Meet Our Team

Jamie Pratt - Marlston

Jamie Pratt (Director)

Presentation skills, Investor presentation specialist

Jamie is the founder of Marlston and the company’s principal consultant. Responsible for Marlston’s presentation skills training, he has built up a wealth of experience of every industry and all types of spoken communication. He has delivered one-to-one coaching to senior executives around the world and has run group courses for a wide range of businesses.

Before founding Marlston, Jamie worked for many years as a rough diamond buyer for De Beers throughout Africa and Europe. His last role at De Beers was managing the Diamond Information Office in De Beers’ London Headquarters.

Since 1997, he has advised many companies, both large and small, in Europe, Africa, the US and Asia. His advice, usually delivered at board level, has often related to some of the most significant IPOs, trade sales, de-mergers and the winning of major mandates.

Tim Spratt - Marlston

Tim Spratt

Presentation skills, Investor presentation specialist

Tim joined the Marlston team after 25 years’ experience in financial and corporate PR. He was previously London Chief Operating Officer of Financial Dynamics/FTI.

Since leaving the PR world, Tim has coached senior executives of both plc’s and private companies for a variety of presentations but with a particular focus on capital markets, sell-side mandates and new business pitches.

Melanie Wright - Marlston

Melanie Wright

Media skills, Print media specialist

Melanie is an award-winning freelance financial journalist, and a former Deputy Editor of The Daily Telegraph’s Your Money section.

She contributes regularly to The Sunday Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Observer. She also writes for a number of magazines and websites, including MoneySuperMarket.com and MSN Money. A regular commentator on television and radio, Melanie has been interviewed on BBC Breakfast, BBC News Channel, Channel Five News, ITN News, GMTV and LBC Radio.

Claire Doole - Marlston

Claire Doole

Media skills, Print media specialist

Claire spent 15 years at the BBC as a radio presenter, output editor and correspondent in Berlin, Brussels, Geneva and London. She draws on her background covering some of the major stories of the ’90s and early 2000’s such as the death of Princess Diana in Paris and September 11th in Washington to give clients the authentic interview experience.

Having acted as a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency, WWF International and the International Federation of the Red Cross, she helps clients craft their messages and deliver them based on experience of giving interviews to major international media outlets.

Since 2006 she has coached and trained hundreds of senior managers and CEOs from the banking, commodity trading and pharmaceutical sectors. Based in Geneva, she moderates at international conferences and trains in the art of presenting and moderating.

Simon Read - Marlston

Simon Reed

Sports commentary training

Over the last thirty years, Simon has established himself as one of Britain’s finest sports commentators.

In addition to his work in Sports Media Training at Marlston, Simon is Head of Commentary for both Eurosport and British Eurosport. Simon is a regular commentator for ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC.

Although specialising in tennis, he has covered almost every major sporting event. His voice is familiar to millions of listeners for his coverage of both Winter and Summer Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, and a host of other sporting events around the world. He is also one of the BBC’s principal TV commentators at Wimbledon.

Simon’s involvement with Marlston brings a unique perspective for all our sports clients. His insight into the media world, sports media and commentary is of enormous benefit.