Executive/Personal Assistant

LARA HOLMES

*** **** **** **, *** *A l New York, NY 10021 l **********.**@*****.*** l 646-***-****

Over 15 years of experience focusing on operational, administrative and organizational development at high level corporate and creative organizations, in industries spanning from ad tech, luxury fashion, media, finance, entertainment, publishing, and communication strategy. Consulting with high profile leaders and decision-makers, as well as celebrity, on operational strategies. Planning large-scale projects and events. Proven savvy and strategic relationship builder and communicator.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Administrative Management Organizational Development Operations & Best Practices

Creative Problem-Solving Large-Scale Project Management Budget Management

Properties Management Consciousness Business Strategic Communication

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

H+K Strategies (A WPP COMPANY) 2019 - Present

Director of Administration to the new Global Chairman & CEO

Develop an administrative structure for the office of the new Global Chairman and act as her right arm

Heavy calendar and travel arrangements

Establish new and streamlined administrative procedures and processes

Design best practices and implementation strategy model

Assess administrative loopholes and requirements for efficiency and effectiveness

Extensive travel to Europe for global leadership meetings

VIANT (A MEREDITH COMPANY) 2015 - 2019

Senior Director – Administration, Sales & Marketing – reporting to the Chief Revenue Officer

•Head of Administration for Sales & Marketing for the US (10 regional offices in: West: LA, SF, Seattle; South: Dallas,

Atlanta; Central: Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis; East: Boston, NY)

•Oversaw regional Sales and Marketing administrative teams

•Heavy calendar and travel arrangements for both the CRO and CMO

•Developed strategies to implement and streamline operational processes and best practices across the regions

•Partnered with company Leadership on initiatives to improve productivity, foster inclusion, and mirror company core values

•Oversaw regional procedures and processes for efficiency and effectiveness in tandem with Regional VPs

•Created and monitored yearly administrative operating budgets for the US offices, identifying cost-saving opportunities

•Hired, trained and mentored administrative staff, including in communication effectiveness

•Lead administrative staff yearly reviews process and goal setting

•Mediated cross-divisional conflict resolution

•Aligned with HR to redefine the on-boarding process to better integrate new employees across the regions

•Oversaw space management (design, floor plans, moves, vendor contracts) and facilities with SVP Administration

•Managed materials and logistics for conference events, and collaborated with cross-divisional departments (inc. Creative,

Marketing, Business Development etc.) on presentation decks, guest lists and panelists, special company events

•Planned and executed yearly Sales Conferences in both New York and California, yearly Sales Incentive trips, and budgets

LUNTZ GLOBAL PARTNERS, NEW YORK, NY 2014 –2015

Executive Assistant – Office of the CEO

•Managed complex and ever-changing travel (private and commercial) and meeting schedules

•Collaborated with Leadership and colleagues to assess needs, define approaches, and evaluate outcomes

•Identified and qualified potential new business opportunities based on research and industry analysis observation

•Created and implemented new administrative processes to close multiple communication and execution loopholes

•Evaluated and designed new structures and best practices to streamline protocols and meet deliverables

•Drafted pitch scripts for media and company outreach

•Maximized the value of external media opportunities

•Partnered effectively with key stakeholders across the business and partner companies

MR. AND MRS. MARTIN SCORSESE, NEW YORK, NY 2013 – 2014

House Manager/Personal Assistant – Short Term Position to design, organize and implement new structures

•Referred to the family to assess and design new structures relating to staff, house projects and budgets

•Managed highly complex restoration projects for landmark townhouse, with architects, designers, money manager

•Reduced house expenditures by evaluating and proposing new approaches and procedures

•Lowered expenses by negotiating new contract terms with existing and new contractors, and other service providers

WEST BRANDS, NEW YORK, NY 2011 – 2012

Chief of Staff and Logistics Manager – Founder and Artist (Kanye West)

•Managed highly complex worldwide travel/entertainment schedule (music tours/fashion shows/videos/film screenings)

•National/International Travel: US Multi Cities Global: France, UK, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland,

