We're an advertising and media strategy agency in Leeds that's all about helping you win. We work with our clients to ensure they surpass their goals and get a good return on investment. At The Ark Marketing & Media, we don't treat you like a number; we treat you like our partner in making a real difference to your cause or business.
Crafting Campaigns with Precision and Care
Bespoke Audience Targeting:
We take pride in being able to find your ideal audience with pinpoint accuracy and creating custom campaigns just for you. Our team uses the latest industry tech and our own special systems to create the perfect solution for engaging your audience at just the right moment. We're experts at identifying your target audience and timing your campaign for maximum success, delivering an ROI that exceeds expectations.
Strategic Independence:
We do things differently here. Big media companies often treat clients as cash cows, scalping profits off everything they do, but it is our goal to not be like them - And that's built into our business mission. We believe in making a difference, and that's why we take an independent approach to navigating the media landscape with your best interests at heart. We're experts at cutting through the noise and delivering your message to the right people at the right time, so you get the most bang for your buck.
Creative and Analytical Synergy:
We believe that being both creatively excellent and analytically rigorous is the key to success. Our team doesn't just use data; we disassemble it and analyse it with a level of skill and care that only comes from years of experience. This approach helps us ask the right questions and craft messages that really hit home, driving engagement at every point of contact.
Partnership and Growth:
Our clients keep coming back for more because we always go above and beyond their expectations. They see advertising as an investment that we make sure pays off big time. We only succeed when our clients do, so we prioritise building a relationship based on trust, results, and a shared vision for the future.
Innovation for Impact:
Innovation is not just a fancy word for us; it's how we roll. We use all the latest tools and systems to ensure our campaigns are smooth, transparent, and effective. We're not just a media company; we're the change-makers who want to make a difference in our community and beyond—that's why we often work with charities. From planning to execution to evaluation, we constantly push ourselves to create lasting impact.
Driving Change, Together:
We're stoked to support local charities and initiatives that are making a real difference. At The Ark Marketing & Media, we're all about partnering with you to create campaigns that matter. We're passionate about your mission and will work tirelessly to make a positive impact. Let's work together to create a lasting legacy of positive change.
Drop us a message, and let's get started!
"Our strength lies in our diverse team of industry veterans and creative geniuses, all united by a passion for delivering unparalleled results and making a real difference in every project."
Meet the Team
John Ainley
Founder and Managing Partner - Media
For over 20 years, John was a Business Director for one of the world’s largest media companies, before which he was a director at one of the country’s largest regional newspaper groups. Having recently led the media strategy and planning for several of the CA’s campaigns, he has demonstrated his skills in using data to successfully target broad, diverse, and underrepresented audiences within the region, which will be vital in planning and delivering a clear media strategy for this campaign. At Viacom/CBS Outdoor, John previously led several amazing projects and teams to deliver for over 1000 clients and won multiple awards worldwide industry recognition for his work; this happened year after year in a very tough arena.
Rob Bullock
Joint Managing Director
Boasts 35+ years’ experience in the design and print sector, formerly ascending from Creative Director to Commercial Director at a top UK publishing group. Rob is the creative lead first and most on the account. He has led the concept, proposition, and creative development, pioneering a bold and innovative new creative look and feel to make accounts he has worked on and engaged with. Rob targets audiences whilst ensuring creative assets are on brand and suitable for multi-channel campaigns. Innovation and creativity are part of Rob’s DNA. Rob’s creative prowess will be pivotal in ensuring that his design campaign’s target audiences identify with the creatives and inspire its audience to engage and change.
Clare Wilkinson
Senior Account Director
Clare has over 25 years’ experience in Account Management and Client Service roles in both media and creative agencies. With a wealth of project/ campaign delivery and account management skills Clare is an expert in managing end-to-end multichannel campaigns with full ownership of project objectives, deliverables, reporting, management and providing the highest levels of client service.
Darren Needham
Commercial Director
Nichola Ainley
Head of Media
Nichola has successfully transferred the skills learnt during a career in academia to the media world. These skills, along with Nichola’s breadth of media knowledge, allow her to strategically plan and manage media campaigns for a range of clients. Nichola excels in procuring advertising space across various channels with her methodical approach ensuring that she identifies the most effective channels to reach the target audience, maximising impact.
Oliver Garside
Media Account Executive
Oliver is a graduate of Leeds University receiving a BA in History. With extensive research and advanced literary skills, Oliver offers experience regarding source-based research, enabling greater understanding of statistics, insight and audience data for clients of The Ark Media. Also bringing extensive administration and customer facing experience from previous roles, Oliver works efficiently to provide important information and support to aid campaigns.
Tracy Eastwood
Director of Videography & Photography
Tracy has over 20 years of experience in Broadcast and Digital Media Production, including Video, Photography, Television and Radio. Her area of specialisation is Video Storytelling. She has managed numerous productions for retail and public sector clients such as Ritter Sport Chocolate, Bird's Eye, Heineken, Wellspring Academies Trust, and Invest Leeds. Tracy is highly skilled in using insight and creativity to develop and produce engaging video content, photography, and animations.
Wendy Ball
Operations Director
With over 30 years' experience in marketing Wendy oversees design and print across the business from formulating timelines and scheduling to operational management and process. She has a wealth of knowledge across a range of media disciplines, as well as an Honours Degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing.
Neil Bentley
Director
Neil's customer centric approach and vast marketing experience enables him to effectively support and advise clients across a range of sectors, including Education, Defence, Charities and Federations. His passion for outstanding client service and quality production is always at the forefront.
Mark Wilkie
Director
Mark is an accomplished Director in the business of supplying creative marketing solutions that really work. Passionate about growing your business, he embarks on every commercial venture with a dynamic, creative and personable approach to work that ensures successful delivery of results.
Nick Grantham
Director
Nick has a passion for property that goes back to childhood and professional experience that spans over 30 years. Nick has an understanding of property marketing that is rarely found and his raison d'etre is to get the building noticed for all the right reasons by its target audience.
Brian Layng
Designer
With over 30 years experience of making the logo bigger, Brian is firmly convinced that what passes for "good" design is ultimately a matter of personal taste. Working exclusively on printed matter, his designs are notable for their strong use of colour and a clear call to action.
Joanne Spencer
Designer
Utilising a broad skill set developed over an extensive design career, Joanne strives to achieve a strong aesthetic. One of Joanne's key strengths is her keen ability to adapt her design style to appeal to the target audience. Her energy and passion reflect in her bold and creative designs.
Georgina Smith
Designer
Georgina has a BA in Graphic Design, and previously worked as a designer for a charity creating print and digital assets. Her love of working with colour helps her to create bold, engaging designs with impact.
Hayley Cullen
Head of Accounting
With over 15 years in finance, and specifically in the OOH & Digital OOH industry for many years, Hayley’s wealth of experience & understanding of the intricacies of the industry bring a detailed support for the whole team & all our clients. Her passion for the industry, attention to detail & love of a good spreadsheet, ensures a professional and well managed finance department.