Black-and-white portrait of Linda Church

LindaChurch

Strategist. Connector. Communicator.

Seeing the bigger picture. Bringing it to life.

Connecting ideas, people and opportunities to create partnerships, drive growth and turn possibilities into reality.

BrandsBusinessSportEventsMedia

Explore what's possible Let's connect

I've shaped strategy, built partnerships and brought ideas to life with BP, Mercedes-Benz, Homebase and in luxury automotive. Now I bring that experience to brands, business, sport, events and media.

Organisations I've worked with

  • BP
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Homebase
  • Marks & Spencer
  • Aston MartinSpecialistDes Smail
  • Audi

Three ways we could work together

Each one draws on experience I already have, and each is open to new directions, sectors and ideas.

Strategy & growth

Recognising trends and patterns, spotting the opportunity, and turning an idea into a plan a business can act on.

Built on

  • A communications strategy I took from review to approval by BP's Retail Directors Board, then implemented
  • A cold-drinks proposition I developed and presented to the board at BP
  • Change and innovation work at Mercedes-Benz, including the SWARM mobility team

How I can help

Shaping growth strategy, exploring new markets, building business development plans and turning ideas into proposals that decision-makers can act on, in any sector.

Partnerships & brands

Finding the right fit between brands, audiences and events, and shaping partnerships that meet business objectives, engage communities and create lasting value for both sides.

Built on

  • Communications for the BP and Marks & Spencer retail partnership
  • Negotiating with major FMCG suppliers as Assistant Buyer for BP's Wild Bean Café
  • Sales, client relationships and events at an independent Aston Martin specialist, and European events with Audi

How I can help

Commercial partnerships, sponsorship development, brand collaborations, event and community partnerships, and brand representation: finding the right partners, shaping the proposal and making the introduction, for brands, rights holders and event organisers across sectors.

For athletes

I also welcome conversations with athletes looking to explore brand partnerships, sponsorship and commercial opportunities that fit their ambitions and values.

Speaking & media

Conversations that bring people and ideas to life, on stage, on camera and at live events.

Built on

  • Speaking at the International Running Expo, Amsterdam
  • Television interviews and contributing to live marathon commentary
  • Interviewed as one of Bali's 10 Visionaries at the We Are Creation Summit

How I can help

Conference talks and panels, event hosting and moderation, interviews with athletes and business leaders, sports presenting and commentary, and on-camera brand storytelling.

Selected highlights

Board approved

My retail communications strategy, which I then implemented across the network

BP
Top Talent

Selected for BP's Retail Academy programme

BP
SWARM

Selected for Mercedes-Benz's mobility innovation project team

Mercedes-Benz

Selected work

A selection of my strongest work, across energy, automotive and retail.

BP

Retail strategy, communications and business transformation

Assistant Buyer, Wild Bean Café
Retail Communication Manager

From strategic review to board approval and business-wide implementation.

Across two periods with BP, I progressed from Assistant Buyer for Wild Bean Café to Retail Communication Manager, supporting the introduction of Marks & Spencer into BP's retail network.

I led a comprehensive review of existing communications, consulted stakeholders across the business and developed a new communications strategy. After presenting my recommendations to BP's Retail Directors Board and securing approval, I implemented the strategy across the retail operation, working with senior leadership and operational teams.

Commercial buying and product innovation

Earlier at BP, I worked within the Wild Bean Café business, negotiating with major FMCG suppliers, selecting products and managing commercial relationships. Seeing hot-drink sales dip each summer, I identified the opportunity for a cold-drinks proposition. I researched the category, shortlisted and engaged suppliers, and brought health and safety and retail teams together to assess the idea, before developing and presenting a recommendation to the board.

Leadership recognition
Selected for BP's Retail Academy Top Talent programme, and undertook Six Sigma Black Belt training.

Mercedes-Benz

Business transformation, communications and innovation

Making complex change work for the people delivering it.

At Mercedes-Benz, I was responsible for communications and team readiness for the implementation of a new SAP system. That meant managing implementation activity, delivering training and creating the communications that helped teams adapt to the change. My role also covered marketing communications and creative design, including promotional materials.

Recognised for creative, out-of-the-box thinking, I was selected to join the SWARM project team, exploring new approaches to mobility.

Recognition
Selected for the SWARM mobility innovation project team.
Scope
Communications, implementation and training supporting the SAP rollout.

Homebase

Commercial retail strategy, visual merchandising and creative execution

Bringing commercial strategy and creative vision together across a national retail network.

