Name: Russell Hughes

Current Role: Head of Retail at Seymour

Joined Seymour: January 2009

I have been working in the magazine industry since getting up at 6am every Sunday as a student to make sure that the News and Magazine category was ready for trade at a large Tesco near their head offices. A few years on(!) in my role as Head of Retail at Seymour, I continue to work with the UK’s biggest retailers, supported by the incredibly passionate team across our business.

At Seymour, we work with such a diverse portfolio of products and retailers, ensuring that as a Retail team (and myself individually) we are very much kept on our toes, which nurtures a collaborative working environment to explore many commercial opportunities for the benefit of our clients and customers.

Seymour and the Frontline Group have provided me with amazing support over the years, both in developing my career, but also from a personal context. The flexibility and empathy afforded to me when my premature twins were born enabled my family to thrive at what could have been a very difficult time. In addition to this, the business has a great approach to flexible working, providing solutions that enable a positive work life balance, and one that has a really positive impact on my own output.

There are multiple development opportunities that include Coaching, Mentoring and a variety of Training courses, however a real area of development for myself personally has been the focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. I am proud to say that through my engagement as an ED&I Advocate, I am continually improving my own understanding and awareness, and regularly contribute to developing this understanding across the business to ensure that the Frontline Group continues to be a great place to work.