Recently launched consultancy Lewis Lowery Communications has strengthened its senior team by appointing experienced journalist and comms pro Steven Hallmark as news director.
The Manchester agency – founded by another former journalist and agency leader Caroline Aspinall – continues to build momentum following its launch, with a growing portfolio of clients seeking commercially driven communications strategies.
Hallmark joins Lewis Lowery Communications from Smoking Gun, where he most recently served as B2B News Editor, leading content strategy and media relations for a range of high-profile clients, including American Golf, Best Western Hotels, and UA92. Aspinall also served as commercial director and head of B2B at Smoking Gun until recently.
With more than two decades of experience spanning journalism and public relations, Hallmark brings a deep understanding of the media landscape and a proven track record in delivering impactful storytelling. His career includes senior editorial roles across regional media titles as well as comms and PR positions.
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In the new role, he will lead the agency’s news and content output, working closely with clients to develop compelling, insight-led campaigns designed to drive measurable commercial results.
Founder Aspinall said: “I founded Lewis Lowery Communications to bridge the gap between creative storytelling and hard commercial performance. Steven is the perfect hire. His journalistic instinct, combined with his strategic communications experience, makes him the perfect fit for what we’re building.
“In an era of AI-generated noise and shrinking newsrooms, Steven’s newsroom intuition is a high-value asset for our clients. He understands that a headline isn’t a vanity metric – it’s a tool for clients to gain a competitive advantage.
“Bringing a news director of his calibre on board is a clear signal of our intent…Steven will spearhead the agency’s focus on Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), ensuring client narratives are built to be cited as authoritative sources by AI answer engines and top-tier media alike.”
Hallmark added: “Lewis Lowery Communications has a clear vision – to deliver communications that don’t just look good, but genuinely move the dial for businesses.
“With my background in both journalism and PR, I’m passionate about creating stories that resonate with the right audiences and deliver meaningful results. I’m looking forward to helping clients unlock new opportunities through smart, strategic storytelling.
“The industry is changing and many agencies are still chasing output over impact. We’re here to turn complex business objectives into hard-hitting news that search engines, AI models and – most importantly – customers, can’t ignore.”