As part of Homebase's newly established visual merchandising team, I worked across buying, trading, merchandising and new product development to bring product ranges and retail concepts to life in store.

I combined creative direction with project management, selecting and developing furniture and accessory displays, coordinating with commercial teams, and presenting proposals and recommendations at director level.

Scope
Cross-functional retail projects supporting the in-store customer experience across Homebase's national network.

Aston MartinSpecialistDes Smail

Luxury automotive, events, sales and client relationships

Where exceptional cars meet exceptional customer experiences.

At Des Smail's independent Aston Martin specialist racing and sales business, I had significant responsibility for running the business, leading sales, marketing, customer relationships and events.

Events were an important part of that role: premium experiences that brought clients, cars and the business together, supported by marketing, commercial awareness and a personal approach to customer relationships.

While at Des Smail's, I also worked in collaboration with Audi on European automotive events, combining brand partnership, client engagement and event experience across markets.

My role
Sales, marketing, client relationships and automotive events.
Events
Premium client events, and European automotive events in collaboration with Audi.
Linda speaking with a microphone in front of the International Running Expo Amsterdam banner

On stage

Speaking at the International Running Expo, Amsterdam, 2025, on the opportunity for brands in midlife women's running.

Linda speaking at the International Running Expo podium in Amsterdam
International Running Expo, Amsterdam, 2025

Speaking & media

I love the energy of live events: the atmosphere, the people and the excitement of bringing an audience together.

So far

  • Speaking at the International Running Expo, Amsterdam, 2025
  • Television interviews
  • Contributing to live marathon commentary
  • Interviewed as one of Bali's 10 Visionaries, We Are Creation Summit, 2026

Open to

  • Public speaking
  • Event hosting
  • Presenting
  • Interviewing
  • Panel moderation
  • Sports presenting and commentary
  • Brand and commercial conversations
  • On-camera work

This is the side of my work I'm building now, across sport, business and entertainment, including track and field. If you have an event that needs a speaker, host, interviewer or moderator, let's talk.

Linda mid-race at the London Marathon, arms raised Linda's mum, number 10, sprinting towards the finish in a black-and-white photo Linda running along a riverside path in pink compression socks

London Marathon. Mum, Beryl Richer, sprinting for Harrow. And me, still running.

Sport

We don't run to escape life. We run to rise.

Running has been part of my life since childhood. My mum, Beryl Richer, sprinted for Harrow and Middlesex. My parents ran sports shops. My godmother, Sylvia Parker, was married to the renowned coach Bob Parker, and both were involved in athletics coaching at Shaftesbury Harriers, where Bob coached David Bedford to the 10,000m world record. And Mel Batty, my dad's closest friend and a regular presence in our family, was a former world-record-holding runner who went on to lead Brooks' UK operation, negotiate athlete endorsements and work in sports broadcasting.

Racing
Marathon runner, including London. I also raced on track at Donington Park and Brands Hatch through Formula Woman.
The business of sport
I'm interested in where sport is heading commercially: athlete and brand partnerships, sponsorship, sporting ventures, sports fashion and technical apparel, the future of track and field and athlete storytelling, and the growing intersection of sport, entertainment and lifestyle. I combine corporate brand experience, a lifelong connection to sport and strong relationship-building skills to connect brands with relevant events, athletes and community programmes. If you're an athlete, brand, event organiser, rights holder, apparel business or investor thinking about what's next, I'd welcome a conversation.
Linda with the Formula Woman group in the pit garage at Donington Park
Formula Woman, in the pit garage at Donington Park
Linda and her mum smiling together, holding Linda's London Marathon medal
With Mum, a Harrow sprinter in the 1950s, at the finish of my last London Marathon.

About Linda

I've always been happiest where business and people meet.

My career began on the buying side of BP's Wild Bean Café and took me through communications, retail and luxury automotive, from boardrooms and shop floors to the racing paddock.

I grew up in a running family, and sport has never been far away: marathons, county squash, padel, and laps of Donington Park and Brands Hatch with Formula Woman.

Moving from the UK to Bali was a deliberate choice — one that opened a new chapter of independence, curiosity and international opportunity.

And I was once named man of the match at a Mercedes rounders tournament. I still mention it whenever I can.

Named one of Bali's 10 VisionariesWe Are Creation Summit, September 2026
SpeakerInternational Running Expo, Amsterdam, 2025
Linda with two other participants at the We Are Creation Summit in Bali
At the We Are Creation Summit, Bali, September 2026