Meet the Team

Joint Managing Director and Co-Founder

Andrew Wall

Background

Andrew has over 25 years’ experience in London’s luxury hotel market. Prior to launching Pineapple with Jackie in 1996, Andrew’s roles included Reception Manager at The Berkeley and Head of Corporate Sales at The Savoy Group promoting Claridge’s, The Connaught, The Savoy and The Berkeley.

Andrew believes in continual development for him and the Pineapple team and he recently enhanced his skills at Cranfield University Business School.

At Pineapple

Andrew continues to build a highly successful business that provides creative and effective sales and marketing solutions to the world’s finest hotels. Alongside Jackie Cowell, he is jointly responsible for the overall leadership and direction of Pineapple.

One of Pineapple’s services is fully outsourced sales and marketing. Andrew has been Sales and Marketing Director for The Goring in London since January 2014 and for One Aldwych in London since May 2018. Past roles at Pineapple have included Sales and Marketing Director for Dukes, London and for Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.

Contributing to Our Clients’ Success

Founding the fully outsourced sales and marketing model for the luxury hotel industry is considered to be one of Andrew’s greatest achievements at Pineapple. Born from a discussion on how best to serve a prospective new client, Andrew turned this idea into a reality and it has since gone on to generate a wealth of success for clients like The Goring where room revenue has increased by an impressive 31% since Andrew was appointed four years ago.

Joint Managing Director and Co-Founder

Jackie Cowell

Background

Jackie has over 30 years’ experience in sales and marketing in the luxury hotel sector. Following a degree in Hotel and Catering Management at the University of Surrey, Jackie studied for a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma. The early years of her career were spent with Hyatt International. She then joined The Savoy Group of Hotels and Restaurants and became Director of Sales where she centralised and managed the sales team for The Savoy, The Connaught, Claridge’s, The Berkeley, The Lygon Arms and La Trémoille in Paris.

At Pineapple

Alongside Andrew Wall, Jackie is jointly responsible for the leadership and direction of Pineapple UK & USA. Jackie also applies her expertise to short-term strategic projects such as marketing plans and budgets, feasibility studies and sales & marketing audits.

Jackie was Sales and Marketing Director for One Aldwych, London from before the hotel’s launch in 1998 to May 2018. She was also Sales and Marketing Director for Carlisle Bay, Antigua until 2013 and directed the sales and marketing for the resort’s launch in 2003.

Jackie has developed a great deal of experience at Pineapple launching city centre, country house and resort hotels across European, North American and Caribbean markets.

Contributing to our Clients’ Success

Jackie’s broad experience and her analytical strengths enable her to provide expert advice to Hotel Owners and General Managers. Her hands-on knowledge of luxury hotel sales and marketing, business channels and markets, enables her to put the correct sales and marketing resources and procedures in place for a hotel and to direct the team’s time to the markets and channels that will deliver the best return on investment.

Director of Sales

Paul Kay

Background

Paul has over 20 years’ experience within the hospitality sector. He started his career at Allied Domecq and then then went on to work for Compass Group. As Group Marketing Manager for their leisure division, Paul was responsible for strategic and direct marketing for twelve operating companies. Since joining Pineapple in 2005, Paul has developed the leisure sales division and implemented strategies for all of the luxury hotels represented in the Pineapple portfolio. He has established relations with over 160 worldwide tour operators, 350 luxury travel agents and his team communicate regularly with over 2,400 meeting and event specialists.

At Pineapple

Paul provides Director level sales and marketing support to Carlisle Bay in Antigua. As the main point of contact, a typical day for Paul will involve ensuring the agreed marketing plan and strategy is being delivered effectively, communicating and meeting with travel partners, exploring new business opportunities, providing competitor analysis and assisting with rates and offers. In addition to this, Paul also works across accounts within the Pineapple portfolio providing leisure, meeting and incentive sales representation.

Contributing to Our Clients’ Success

Having successfully worked with Carlisle Bay, Antigua, for ten years, an operational decision led to a change in UK sales and marketing providers at the end of Pineapple’s contract in 2013. This change unfortunately resulted in a dramatic decline in hotel revenue so Pineapple was delighted to be re-awarded the contract in 2014. Since then, Paul and his team have been able to build back confidence in the hotel, demonstrate stability and delivered impressive revenue growth at the end of 2015.

Marketing Director

Richard Curtis

Background

Richard has over 25 years of travel and leisure marketing experience, including many years leading marketing teams for international hotel groups. His hotel career started at the Whitbread Hotel Company in the 1990s with a focus on the group’s Country Club Hotel portfolio of luxurious golf and leisure resorts before moving to Marriott International as Director of Marketing for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. This was followed by a similar role at Hilton International and then three years as VP Marketing for Small Luxury Hotels of the World which gave him an opportunity to focus on the independent luxury sector which he has a passion for.

