HELLO, I’M

Simon Bannister

Specialist in email, CRM, and sustainable performance strategy

sb@simonbannister.co.uk

About Me

I’m a results-driven performance marketer with deep expertise in email marketing and CRM. With seven years across two agencies, and over a decade client-side, I’ve evolved my focus from campaign execution to delivering business outcomes. My work now centres on aligning marketing activity with commercial goals – prioritising impact over volume, and outcomes over deliverables.

Beyond the Inbox

I started in email marketing back in 2006, working for two email service providers. That meant learning everything from the ground up – designing and coding campaigns, running A/B and multivariate tests, delivering platform training, and handling day-to-day customer support. It gave me a deep, practical understanding of how email works and what makes it effective.

When I moved client-side, my focus shifted from execution to impact. I led a major ESP migration, and started aligning email strategy with commercial goals. I developed solutions that worked within real-world constraints – like designing smart emails and behavioural series that fit the commercial model but still respected user experience.

Over time, my remit grew beyond email. I took on responsibility for overall customer platform performance – rolling out channels like notifications, paid social, and partner marketing. I also expanded into acquisition and retention strategy, building out data analysis frameworks and mapping the full user journey, from first touch to application and beyond.

2014-

Group GTI

Head of Performance Marketing

Currently leading performance marketing across all user-facing channels at GTI, with a focus on driving client outcomes and improving full-funnel performance. My remit includes email, CRM, push, paid media, and acquisition strategy – all tracked against measurable commercial results.

2009-2014

Emailcenter UK

Senior Email Marketing Consultant

Worked as a hands-on consultant to clients like NS&I and GoCompare, helping them design and execute smarter email strategies. Often embedded on-site to understand objectives and translate them into high-performing campaigns.

2006-2008

Adestra

Head of Production

Led the managed services team after starting out in client support. Designed, built, and analysed campaigns for brands like Tesco and BBC – learning the technical and strategic side of email from the ground up.