Brian is a communications and public affairs specialist with nearly forty years’ experience across commercial, corporate and government accounts.

Working initially in the City of London, Edinburgh, and then internationally, clients have included Budweiser, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Royal Lyceum Theatre and international governments.

Brian is a regular TV and radio contributor to the likes of Newsnight and Sky, and has had a weekly column in The Scotsman since 2009. This follows regular columns in the Edinburgh Evening News (18 years) and City AM. He has also contributed op-eds to the Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph and Mail on Sunday.

He has held elected office twice, serving in both the Scottish and European parliaments.

Eleanor Higgins is an experienced strategic communications advisor and Associate Director at Thoburns, with a strong track record of supporting high-growth technology and private capital-backed companies through international expansion. With nearly a decade of experience, she has advised innovative businesses on cross-border growth strategies, complex stakeholder engagement, and reputation management across global markets.

Eleanor has played a key role in guiding companies as they scale into new jurisdictions, particularly in navigating the commercial, regulatory, and geopolitical dynamics of the US and other international markets. Her deep understanding of how to position transformative businesses for success on the global stage makes her a valuable partner to clients facing the challenges and opportunities of rapid growth and internationalisation.

Georgi joined Thoburns in September 2022. At Thoburns, Georgi has worked with various international and private capital clients in: fintech, retail, venture capital, private equity and AI.

After graduating from Durham University with a degree in Law and attaining her Legal Practice Course certificate.

Jake joined Thoburns in November 2023. Prior to Thoburns, Jake worked as an accredited sports journalist and editor. He also completed work experience placements at The Wall Street Journal and Stats Perform, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from University College London.

Johanna joined Thoburns in September 2021 as an Account Executive having graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2020 with a degree in Politics and American Studies. Prior to joining Thoburns, Johanna worked for a PR and integrated communications agency specialising in the Technology and Healthcare sectors. She has also completed internships at a Think Tank and with a strategic communications consultancy firm.

Maram Alkadhi is a Director at Thoburns, a leading reputation management consultancy serving private capital investors and high-growth companies. With nearly 20 years of international experience, Maram is a seasoned communications strategist specialising in advising public and private sector clients across the UK and the Gulf, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Prior to joining Thoburns, he held senior roles at top-tier consultancies, most recently as Senior Vice President at Teneo in the Middle East. His portfolio includes high-profile mandates such as NEOM, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Research and Publishing Company, and the COP29 Presidency in Azerbaijan. Maram is known for his expertise in managing complex, high-stakes communications in geopolitically sensitive environments and brings a culturally attuned approach to stakeholder engagement, media strategy, and reputation building across the region. At Thoburns, he provides senior counsel to clients with strategic interests in the Gulf.

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in journalism and media training. In that time, he has worked with leading international print and broadcasting organisations, companies, governments and civil society organisations.

Mark’s early career in journalism was with the Financial Times, working predominantly in Africa. He then joined Independent Television News (ITN) – one of the UK’s leading television news providers, where he was variously Political correspondent, Business and Economics Editor, bureau chief in Russia and then Ireland.

Mark has also delivered a wide range of media training programmes in his time working for the Thomson Foundation, with extensive experience in Africa and Eastern Europe.

Having worked in the communications industry since 2006, Max has extensive experience in managing all aspects of financial and corporate B2B client projects. From developing and delivering traditional and digital marketing and PR communications strategies, profile raising, to managing teams of designers and specialists to execute print, digital, and audio-visual communications campaigns, branding, advertising, content marketing, and corporate reporting projects.

Max speaks a number of languages fluently and has a Masters Degree in Translation from the University of Mainz and an MBA in International Marketing from the European Business School, Reutlingen.

Nadine joined Thoburns in May 2022 and has over eight years’ communications experience specialising in Arabic media relations.

Prior to Thoburns, Nadine worked as a media consultant at the Arab Foundations Forum – a member-based association of Arab foundations which aims to strengthen the capacity of Arab philanthropy in the MENA region – and as an Account Director at WHAT’S UP? – a monthly entertainment magazine and platform in Lebanon. Nadine studied Psychology at Le Collège Notre Dame des Frères.

Pepper is Operations Director at Thoburns and has worked closely with chairman, Richard Thoburn – since 2011 – on all aspects of growing the agency. In addition to working for Thoburns, Pepper is a trustee for Burnie’s Foundation, an animal charity which owns a sanctuary in Norfolk and rescues dogs from Romania.

Before that, Pepper began her career in the US pharmaceutical industry working – in operations – for Hemispherx Biopharma Inc, a manufactuer of clinical drugs.

Richard founded Thoburns in 1986, originally as a communications agency focused on emerging markets. In 2011, Thoburns acquired Greentarget Strategic Communications, a specialist financial and corporate public relations agency with a particular expertise in banking and market structure. Greentarget was sold in 2019 and the Thoburns offering has since been refocused to provide an even more integrated approach.

He is a founder trustee of Burnie’s Foundation, an animal charity which helps alleviate animal suffering.  Richard completed the Owner/ President Manager (OPM) program at Harvard Business School, where he still maintains strong connections.

Sheena has over 15 years of experience advising private and listed companies across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia on corporate reputation and financial communications. She specialises in high-profile fundraising, restructuring, and cross-border transactions.

Prior to joining Thoburns, Sheena led external communications for Asia’s fastest-growing life insurer, FWD, ahead of its proposed US and Hong Kong listing and headed the corporate communications function for Hyphen Group (now MoneyHero Group) ahead of its US listing via SPAC. Sheena’s expertise positions her as a trusted advisor to investors in emerging markets navigating complex corporate environments.

Sheena has also worked for international consultancies, Brunswick and FGS Group, advising on corporate communications for major companies across the globe.

Simran joined Thoburns in September 2022 as an Account Executive having completed a Master’s in Social Anthropology from the School of Oriental and African Studies, and her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Durham University.

Prior to joining Thoburns, Simran completed internships in publishing and several law firms.