Ruth Allchurch
Former Managing Director, UK and Regional Executive Managing Director for EMEA, WE
Former Managing Director, UK and Regional Executive Managing Director for EMEA, WE
As former managing director for WE Communications’ UK office, Allchurch is responsible for building WE’s brand, digital, and corporate reputation expertise, while focusing on the agency’s strong technology and health offerings.?
Before joining WE, Allchurch most recently served as managing director of FMCG and retail-focused PR agency Cirkle. Here she led impressive growth for the agency with blue chip consumer client wins including Chivas Brothers, Morrisons, Pernod Ricard UK, and organic growth for GSK, Pepsico, and Premier Foods. During her time at Cirkle, she not only won PRCA’s “Agency Head of the Year” but also secured the PRWeek Award for “Best Agency Outside London” and best B2B agency in the UK at the PR Moment Awards. Before Cirkle, she spent eight years client side as head of brand PR for Diageo Western Europe. This role saw Allchurch managing brands including Guinness, Smirnoff, Pimms, Tanqueray, Gordon’s, and Captain Morgan’s across 13 markets, working on multi-market brand PR campaigns. These campaigns included Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange programme, the Tanqueray Gin Palace, Guinness Rugby Premiership sponsorship and launching the Arthur Guinness Fund globally.
At WE, Allchurch leads a team of 47 communications experts, with a leadership team that includes senior directors across digital, health and pharma, corporate and sustainability, consumer technology, and B2B technology. This team collectively runs a portfolio of global, pan-European and UK clients ranging from Capgemini and HSBC through to Amor packaging, FLIR thermal cameras, and iRobot.
A graduate from the University of Birmingham, Ruth is also chair of the PRCA Consumer Group, a fellow of the PRCA and a member of the Women in PR (WIPR) committee. Ruth has lived in both Canada and Zimbabwe, and her childhood summers in Kenya has meant she’s still a keen traveller today. When she’s not on the road, she can be found reading and planning her next adventure.
Events & Speakerships
European Association of Communications Directors Summit 2021: Future Now, Panelist, EACD, Oct. 14, 2021
Women in PR Mentoring Programme: Meet the Mentors, Speaker, Women In PR, June 9, 2021
Consumer Group: Should Brands Take More Risks and if so, What's the Potential Impact to Reputation in the Short and Long Term?, Panelist, PRCA, Mar 11, 2021
PRWeek Power Book 2021, Interviewee, PRWeek, Mar. 1, 2021
PRWeek Power Book 2020, Interviewee, PRWeek, Mar. 7, 2020
Lightning Round Talk at In2Summit, Panel Host, PRovoke, June 22, 2019
Brand Purpose with The Drum at Cannes Lions 2019, Interviewee, The Drum, June 28, 2019
The Power of Earned Media: Effective Social Cause Marketing, Panel Host, PR360, June 9, 2019
PRWeek Launches UK Power Book 2019, Interviewee, PRWeek, Mar. 7, 2019
Blog
Brand Reputation in a Post-COVID World, April 6, 2021
Leveling the Playing Field for Brands and Customers in 2021, Mar. 10, 2021
