What I bring
I’m James Tutt, founder of Grannom Consulting. I provide independent advice to communications and corporate affairs leaders, CEOs and Boards when they need an experienced outside view and focused help with a particular question. I also work with agencies that want to understand senior clients and briefs more clearly, strengthen counsel or resolve an account or pitch challenge.
Much of my work concerns the communications function itself: what it is there to do, how it contributes to the business, where it should focus, how the team and its agencies should work together, and where AI can genuinely improve the work. I also help organisations develop a clearer corporate identity and narrative and advise leaders through reputational, regulatory and organisational change.
I spent 14 years in agencies and 17 years at Microsoft, including five years leading all UK communications, among other leadership roles. Clients use me for focused reviews, defined advisory projects and continuing counsel. I also work with trusted specialist partners where an assignment needs them.
When I tend to get involved
The function's role is unclear
Senior leaders expect more from communications, but the team has no settled view of its purpose, priorities or contribution to the business.
The business wants clearer value
The CEO, Board or CFO wants to understand what the function enables, protects or improves, and where effort or spending should change.
The operating model no longer fits
Roles, decision rights, the balance between centre and markets, capabilities or agency relationships are getting in the way of the work.
AI use is growing without a plan
People are experimenting, but the function has not made clear choices about workflows, quality control, governance, skills and human accountability.
The narrative no longer matches the business
Strategy, identity or leadership has changed, but the corporate story is fragmented or still describes an earlier organisation.
A leader or agency needs an outside view
A communications leader wants an independent sounding board, or an agency needs help understanding a senior client, sharpening a brief, resolving an account blockage or preparing for an important pitch.
How I work
I start by understanding what is happening in the organisation, what its leaders need from communications and where the current approach is falling short. The question may concern the function's role and priorities, how the team and its agencies are organised, the corporate narrative, AI workflow or the advice going to senior leaders.
Assignments usually take the form of a focused review, a defined advisory project, a workshop or continuing counsel over a period. The scope is shaped around the client's situation and the practical outcome required.
For agencies, I bring a client-side perspective to senior relationships, briefs, account blockages and important pitches. This can be a focused intervention or continuing advice to agency leadership.
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