After SLH, Richard moved to Cunard where he headed up marketing for this iconic cruise line for nine years and during one of the most exciting times in their long history as they launched two new Cunard Queens – Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. Before joining Pineapple Richard was Head of Marketing for the Royal Horticultural Society, a role which included responsibility for their world famous flower shows.

At Pineapple

As Director of Marketing, Richard works across all of Pineapple’s marketing accounts directing strategy, budgets and planning. Day-to-day responsibilities are changeable dependent on client requirements and you will often find Richard leading on multiple marketing projects from website re-designs and product launches, to partnerships and branding. Richard is also responsible for managing and directing Pineapple’s team of skilled marketers.

Contributing to Our Clients’ Success

Richard brings over 25 years of international marketing experience, working with highly renowned brands. His career to date has provided him with experience working across international markets and developing multi-channel campaigns which attract international luxury travellers whilst building brand positioning. Richard brings strong communication skills and experience in dealing with key stakeholders and business owners.

Marketing Director (Currently on Maternity Leave)

Paula Rison-Gray

Background

Prior to joining Pineapple in 2006, Paula worked at the British mobile phone retailer, Carphone Warehouse, on the marketing and implementation of their incentive and loyalty schemes. In addition to her CIM Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, she brings many years of consumer marketing experience to Pineapple’s clients and has solid experience across all marketing disciplines including digital marketing, branding and marketing partnerships. Having started as a Marketing Executive at Pineapple, Paula has built her career to become Director of Marketing for the agency in March 2014.

At Pineapple

As Director of Marketing, Paula works across all of Pineapple’s marketing accounts directing strategy, budgets and planning. Her day-to-day responsibilities are changeable dependent on client requirements and you will often find Paula leading on multiple marketing projects from website re-designs and product launches, to partnerships, and branding. She is also responsible for managing and directing Pineapple’s team of skilled marketers.

Contributing to Our Clients’ Success

Paula’s marketing experience and knowledge allows for exceptional creativity and delivery of client campaigns. Voices at One, a location based campaign for One Aldwych, is the perfect example of originality, vision and resourcefulness. Bringing together six high profile cultural personalities, from Actress, Joanna Lumley, to CEO of the British Fashion Council, Caroline Rush, the fully integrated campaign was designed to put Covent Garden back on the map as the number one destination for those seeking the best of London and required delivery from conception and branding to digital designs and direct mail.

Director of Sales - North America

Andrea Riesen

Background

Andrea was born in Switzerland and grew up in Liberia and Zambia. She received her hotel and tourism education in Switzerland, as well as NYU and Cornell in the USA. Andrea has over twelve years’ experience in the luxury hotel market in New York with Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula and The Dorchester Collection. Prior to this, she worked for ten years with several travel firms including Kuoni and managed operations in numerous global destinations including Dubai, Thailand, Italy, Maldives, Mauritius and the UK. This gave Andrea a deep understanding of our travel partners’ operations and the best ways to maximise their potential. Andrea joined Pineapple in 2010.

At Pineapple

As Director of Sales at Pineapple’s New York office, Andrea works hand-in-hand with her hotel clients to understand their financial goals and translates that into a tactical sales strategy with actionable steps. Working across leisure and corporate markets, on a day-to-day basis, Andrea is responsible for delivering top line revenue within the assigned portfolio. Currently this includes Carlisle Bay, Antigua and One Aldwych, London. She has previously designed and delivered US sales strategies for The Upper House, Hong Kong, The Puli, Shanghai, Cobblers Cove, Barbados and Il Salviatino, Florence.

Contributing to Our Clients’ Success

Andrea is incredibly passionate about cultivating, building and strengthening relationships with travel partners, agents and advisors. She is well known for developing solid partnerships, which in turn increases US production for Pineapples’ clients. Recently her work with Valerie Wilson Travel in New York has led to a major law firm booking over 420 room nights for One Aldwych during ‘low season’.

