As part of our "Five Minutes with..." series, meet Michael Stephens.
Tell us what you do for a living?
I joined Virgin Atlantic in January 2018 as Head of Creative and Design.
What does that involve?
I head up the talented internal creative and design team, which sits within the wider marketing function. As a brand guardian, I also work alongside our numerous creative agencies to develop and future-proof the brand’s visual identity and tone of voice across multiple channels. I collaborate with all areas of the business on both external and internal comms, ensuring that whatever we do it feels Virgin.
What do you love about your job?
I love working for a brand that has so much personality and positivity.
What do you hate about your job?
Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day to achieve everything you want to!
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing that?
Well, I’ve been known to throw a pretty good party! ;)
Do you work with an in-house creative team, an agency, or both?
My team act as the internal creative agency – consisting of graphic design, animation, art direction, art-working, production and copywriting. We also work with multiple external agencies, each focusing on specific areas of the business.
What do you look for in a creative agency?
Bold ideas, well-defined strategy and beautiful creative execution. There must also be a synergy between both teams.
What is the single thing that matters the most when working with a creative agency?
Respect both ways!
What is your all-time favourite piece of creative work/campaign?
My favourite Virgin campaign has to be the ‘Still Red Hot’ TV ad!
What is your favourite website/app/tool?
I must admit I still love a Pinterest board!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Time travel!
