1. OLIVIER VERGNAULT
93 St Michaels Road – Paignton – Devon – UK – TQ4 5NA
Tel: 01803 557146 / 07427 128143
Email: olivier1.vergnault@gmail.com
FacebooK: https://www.facebook.com/olivier.vergnault
Twitter: @OliVergnault
LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/oliviervergnault
PROFILE
I am a versatile bilingual writer with an extensive experience in corporate communications, PR,
marketing and journalism. I have an extensive contact book covering a wide ranging of economic sectors as
well as a large network of media contacts.
KEY STRENGTHS
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Partnership working with commercial teams
• Project and event management
• Deadline and budget control
• Understanding and awareness of marketing and media platforms
• Managing relationships with stakeholders
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Western Morning News (www.plymouthherald.co.uk/business)
June 2014-present
Business Editor
Key achievements
• Responsible for sourcing, writing and editing content for the weekly 12-page business supplement
• Generate web traffic for the WMN and Herald's joint business channel content via active use of
social media platforms
• Project manage and ensure timely delivery of regular quarterly and annual supplements and award
events in close collaboration with the group's commercial team
• Regularly share revenue-generating ideas and associated contacts with the commercial team at
local and national levels
• Represent the WMN at trade events
• Share best practice with commercial and editorial colleagues
Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (www.newdevonccg.nhs.uk)
Sept 2013 – June 2014 – maternity cover
Lead for Internal Communications
Key achievements
• Responsible for sourcing, writing and editing content for the weekly NEW Devon CCG newsletter
and ensuring its delivery to all stakeholders
• Project managed the organisation of a public consultation event at Exeter Guildhall in

2. collaboration with some of the organisation's senior GPs and NHS managers and other
stakeholders. This was NEW Devon CCG's second best attended public consultation with more
than 400 people through the door and taking part in an interactive survey on health delivery at the
city's community hospitals
• Worked on public consultation campaigns on the future of Moretonhampstead community hospital
in collaboration with other NHS organisations and ensuring all stakeholders were informed
• Ensuring timely and appropriate responses to media inquiries
• Writing regular press releases to appropriate media outlets and ensuring the delivery of the CCG's
corporate messages and public health announcements to the widest audience possible
• Regularly entered NEW Devon CCG and its staff into health related national and regional awards
and provided all appropriate content for the respective entry forms
• Providing media and social media training to NHS colleagues
Herald Express (www.heraldexpress.co.uk)
Dec 2008 – Sept 2013
Senior Reporter
Key achievements
• Responsible for sourcing, writing and editing daily then weekly news content and features for the
newspaper and its website
• Generating web traffic for the newspaper via active use of social media platforms
• Edited the wine and travel pages
• Regularly shared revenue-generating ideas and associated contacts with the commercial team at
local levels
• Represented the Herald Express at public events
Western Morning News (www.westernmorningnews.co.uk)
Oct 2007 – Dec 2008
Senior Reporter / Education Reporter
Key achievements
• Responsible for sourcing, writing daily news and feature content for the paper and its website
• Providing education focused content for the paper as education portfolio holder
• Developed a wide network of education contacts at regional and national levels
• Represented the WMN at events
Magnétic Consultant, Toulouse, France (http://www.magnetic-communication.com/)
Sept 2006 – Dec 2006 temporary contract
Public Relations Manager
Key achievements
• Worked closely with the creative team to write press releases and promotional campaign material
for several of the agency's clients including Auch Rugby club, Altiservice (a group of Pyrenees ski
resorts) or the Tour de France of Gastronomy
• Helped organise the Tour de France of Gastronomy event by liaising with leading figureheads in
the French culinary world and ensuring the presence of top national and regional chefs, politicians,
local personalities and speakers to help promote local cuisine and produces in three cities
• Helped write short radio adverts and worked with contacts in the film and production industry to
create TV ads for clients

3. • Worked closely with the creative team to design and provide bilingual promotional leaflets and
press releases for some of the agency's clients
Greater Toulouse's Cancéropôle Centre (http://www.oncopole-toulouse.com/en/crct-cancer-research-
center-toulouse)
June 2006 – temporary contract
Online Freelance Content Provider
• Providing bilingual content for Toulouse's new cancer research centre's web site
Airbus (global headquarters – Toulouse, France) - on behalf of EURO RSCG C&O communication
agency (Now Havas Worldwide) (http://www.airbus.com/)
Aug 2005 – March 2006
Bilingual Corporate Editor
• Researching, writing and editing Airbus' monthly newsletter
• Contributing to Airbus' internal magazine ("ONE"), Airbus's website and Airbus's intranet portal
Bristol Post (http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/)
June 2002 – January 2005
Senior Reporter / Deputy Business Editor
• Sourcing and writing news stories and features for the newspaper
• Providing content for the daily double business page
• I was in charge of the weekly restaurants and bars column dedicated to the leisure and catering
industry
Gloucestershire Echo (http://www.gloucestershireecho.co.uk/)
June 2001 – May 2002
Junior Reporter
• News reporting to twice daily deadlines
Scottish News Agency (http://scottishnews.com/)
June 2000 – May 2001
Junior Reporter / Online Content Writer
• News reporting for Scottish and British national newspapers
• Content providing for The Scotsman website on a daily basis
EDUCATION
• Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism Studies, Scottish Centre for Journalism Studies, University of
Strathclyde, Glasgow (1998 – 1999)
• National Council for the Training of Journalists: National Certificate Examinations (1998 – 1999)
• Teeline shorthand, 80 words per minute (1999)

4. • Postgraduate Diploma in Medieval History, St Andrews University, Scotland (1997 – 1998)
• Master of Arts with Honours in History, St Andrews University (1995 – 1997)
• Diplôme d'Etudes Universitaires Générales (French two-year degree) in History, Université du
Mirail, Toulouse, France (1993 – 1995)
• French baccalaureate, Lyçée Bellevue, Toulouse (1993)
IT SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite, Photoshop, Tera Publishing, CeltX script writing, Adobe Premiere Pro (video
editing), Final Cut (video editing for Mac), Vuelio CRM media management software, social networks.
PERSONAL
I am passionate about the printed word and I love writing as much as I love reading. I have written
several short stories which I have submitted to magazines and competitions.
Cinema is another of my passions. I have written, directed, produced and edited three short films which I
also submitted to competitions.
I enjoy traveling and meeting new people and cultures. I have backpacked for six month overland from
Egypt to India.
Closer to home, I love all aspects of Britain's beautiful countryside from walking along Devon's sandy
beaches and Cornwall's rugged coastline to walking through ancient woodlands, from wild swimming in the
sea to canoeing along the River Dart.
Passionate about rugby I avidly support Toulouse rugby club and the French national team. When not
camping and enjoying the great outdoors, I dabble in woodcarving, I cook and make soap.
References
− Bill Martin, Regional Editor – Devon and Cornwall – DC Media now part of the Trinity Mirror Group –
Tel: 01752 293045 – bmartin@westernmorningnews.co.uk
− Nick Pearson, Head of Communications, NEW Devon CCG (NHS Devon), Tel: 01392 267648 -
nick.pearson@nhs.net
− Jim Parker, Editor, Herald Express, Torquay, Tel: 01803 676200 - jparker@heraldexpress.co.uk