Andrew Griffin

Marketing is in my DNA...an inquiring mind and a customer centric outlook meant I discovered at an early age my specialised focus which set an exciting course shaping my working life….

From the outset I benefited from quality education within a ‘real-life’ orientated institution, learning from the best academics and industry practitioners at Aston University. I graduated with the Ford Prize for Business Insight, equipped with passion, skills and confidence to craft a fruitful and rewarding career. I gained money-cannot-buy experience working at GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, right at its creation after a merger between SmithKline Beecham and Glaxo Wellcome learning about change, being part of the solution. I was privileged to see FMCG household brands such as Aquafresh, Lucozade and Ribena campaigns and also ground-breaking medical breakthroughs. I progressed to blue-chip brands achieving roles including Promotions Manager, Product Manager, Marketing Manager, Brand Consultant, Strategic Development Consultant across pharmaceuticals, energy, finance and education.

Apart from my industry achievements it was no accident I chose to share my skills in an educational company and then directly ‘give back’ in the FE sector where today I teach Business, Finance and Marketing at Halesowen College, the very institution I that provided me the initial ‘spark’. Equally it was not incidental I returned to Aston University as a Mentor, inspiring students to follow dreams. I have also been a Director of a Multi-Academy Trust and School Governor. A champion of CPD I hold Chartered Marketer status and work extensively with the Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM) and a member of the Qualifications and Training Committee, charged with safeguarding the integrity and relevance of qualifications. I am also an official assessor for the IDM and sit upon the ‘Marking Panel’ assessing coursework and examined submissions so there’s always plenty to do!

So all in all, I have a true advocate of Marketing with industry links, real-life authenticity/credibility coupled with extensive professional training as a Teacher, IDM champion and hopefully role model to those that wish to aspire in the exiting career that is Marketing.