Tarquin Henderson

It’s possible my whole career could have been ruined by my first client – Steve Jobs, the founder and until very recently prime visionary behind Apple Computer. After working with such an inspiring leader, how could anything else match up?

But taking on IBM and launching the first Apple Mac (the one that looked like a 1950s TV and had about 128k of memory) taught me so much, I’ve been applying it every since.

Of course not everyone is like Steve Jobs and over the last 25 years I’ve worked with many businesses - big and small – run by some exceptional (but thankfully occasionally less demanding) people.  The most challenging and to be honest sometimes most interesting assignments have been at the less glitzy end of business-to-business and corporate marketing. Achieving success for clients with a more modest story to tell is just as exhilarating as working for the big brands.

I have a lot of experience outside of the technology sector (with experience gained in inward investment, financial services, manufacturing and energy) but tech remains my main reference point for many things simply because so much innovation and fresh management thinking resides there.

After working with Apple, 10 years working for PA Consulting Group taught me the importance of rigorous project management and how to ensure communications is embedded into business strategy.

A further 10 years at FD (Financial Dynamics) building their corporate practice enabled me to get to grips with The City and work alongside some of the best financial communications professionals in the market.

And now I still apply some of the Steve’s lessons but with a few others garnered over my career to date.