Chief Marketing Officer

Helen Bower is the Chief Marketing Officer at Northumbria University.

As Chief Marketing Officer, Helen leads the Global Marketing and Business team to support the long-term financial sustainability of Northumbria through revenue and reputation strategies and activity.

Helen provides commercial strategic leadership of Marketing and Communications, Recruitment and Business Development to ensure the successful delivery of the University’s Vision and Strategy and, works closely with the University Executive shaping and delivering the University’s Vision, Strategy and supporting plans.

Helen leads the development of a strong brand position and global reputation in line with the University’s ambition and Vision. She also leads the development of cost effective and innovative, national and international student recruitment and admission strategies to increase the volume of high-quality students.

As Chief Marketing Officer (Interim), Helen leads the development of diversified revenue streams focusing on a strategic partnership and account management approach.

The Global Marketing and Business team enables the delivery of the three 2030 Strategy ambitions as well as communicating internally and externally the successful delivery of the 2030 Strategy. The Marketing, Communications and Recruiting teams collaborate to promote Northumbria’s world leading research, to attract and retain students to University’s experiential learning programmes and, through the outreach and access programmes, will ensure Northumbria hits its social mobility targets, opening the door to university education to all, regardless of background.

Helen is the Vice Chair of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Higher Education Sector Group and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She is also a member of the Higher Education Liaison Officers Association and the Universities Marketing Forum.

Helen has twenty-two years of marketing and student recruitment experience across educational institutions including Newcastle University, The University of Cumbria and Northumbria University. Helen has held a range of senior leadership roles with responsibility for all aspects of Marketing and Student Recruitment including responsibility for home and international, undergraduate and postgraduate, B2B, Admissions, Alumni Relations, Philanthropic Giving, market insight, marketing strategy, brand, digital and strategic partnerships.

Helen attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith, before going on to achieve her BA Honours in English Literature and Language at Newcastle University, her MA Creative Writing at Northumbria University, her PG DipM in Marketing at the Chartered Institute of Marketing and her Executive MBA at Newcastle University. Helen was the first in her family to enter Higher Education.

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