LARA HOLMES PAGE 2

WEST BRANDS, NEW YORK, NY (Continued)

•Travel continued: Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Qatar

•Synthesized disparate information and translated into cohesive organizational and operational development processes

•Lead a wide range of activities, key initiatives and large-scale projects

•Assessed and developed protocols to respond rapidly to priorities and crisis situations globally

•Key player to strategize/implement communication protocols with cross-divisional teams, and other brands

•Point of contact for handling inquiries and developing action plans to address them

•Partnered with team members to ensure communication was consistent and complementary internally and externally

•Flew ahead of Mr. West to finalize arrangements and logistics for business meetings, performances, interviews; hotel management, drivers and security

•Liaised daily on behalf of the artist with business managers, lawyers, external contacts/celebrities on business projects

•Point person to negotiate vendor contracts and fees in collaboration with the CFO – reduced expenses by 30%

•Selected by Mr. West to review specific business and personal expenses, and propose new practices and strategies

•Oversaw the planning of various global events (private and celebrity); worked directly with PR and agencies involved in organizing events such as the screening of Cruel Summer at the Cannes Film Festival, the Kanye West Collection at Paris Fashion Week, and several music-related gatherings

•Managed art collection, oversaw properties and staff, and collaborated with stylist for shopping and travel preparation

ALTPOINT CAPITAL PARTNERS, NEW YORK, NY 2010 – 2011

Executive Administrator/Personal Assistant – Office of the Founder/CEO

•Managed Founder/CEO’s extensive global schedule, travel arrangements, private jets/yachts for entertaining clients

•Executed multiple projects simultaneously, and effectively leveraged available resources to drive results

•Served as the communication arm for the CEO with other executives in the organization, clients and major stakeholders

•Liaison between staff, executives, senior leaders, and CEO regarding company climate, employee well-being,

project updates, proposals, and planning

•Organized special personal and client events in New York, Paris and London

•Created/maintained budgets relating to estate management, including processing of household staff payrolls

•Managed all aspects of estate management: hired and trained staff, hired and established accounts with vendors; researched properties and managed agreements with real estate agents

CHANEL, NEW YORK, NY 2007 – 2010

Lead Executive Administrator – Office of the President/COO (US)

•Provided administrative and operational support to the President/COO with a focus on key business activities and deliverables

•Attended weekly Leadership meetings and sent out communication with objectives and strategies

•Supported the Executive in preparing for internal and external meetings/presentations, events, conferences

•Created executive communication and presentations for a number of internal and external forums

•Collaborated with Leadership (Fashion, Beauty, Creative, R&D, Finance, Communications & PR) on business planning

to support the President/COO’s business objectives

•Liaised with Global Presidents on pertinent business matters for streamlined action plans and implementation

•Assessed inquiries directed to the Executive, determined the proper course of action and delegated to the

appropriate individual(s) to respond

THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY, NEW YORK, NY 2004 – 2007

Executive Administrator to the Board of Directors – Office of the Corporate Secretary

•Liaison to the Board of Directors on key executive matters as delegated by the Corporate Secretary

•Managed Board processes with cross-divisional leads/teams (materials, internal/external communication, travel, budget, events)

•Organized and attended Management Team Board Planning Sessions; sent next step action plan/timetables to teams

•Implemented new internal communication and process protocol relating to Board matters to meet deliverables

•Point of contact with the Chairman’s office and Communications department on press releases requiring Board approval

•Composed letters and reports for the Corporate Secretary for internal distribution

•Co-managed Board dinners and special events with the head of Events (dinners, retirements, year-end/holiday)

SKILLS & INTERESTS

LANGUAGES

French and Arabic (native); Spanish (conversational); Hebrew (beginner)

SOFTWARE

Mac/PC: MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook; Salesforce; Concur

EDUCATION

Hunter College, NY - Bachelor of Arts in History

INTERESTS

Political, Social & Humanitarian Causes; Performance & Visual Arts; Reading; Writing; Yoga/Meditation; Cycling/Spinning; Global Travel

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