Tributes pour in for 'marketing giant' Dr Juliet Williams

Senior figures, friends and colleagues from the marketing industry have paid tribute to “visionary leader and innovator” Dr Juliet Williams CBE, who has passed away, aged 81.

After graduating from both London and Cambridge Universities and embarking on a PhD in geomorphology at Glasgow University – which she decided was not for her – she qualified as a teacher but chose to take her interest in education and skills out of the classroom and into the workplace.

As the youngest commissioning editor, she joined Macmillan and subsequently accompanied Harold Macmillan himself as he travelled around West Africa re-negotiating Government education contracts. Williams moved on to become editor of The Geographical Magazine, covering human and environmental disasters around the world.

In the early 1970s, she turned her hand to business. A passionate marketer and business leader, she built Brann Direct Marketing – now Havas CX Helia – from a £1m agency to a £25m giant in five years, created an industry ‘academy’ company, prompting the creation of some 10,000 jobs in the creative sector and achieved recognition as one of the ‘100 best companies to work for in the UK’.

In 2002, Williams became chair of both the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the South West Employment and Skills Partnership. Never losing her passion for the development of raw talent and engaged in critical skills acquisition in fashion design, manufacturing and digital technologies. She also worked with the University of Bristol on the assessment of Learning Power.
One of her greatest triumphs was masterminding the creation of VisitEngland and leading the EU’s winning inter-regional (22 regions/20 countries) project of 2008/10, RAPIDE.

Her leadership extended to promoting STEM education and inspiring young talent through initiatives like ‘Be the Best you can Be’ and supporting the marketing industry as a DMA UK board member.

Williams was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford Brookes University in 2005 and a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 2009 for ‘services to the tourist and creative industries’, and awarded a further Honorary Doctorate by the University of Gloucestershire.

She had also been chairman of magazine brand B2B Marketing since 2009.

We Are Marketing managing director Heather Westgate, who described Williams as a life long friend and mentor, said: “Juliet was a visionary leader and innovator, who dedicated her career to fostering creativity and driving innovative solutions across the public, private, and voluntary sectors. Her legacy is marked by her relentless passion, strategic foresight, and impactful contributions to regional and national development, leaving an indelible mark on the communities she served.”

Global DPO and data protection consultant Victoria Tuffill added: “She was awesome. She was genuinely a force of nature and generous with her help and advice. Not only in business – she was also very kind and helpful when I was looking for advice on breeding from my first Labrador bitch. Really sad to hear this.”

Meanwhile, DataComplianceBox founder and CEO James Middlehurst commented: “Very sad news… a giant of the industry…fearless pioneer and champion of the world of direct we all take for granted.”

And, Campfire Agency executive creative director Claire Robinson said: “I remember meeting Juliet at Golley Slater. A friendly force of nature. Sorry to hear this.”

English Heritage campaign planning manager Judith McLelland concluded: “I was also lucky enough to work at Brann when Juliet was CEO. I can endorse all the comments above about her energy, her encouragement of new talent and I benefited from her mentoring.

“I remember her company car was a blue MGBGT – ever the individual. I was thinking of her last night as I stumbled across one of her Christmas cards she sent me years ago and so the timing of this is very strange. The end of an era.”

TOPICS:data-driven marketing obituary