Bio’s

We thought you might be interested to know the names and faces of the people running our blog and making contributions.

A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to keep you up to date with the latest Interflora news and events. So, here’s the team behind the Interflora blog….

Mark Leech

Hi!

I joined the Interflora Marketing Team in 2008 and I am the Online Marketing Projects Executive for the business.

In addition to managing Interflora’s mobile, social media and Republic of Ireland marketing strategies, I’m also steering Interflora’s online PR, hence my involvement with the blog!

I work in Adam’s team, trying to push Interflora forward online.

I would like to stake a claim to be the biggest geek in the team but I think there is some stiff competition from Adam! I’m a self-confessed gadget freak and I love using the web to discover new things and buy stuff that I don’t need.

Outside of work I’m a very busy musician, playing bass guitar in a rock band. I asked if I could plug the band here but Adam said no! Boo!

I’ll be looking after the blog on a day-to-day basis and also strategising our long-term plans, working with our expert florists, our brand marketing team and our video production team to bring you informative posts which we hope you’ll find both helpful and entertaining. I’ll be publishing posts like how-to guides,guest blogs, updates about new things happening at Interflora and also loads of video content.

Favourite Quote: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, call it version 1.0′

Stefania Del Zotto

I joined Interflora in May 2011 as SEO executive. I’m responsible for defining the strategies to improve our brand exposure in search engines.
On the blog I will write about creative flower related top lists, how-to guides, interviews with experts, news on flower festivals and events.

I am Italian, originally from the Venice area, and I moved to the UK three years ago to follow my love.
I’m a creative person, I love cinema, photography, cats and all that is vintage!
I’m a friend, daughter and sister.
I speak Italian, English and I’m now studying Spanish.

If you have a flower related event you’d like to feature in our blog you can send me an e-mail at: stefania.delzotto @ interflora.co.uk

Favourite quote: ‘Whenever people agree with me I
always feel I must be wrong.’ – Oscar Wilde

Su Whale

I’ve been working as a retail florist for over 16 years at a very busy Interflora shop in South Birmingham, where no day is the same! I took my floristry exams in the late 90’s and have been working at my second job as a floristry consultant for Interflora since 2004.

Contributing towards the blog is a great opportunity to let people know about the wonderful world of flowers and floristry. Being a florist is a fantastic job and my mission is to get everyone as enthused and excited about it as I am.

Over the course of the blog I will be reporting back on floristry shows and events, looking at how to get the best out of your flowers and giving a little bit of insight into the working life of a busy florist.

I’m looking forward to it!

And when I’m not immersed in the world of flowers I enjoy taking Archie, my Flat coated retriever for long walks in a (vain) attempt to wear him out.

My favourite time at the shop is the autumn. The nights start to draw in, the summer flowers fade away to be replaced by tawny gold English Chrysanths and red oak leaves and you know that Christmas is just around the corner.

Charlotte Barnes

Hello!

I joined Interflora in May 2011 and I’m really enjoying it here working as the Marketing Department’s SEO Assistant. I’m from the Midlands originally but love living up here in the Lincolnshire countryside.

I love to write and I look forward to contributing to the Interflora blog on a regular basis. I’m also a big fan of gardening and am excited about posting how-to guides, trivia facts and interesting flower stories in the future.

I’m a geek at heart and play quite a lot of computer games. When I’m not doing that or writing, I’m usually watching horror films, cooking or getting ready to attend one of many annual anime conventions. I can always find a reason to dress up in a costume, and in particular I love doing it at Halloween, which is my favourite holiday of the year!

Favourite quote: “Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” – Tom Lehrer

Adam Hart

I am the Online Marketing Manager at Interflora and joined the business in August 2008.

I am interested in all things digital which no longer qualifies me as a geek as everyone is these days.

I recently became a father for the second time and I am looking forward to getting some sleep again at some point in the future!

My contribution to the blog will be publishing posts every now and again on things that I think (hope!) you will enjoy reading.

Favourite Quote: ‘Never fight a battle you can’t win’

Ann Bampton

I am the Marketing Projects Manager at Interflora and one of my main responsibilities is for protecting our brand.

My contribution to the blog is related to our legal challenge to Marks and Spencer, which is currently awaiting a ruling from the European Courts of Justice. I eagerly await the ECJ’s decision, along with lots of other brand owners who have been following our case, to clarify once and for all the legal position on brand bidding. The legal process is a lengthy one and I will be posting blogs as and when I can to keep you updated on progress.

I love to watch my son play football and am also a huge Man U. fan, having been at Old Trafford to watch them lift the title trophy this year, I look forward to seeing the same again this season!

Favourite Quote: ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’

Rebecca Ascroft

I joined Interflora in April 2011 as Brand Manager. This means I look after the creative direction of the Interflora brand across all touch points and manage brand development projects that reinforce Interflora’s brand values, proposition and positioning. I also manage the offline and traditional PR so I shall be making sure that any interesting stories also appear here on the blog.

Outside of work, I’m a roller coaster junkie and take every opportunity to travel the world visiting theme parks – especially Liseberg in Sweden which is home to my favourite coaster of all, Balder.

Favourite quote: ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it’ – Ferris Bueller