Adrian Hargreaves

Strategic clarity advisor helping leadership teams think clearly, articulate strategy under pressure, and maintain alignment in complex business environments.

Highly experienced in sales, marketing, strategy & communications. Offers services UK wide. Based in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Adrian Hargreaves

Qualified with both The Chartered Institute of Marketing and The Institute of Sales Promotion to Diploma level, and with a Open University qualification in Managing Change, Adrian has a wealth of experience both in working for leading commercial organisations in sales and marketing roles over 30 years and in running his own business since 2012.

Adrian was employed by:

  • Co-op Food
  • British Telecom
  • Daniel Thwaites PLC
  • Marstons PLC
  • Thomson Local
  • Haymarket Media Group
  • Newsquest
  • Faversham House Group
  • ReachLocal

Starting in the registry office of British Telecom in his first permanent job, Adrian was quickly moved into the sales department and was sponsored by the company for a five-year development program. Adrian achieved both the CIM Certificate and Diploma qualifications achieved in just three years, the minimum time possible. 

Known as ‘an ideas person’ Adrian was the winner of a BT company suggestions competition for a sales communications initiative which had raised local sales of consumer products by 18%.

A move into the drinks industry followed with an intensive five years in marketing followed by two years in free trade sales with Daniel Thwaites PLC and then a further two years in national sales with Marston’s PLC.

Adrian then moved into advertising for a further fourteen years. Starting with a Thomson Directories as an account representative Adrian achieved consistently high performance before being promoted to Senior Account Manager, then Regional Key Account Manager and finally the national sales role of Premier Account Director.

A series of other roles followed in various well-known media and digital companies including Haymarket Media Group, Faversham House Group, Newsquest and Reach Local.

In 2012 Adrian founded his own company, Hargreaves Marketing Ltd based in Blackburn, Lancashire, which has served a wide variety of small and medium-sized businesses across the UK.

In 2026 the company was rebranded ‘Hargreaves’ to reflect the shift over the years from sales and marketing consultancy, coaching and services to more niche and specialised strategic advisory services.