A PROACTIVE global AGENCY ESTABLISHED BY an EX-NEWSPAPER JOURNALIST & top 10 agency pro

“We Believe in the power of positive ideas to solve our world's biggest challenges.”

Harpswood was founded in 2020 by James Clench, who had spent two decades in national newspapers, including a period as head of news at The Sun. He believes in the power of clear language – and Harpswood holds that belief at its heart.

He founded the business with an ambition to help exciting and disruptive businesses who are having a positive impact on society communicate effectively. His work with Octopus Energy over the last eight years has helped the business to transform from an ambitious startup into a £7bn business driving the green energy revolution. Octopus became Harpswood’s first client when the agency launched in 2020.

James invited Abi Smith to run the agency with him - she joined from a top 10 UK PR agency where she ran big-budget campaigns for household names, tech scale-ups and FTSE100 firms - and her expertise, energy and high standards set the bar for the agency’s excellent service and delivery.

Together, they have built Harpswood to become a globally respected communications partner to some of the most exciting and disruptive businesses who are having a positive impact on society.

They are proudly overseeing the global expansion of the agency - with offices now in London, Houston, Munich and Milan… and more to come.

Meet the Team

JAMES CLENCH

Founder
James spent 16 years as a reporter and news editor in national newspapers, including a period as head of news at The Sun. A highly skilled communicator, James understands the news agenda and knows what journalists want. He founded Harpswood to help exciting and disruptive businesses who are having a positive impact on society communicate effectively - his work with Octopus Energy over the last seven years has helped the business to transform from an ambitious startup into a £7bn business driving the green energy revolution. James now oversees Harpswood’s global expansion and continues to be involved in the agency’s day-to-day operations.
ABIGAIL SMITH

Director
Abi runs Harpswood with James and was the first person he called to help him build the business. Her expertise, energy and high standards set the bar for the agency's excellent service and delivery. She joined from a top 10 UK PR agency where she ran big-budget campaigns for household names, tech scale-ups and FTSE100 firms. With a true passion for raising the profile of disruptive organisations, Abi plays a central role in expanding the business both in the UK and globally and ensuring the agency’s clients and people are thriving.
STEVE MYALL

Media Director
Steve spent 20 years working for national newspapers, which saw him cover everything from the aftermath of natural disasters around the world to celebrity interviews, but it is his experience as a features editor which gives him a keen eye for a strong story. With his excellent knowledge of the media landscape and journalist contacts, Steve drives the agency’s delivery of strategic media coverage and leads media training workshops to help clients get their messages across.
RYAN BOWES

Account Director
Ryan is an experienced comms lead who has led international campaigns for tech start-ups to household names and curated high-profile events at the likes of Davos and COP27. Ryan started out in publishing communications at Penguin Random House before shifting to PR. A strategic thinker and calm presence in the agency, Ryan is our unflappable account director who is trusted and valued by Harpswood’s clients for his thoughtful senior counsel. He works closely with our US, German and Italian offices and plays a key role on our international accounts.
LAURA SCHLENSAK

Account Director
Laura joins Harpswood in Berlin, Germany. With a combination of both agency and in-house experience she also brings a strong track record of experience from the clean energy sector to the team. She has previously led the communications strategy for industry innovators like digital energy company Tibber and solar service provider zolar. She has developed an enviable black book of German media contacts and is skilled at navigating complex topics. Always keen to learn, Laura is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Sciences to deepen her expertise in sustainability and the global energy transition.
GRACE BROWNE

Account Manager

Multi-lingual account manager Grace is a motivated PR pro who has been with Harpswood since the start. A key driver of our team’s excellent standard of client service and can-do attitude, Grace is known in the agency as the one who ‘gets things done’. With a calm, confident demeanour that’s only matched by her work ethic, Grace is always going above and beyond for her clients. From using her Spanish skills to help coordinate Octopus Energy’s entry to the Spanish market to preparing her client for a royal visit with just 72 hours’ notice, she makes a formidable impact across all her accounts.
EVA LIGHTFOOT

Account Manager
Eva worked for six years as a broadcast journalist for the BBC on radio and TV, specialising in regional television news production. Since joining Harpswood, Eva has developed into a consummate PR professional. She has an in-depth understanding of the media and a true instinct for how to tell stories that cut through, consistently delivering superb coverage for her clients. She recently wowed our client AimHi Earth with a prominent feature in The Times Business section. Her attention to detail and personability make her a natural account manager.
KELLY ZUNIGA

Account Manager
Kelly brings over 15 years of expertise in media and bilingual storytelling to Harpswood's Houston, Texas office. Before joining Harpswood Kelly led communication strategies for a number of globally recognised brands, including the University of Houston, Puerto Rico’s most read newspaper El Nuevo Día, USA Today Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Governor’s Communications Office, and Spanish-language television station Univision Tampa. With a knack for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences, Kelly’s thoughtful communication approach makes her a valuable asset to the team in Houston.
PETE MCCARTHY

Senior Account Executive
Pete brings a brilliant enthusiasm and determination to our team. He joined us from a corporate and financial PR background and is keen to make a positive impact with can-do communication. Pete has an eye for a story and is always quick off the mark with a reactive pitch - he landed opportunities with Bloomberg News and a national broadcaster within weeks of joining our team. Pete is a true can-doer and the first to grab the mic if karaoke is ever on the table (as he proved at our Christmas party).
CHIARA PARMA

Senior Account Executive
Chiara heads up Harpswood’s new office in Milan, Italy. Chiara started her PR career in Dublin followed by Sydney where she gained experience across international media relations, events and influencer campaigns. After returning to Italy, she joined international tech PR agency Hotwire where she worked with well known consumer tech clients like Snapchat. Chiara has a solid understanding of what makes a story resonate across global markets and brings fantastic energy and experience to our new Italian office.
ROB CRAWFURD

Senior Account Executive
Rob is a born storyteller who joined Harpswood driven to help change society for the better. With a knack for writing a memorable pitch, Rob secured a standout piece in the FT for two of our clients, Sustainable Ventures and Octopus Energy, with a 1984-themed email that caught a business columnist’s attention. His quiet confidence and consistent delivery of great coverage makes him an impressive senior account executive.
ALICE APSEY

Creative Director
A true professional with an impeccable eye, Alice is responsible for the artistic flair behind the Harpswood brand. With over 10 years’ experience leading brand design for fast-growth startups, Alice supports a range of innovative businesses that do good (including several organisations in the Harpswood network!) and specialises in design for climate communications.