Viva promotes two to its board

Rossendale-based public relations agency Viva has promoted Lisa Woodhouse and Lucie Rohani to its board.

As directors, the two will support managing director Tony Garner in delivering the company’s long-term growth strategy.

Lisa will focus on operations ensuring and finding ways of consistently delivering better results for clients. Lucie’s prime focus will be on business development where she is growing Viva’s offer for B2B-focused firms.

Lisa joined Viva in 2016 following a decade in newspaper journalism. Since joining the Rawtenstall-based agency Lisa has helped build the public sector team and specialises in local authority communications strategy.

B2B and tech sector specialist Lucie originally started her career at Viva in 2010 as a graduate, before moving to Leeds where she worked with some of the region's largest PR agencies. She returned to Viva in 2021 as an account director with a focus on strategic communications.

Lisa said: "I’m looking forward to playing a key role in helping to shape Viva in the future, supporting the business growth objectives and continuing to support our team and clients. 

"Tony has built a business to be proud of with long-standing clients and a great team. This is an exciting time for all of us and I am looking forward to the challenge and expanding my role.”

Lucie said: "Joining the board is particularly significant for me as Viva gave me my first PR job as a graduate intern. I’m delighted to be working alongside Tony and Lisa to continue Viva’s successful growth journey, supporting our incredible clients and nurturing the next generation of PR talent in Lancashire."

Founded by managing director Tony Garner in 2002, Viva has grown over the past two decades into an award-winning firm of 13 employees serving high-profile clients like BAE Systems, Eurofighter, NHS Trusts and local authorities.

Viva announced it had become an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) in January.

Tony said: "These are incredibly exciting times for Viva. We have established firm foundations as one of the region’s fastest-growing agencies and Lisa and Lucie have the talent, energy and focus to help us build on this. It’s great to be able to welcome them as directors."