Winners 2024

PR and communications 2024

Kate Thompson is responsible for communications for the Volkswagen Group in the UK, coordinating messaging that applies to all the core group brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Cupra, Skoda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

She moved to her current role in July 2023 after overseeing both PR and marketing for the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand, covering vans, pick-ups and camper vans. There, she sat on the management team and reported directly to the brand director.

Thompson joined Volkswagen in 1999 after securing a PR role within the passenger car brand, before moving in 2015 to the commercial vehicles arm, overseeing press relations. Her move into PR came after starting out in journalism, where she wrote for fleet magazines. She has a master’s degree in modern and medieval languages from the University of Cambridge, attained in 1995.

PR and communications 2024 nominees

Natasha Waddington, Hyundai Motor

Natasha Waddington has led the PR operations for the Korean firm’s UK arm since 2011, managing a five-strong team and reporting directly to the UK president Ashley Andrew. She also advises the board on communications policy. Natasha joined from Jaguar Land Rover, where she spent seven years in various positions within the company’s public affairs teams, most notably as international comms manager and UK PR manager for Land Rover. She graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in history.

Emma Bergg, Ford

Emma Bergg took on this global role in June 2021 after being promoted from her previous title of global EV communications manager. Her Detroit-based position gives her a key role within Ford globally as it expands its Model E division dedicated to electric vehicles, including in Europe the new Explorer and Puma Gen-E. Emma moved to the US in 2018 after leading Ford’s communications around its GT racing programme. She joined Ford back in 2003 as a project manager for powertrains, moving to communications in 2005 and rising to chief press officer for the UK.

Debbie Hull, Mercedes-Benz UK

Debbie Hull moved to head up communications at Mercedes-Benz UK in 2016 having worked for the German premium brand in the UK since 1994. Prior to her current role, she was brand and lifestyle communications manager where she was instrumental in changing the brand perception of the company to something cooler and younger by sponsoring events such as London Fashion Week.

Louise Evans Betts, JLR

Louise Evans Betts joined JLR in May 2022 to take on the company’s external communications functions, reporting to chief of staff Chris Thorp. The senior role is Louise’s first in automotive, having moved from British Airways where she had been director of external communications and sustainability. Prior to that she worked at Sainsbury’s, media group Dentsu Aegis Network and ITV, all in senior comms roles. Evans Betts is also a career coach.

Emma Begley, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Emma Begley joined Rolls-Royce to head up communications in 2022 from BMW UK, where she had been general manager of product and internal communications since 2019. Emma first joined the BMW Group in 2014, working at the company’s headquarters in Munich where she was spokesperson for sales chief Ian Robertson. Emma began her career at the BBC before moving to Germany in 2002 to pursue a freelance career as a journalist and translator. She holds an honours degree in English and French and a post-graduate diploma in broadcast journalism.

Victoria Tomlinson, Lotus

Victoria Tomlinson took up this post in 2023 overseeing global communications for Lotus Group, including its sports car business, Lotus Cars, and its luxury electric vehicle unit, Lotus Technology. Prior to that Victoria was head of brand, communications and government affairs at electric van start-up Arrival, leading its communications strategy for its public listing in March 2021. She joined Arrival back in 2016 from the sleep app company Mind Candy, rising to the position of head of communications and people.