Paul Dobbie

Convinced he was going to make it as a professional footballer Paul was ‘sick as a parrot’ when the scouts signed several of his school side team mates, leaving him on the sidelines.

So he decided sports journalism was the next best option and secured a job with the Sunderland Echo. Realising the sub (editors’) bench was as close as he was going to get to reporting on his beloved Sunderland, he chose news journalism and worked for four of the North East’s major titles before heading to the Midlands to become involved in PR.

With Wrekin Council in Telford and Centro in Birmingham he spent nine years developing his communications skills and handling challenging issues such as a major fire at an MOD ordinance depot and the exhumation of 300 graves to make way for a tram line.

A member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, Paul joined Persuasion in 1997 and bought the consultancy in 2001. He believes integrity, credibility and creativity are the foundations of successful communications campaigns and applied the same principles to developing Persuasion’s client list.

Still an avid football follower he tries to keep in shape by cycling and some circuit training and walking which allow him to indulge other interests which include enjoying good food and wine.

If he were an animal it would have to be a sheep dog – wiley, hard working, persistent.

Favourite colour – red and white!