Meet the Into Somerset team
For help and advice about how to relocate to Somerset and enjoy all its business and lifestyle benefits, contact the Into Somerset team on 0845 1222066. Our friendly, knowledgeable team includes:
Rupert CoxChief Executive
Rupert is Chief Executive of both Into Somerset and Somerset Chamber of Commerce. He is also Vice-Chair of the South West Chambers of Commerce and has been named among the top 50 most powerful people in the South West by Business Insider Magazine making him a very influential member of the business community. His practical, down-to-earth approach to business growth comes from successfully running his own businesses in agriculture, property and public relations, as well as being the Regional Organiser for a national business support organisation. He is also an independent district councilor giving him a valuable insight into the public sector. Rupert is proud of his Somerset roots having been born and bred in the county.
Owen TebbuttHead of Marketing
Owen is also a native of Somerset, and still lives in the area. He is a marketer by profession, and for the past 13 years he has worked for IBM UK in a wide range of marketing roles. He is currently on secondment to IBM's Joint Venture company, Southwest One, where he is responsible for a range of socioeconomic development projects. Part of that responsibility is to actively support Into Somerset, where Owen assists in the coordination and execution of Into Somerset's marketing strategy.
Gerard TuckerInward Investment Manager
Having grown-up and remained in Somerset all of his life, Gerard is extremely knowledgeable of how the county can help you and your business to grow. In addition, he spent a considerable amount of his working life in agriculture and related businesses having owned a successful Bovine AI business. For the past ten years, Gerard has been employed in local government in various roles in both community and economic development. He developed a pilot agricultural development programme, which expanded into a regional-wide support to farmers and the wider rural communities. Gerard’s energy and enthusiasm to support businesses is evident to anyone he meets.
Kim McDonaldAmbassador Programme Co-ordinator
Kim aims to help Into Somerset ambassadors promote Somerset’s business culture and encourage inward investment, as well as raising the profile of their businesses and celebrating their commercial success. She spent 13 years in marketing in the educational publishing industry before working in public relations. After moving to Somerset in 2007, Kim joined regeneration organisation Yeovil Vision where she was responsible for raising the profile of the county’s second largest market town.
Graham Godwin-Pearson
Online marketing consultant
As a technical officer of Into Somerset, Graham Godwin-Pearson is responsible for online marketing, engaging with people and companies who are thinking of moving out of London to the Westcountry. Into Somerset was amongst the first inward investment bodies to use social media to attract enquiries from specific areas of the country and key sectors. Syndicated news and information on social and business networks, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and others allow multiple points of contact and signposts to Into Somerset’s website. A director of modern communications company Mendip Media, Graham works in online marketing strategy and implementation, mainly for public sector and political organisations.
Online marketing consultant
As a technical officer of Into Somerset, Graham Godwin-Pearson is responsible for online marketing, engaging with people and companies who are thinking of moving out of London to the Westcountry. Into Somerset was amongst the first inward investment bodies to use social media to attract enquiries from specific areas of the country and key sectors. Syndicated news and information on social and business networks, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and others allow multiple points of contact and signposts to Into Somerset’s website. A director of modern communications company Mendip Media, Graham works in online marketing strategy and implementation, mainly for public sector and political organisations.
Adrian BishopPublic relations consultant
Adrian knows just what makes a great story for Into Somerset, as he has more than 25 years’ experience in journalism and has been voted Britain’s best magazine editor and news reporter. It’s fitting that Adrian heads up Into Somerset’s public relations campaign, as he is an account director for top PR agency ADPR, which is based in West Lambrook, Somerset, and started his journalistic career with the Western Gazette in Yeovil. Into Somerset regularly hits the headlines, with interesting case studies about companies that relocate to Somerset, grow their businesses and help create new jobs.
Chris Langdon
Commercial property consultant
Chris has worked in retail banking, regeneration and commercial property for over 20 years. This experience, developed in Somerset, gives him an in-depth understanding of the needs of businesses looking to relocate and expand. Through regular dialogue with key businesses, agents and developers, Chris knows just what Somerset has to offer for both large and small businesses. He is working closely with EDF Energy to help develop a robust, local supply chain that will support the huge investment in Hinkley Point’s nuclear power station.
Commercial property consultant
Chris has worked in retail banking, regeneration and commercial property for over 20 years. This experience, developed in Somerset, gives him an in-depth understanding of the needs of businesses looking to relocate and expand. Through regular dialogue with key businesses, agents and developers, Chris knows just what Somerset has to offer for both large and small businesses. He is working closely with EDF Energy to help develop a robust, local supply chain that will support the huge investment in Hinkley Point’s nuclear power station.