way, I was so excited. Derwent ticked all the boxes and presented a new challenge to me, switching from retail-focused B2C to office-focused B2B marketing. It was the perfect next step for me with a company I could envisage myself working for and progressing my career with.

What’s a project you’ve worked on recently that you found particularly exciting or challenging, and why?

Since I joined Derwent I have taken on a mix of exciting projects, from marketing Furnished + Flexible units and newly refurbished buildings, to launching our Space for Change competition and celebrating Derwent’s 40th anniversary with a fun, social-led film series. The project which has excited me the most is our latest Fitzrovia development, Network, for which I am leading on the marketing. I’ve been involved in the campaign from the start of the building’s construction and will see it through to completion later this year. It’s been a big learning curve, throwing plenty of new challenges at me, from evolving our digital marketing strategy, to managing the Topping Out Ceremony at the end of last year, and coordinating a drone flythrough earlier this month. It’s amazing to be so closely involved with a project (and everybody involved), though it certainly comes with a great deal of responsibility.

What’s one surprising or little-known aspect of your role that you think people would find interesting?

I am a member of Derwent’s Diversity & Inclusion Working Group and lead on the communication aspects of our strategy, both internally and externally. Most recently I have contributed to Derwent achieving the National Equality Standard for the second time, which is the UK’s leading D&I standard. This was an incredible achievement for us and a testament to the work we are doing, and I feel proud to have been a part of it.

Can you share a moment where collaboration with your team or external contractors led to an unexpected or particularly rewarding outcome?

One of my favourite moments from the Network campaign has been the two beautiful models we delivered in collaboration with Piercy&Company and LL&Co. Our goal was to create two contrasting and complimentary models showcasing different elements of the building and we worked closely with the model-making teams at both studios over four months to bring the concepts to life.

Piercy&Company’s model is an incredible three tier, 3D-printed Supermodel which came to life with internal mechanics, allowing you to peer into the building. LL&Co’s model provides an accurate depiction of the building’s architecture and detail of the fa?ade complete with a built-in carry case. Two wonderfully unique marketing tools and a very rewarding project.

How do you stay motivated and inspired in a fast-paced and ever-changing work environment?

Seeing my hard work and perseverance rewarded by a successful campaign is a massive motivator. I love seeing an idea grow and develop, and the feeling of satisfaction at the end. Also, an invigorating workout before I get to the office is a huge incentive to get me up in the morning!

What’s your favourite part of working at Derwent London, and what sets the company apart for you?

The spaces we get to work in are amazing; our office at 25 Savile Row and the beautifully designed Lounges in Fitzrovia and Old Street. Also, the people across the business, who are so knowledgeable in their fields, are very inspiring, and not to forget our best-in-class buildings!