Marketing Manager

Susi Thompson

Background

Prior to joining Pineapple in 2016, Susi developed her fully-rounded marketing skills within travel and leisure marketing. Her most recent role was at DMG Media working primarily on the Mail Travel publications and website, but prior to this she spent time working for luxury travel companies in both the UK and Australia. Susi mostly works on marketing projects for The Goring, London, but is also responsible for trade marketing for Carlisle Bay, Antigua

At Pineapple

Working in collaboration with Pineapple’s Joint Director and Co-Founder, Andrew Wall, Susi is responsible for driving new marketing initiatives on behalf of The Goring. She is accountable for the overall marketing planning, strategy and budget and manages the hotel’s existing suppliers and partners to ensure a consistent brand image is delivered. Typical marketing activities for Susi include website management and content creation, directing photography, implementing social media strategies and designing and delivering email campaigns. Since joining, Susi has been instrumental in the relaunch of The Goring’s private dining rooms and the 2019 launch of The Goring’s new seafood restaurant Siren and the newly refurbished Goring Bar.

Senior Digital Marketing Executive

Abby Watkinson

Background

Abby joined Pineapple in 2017 as Digital Marketing Executive, having previously worked for a marketing agency where she built brand awareness through multimedia marketing campaigns. Abby has also recently completed her diploma in digital marketing (awarded by CIM).

At Pineapple

Abby manages all of One Aldwych’s digital marketing channels and is responsible for measuring and monitoring all online efforts to ensure hotel revenues and bookings are maximised. She acts as digital brand champion for the hotel and her role sees her designing and delivering email and social media strategies, website management, on-site SEO enhancements, coordinating PPC and all online advertising.

Marketing Manager

Rebecca Beard

Background

Rebecca joined Pineapple in 2018 as Marketing Manager, working on the One Aldwych account. Rebecca is a dynamic marketing professional with a background in multi-channel communications, having previously worked for Corinthia Hotel in London and the luxury river and ocean cruise brand, Viking Cruises.

At Pineapple

As Marketing Manager for One Aldwych, Rebecca delivers both offline and online communications, working closely with the in-house hotel team to deliver results from campaigns. This includes direct mail activity and marketing partnerships, forging relationships with local partners and creating innovative packages and promotions.

Sales Manager - Leisure, Meeting & Incentive Sales

Simone Wyse

Background

For 16 years, Simone ran Reads Hotel & Spa in Mallorca with her husband, where she held particular responsibility for the property’s Sales & Marketing and Events. Earlier in her career she worked in Business Development for Corporate Events Scotland and prior to this was an Event Coordinator for Hilton Hotels. She has joined Pineapple in 2017.

At Pineapple

Reporting into the Director of Leisure, Meeting and Incentive Sales, a typical day mostly involves a busy schedule of appointments with various travel agents, concierge services and meeting, incentives, conferencing & exhibitions (MICE) agents and companies. Simone works across all of Pineapple’s clients and her main focus is managing and maintaining existing partner relationships and activities, alongside qualifying new prospective partners.

Sales Executive - Corporate

Chiara Dall’Agnola

Background

Originally from Italy, Chiara studied Languages with Management and Tourism at Milan University before taking a Post Graduate Diploma in Hospitality Administration at Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Prior to moving to London and joining Pineapple she began her career in luxury hospitality at Mandarin Oriental in Milan, working as part of their Guest Relations team.

At Pineapple

Chiara provides overall support to Pineapple’s corporate division and works closely with Pineapple’s Director of Corporate Sales. Alongside providing vital general office support to the whole team, Chiara also provides projection figures and analysis to Pineapple’s senior management and clients as required. A typical day usually consists of organising a full schedule of appointments, administering contracts for Pineapple’s travel partners, orchestrating events, conducting hotel show-rounds, compiling promotional sales packs and completing research projects. Chiara works across all Pineapple clients.

Accounts Manager

Judy Donner

Background

Judy is an integral part of the Pineapple team, looking after the accounts, in addition to running her own successful book-keeping business. With 25 years’ experience in her field, Judy is very well placed to keep a firm control of the company’s finances. Following four years of travel after her first job as a Latin & English Teacher, Judy developed her accounts skills at a secretarial recruitment agency. After having twin girls, she started her business, which has continued to go from strength to strength. Judy joined Pineapple as their Accounts Manager in 2005.

At Pineapple

As Accounts Manager, Judy is responsible for the day-to-day financial transactions of the business including payroll, purchasing and invoicing; all the essential nuts and bolts of a successful business. She works across Pineapple’s entire client portfolio, alongside managing the overall business accounts in collaboration with Andrew and Jackie. Being at the core of the business, Judy is incredibly detail orientated and organised. She ensures the smooth operating of Pineapple through her precise recording and efficient book-keeping.

Chairman

Pedro

Office guardian, intrepid explorer and company chairman – Pedro is a multi-talented member of the team. When he is not busy nuzzling through visitors’ handbags or nibbling at the postman’s shoes, you will be sure to find him in some secret spot, indulging in one of his long and much deserved naps.