WE’VE DOUBLED OUR TEAM SIZE
WITH A TRIO OF APPOINTMENTS
L-R: (Top) Morgan Tedd, Director of Film & Photography; Elsa George Thayil, Project Lead; Jaki Jelley, Director of Content; Michael Owen, Creative Lead
(Bottom) Angel Gaskell, Founder; Josh Birch, Digital Lead
Just six months after launching, we at The Alternative are thrilled to have welcomed three new faces to our team, effectively doubling our headcount. Our new Digital Lead, Creative Lead, and Project Lead bring well over two decades of combined experience, poised to elevate our client strategy, creative, and delivery to the next level.
OUR TEAM EXPANSION
This expansion is a key part of our mission at The Alternative: to offer dynamic strategies and journeys to brands that thrive on doing things differently.
Leading the way in crafting seamless customer journeys through innovative digital products is Josh Birch, who joins us as Digital Lead. Before coming on board, Josh sharpened his skills at leading agencies like HDY and Launch, specialising in UX/UI and digital design. As Digital Lead, Josh focuses on understanding user behaviour and translating those insights into exceptional digital experiences.
Josh, who holds a Masters in User Experience Design from Birmingham City University, shared his excitement about joining us:
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of such an innovative team that’s transforming the way clients access unique support and industry expertise. Having previously worked with Angel during my time at HDY, the opportunity to collaborate with her again, especially in a business that strives to do things differently, was one I couldn’t pass up.
“The blend of human creativity with technology here allows me to explore my passion for the latest tech trends and apply that knowledge to enhance our clients’ work. I’m excited to use my years of experience to support our clients through challenges and help them achieve their goals – the Alternative way.”
Michael Owen, who has spent 12 years as a freelancer, brings a distinctive approach and keen eye to his role as Creative Lead. His experience as a freelance artist, designer, and creative director, working with 5B artist management, Nuclear Blast Records, and alternative artists like Behemoth, Meshuggah, and Kreator, has led him to join us. Here, Michael will oversee the creative direction of all ongoing client projects.
Rounding out our new triumvirate is Elsa George Thayil, who joins The Alternative as Project Lead. Elsa brings global experience in project management, business development, and integrated marketing. As a PRINCE2® Practitioner with an MBA, she’s well-equipped to lead projects with precision and strategic insight. Elsa’s proven ability to drive projects and foster strong client relationships makes her an invaluable addition to our team.
The Alternative was founded by award-winning marcomms expert, Angel Gaskell, with the vision of fixing the broken client-agency relationship and redefining the role content plays for brands. We harness the power of fusing human creativity with technology, working with household names like Pizza Pilgrims, Sodexo Live!, and WorldSkills UK.
ANGEL GASKELL ON WELCOMING NEw FACES
“I’m thrilled to share that Josh, Michael, and Elsa have joined The Alternative team, and they’re already bringing their unique perspectives to our client projects. It’s incredible to see how they’re bringing our creative vision to life for our clients, and expanding the core team so soon is a fantastic reflection of the first few months of The Alternative.
We’re committed to implementing unique journeys that support brands thriving on doing things differently. Our new creative and digital leads allow us to offer clients expert support and fresh perspectives as we continue to pave the way with an ‘alternative’ approach that enables businesses to flourish.”