Who We Are
Meet the senior team...
Anna Geffert
Managing director
Anna founded HERA in 2019 after 14 years of working at leading global PR agencies in London, specialising in Consumer PR, Corporate PR, and Capital Markets.
She prides herself on being a trusted partner and advisor to clients and has worked across multiple sectors including; banking, energy, fintech, FMCG, retail, hospitality & leisure, manufacturing, professional services and real estate.
Anna was proud to be President of Women in PR, an award winning membership organisation dedicated to helping more women into senior leadership roles. She now sits on the Board of Global Women in PR.
Anna has made the PRWeek Powerbook for the fourth consecutive year.
Dr John Wriglesworth
hera Executive Chairman
John is a published academic economist, former city Financial Analyst and successful Entrepreneur. He has proven expertise in economic and financial analysis, as well as marketing and PR.
John has a PhD in Economics from Oxford University, lectured economics at the Queen Mary University in London and published his book, Libertarian Conflicts in Social Choice, Cambridge University Press. This won the Royal Economics Society’s Monograph prize for the best new book submitted by any economist under the age of 30.
John then worked as the Director of Housing Research at UBS, where he became a household name on broadcast and print with his exciting predictions and analysis of the UK Housing market. In 1998 John set up his own successful PR agency, The Wriglesworth Consultancy, which he ran for 16 years before selling to a large multi-national city based PR firm.
John is a lover of travel, a Merlot enthusiast (with ice!) and a keen, and improving, amateur golfer.
David Gallagher
director
A former journalist, published author, science and policy writer, then European and UK PR agency founder, growth and development advisor. Latterly a President and Board Director at Omincom, the world’s largest PR and Communications organisation.
A specalist in crisis management and a trusted advisor to the Boards of the largest international brands.
David is expertly placed to help advise clients during challenging periods of growth and crisis.
Lynda Waltho
Director of Public Affairs
Lynda was the Member of Parliament for Stourbridge and Regional Minister in the last Labour Government. She served as Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Northern Ireland Office, Department of Justice and Department of Health.
Appointed by Tony Blair and promoted by Gordon Brown, she served as one of two Regional Ministers for the West Midlands.
Lynda was also Director of Communications for the Green Bus Company and until recently, the Midlands Regional Director for the Confederation of Passenger Transport. Other positions include a Director of Clearvu Communications and Managing Director Abbott Barber Communications Ltd.
Lynda has also served as a Trustee for the Black Country Food Bank and Political Adviser to the Board of the Parry People Mover.
Maria Hughes
Senior Account Director
Maria joined HERA in 2023, having worked in PR for over ten years, across a diverse range of sectors including real estate, housebuilding, financial and professional services, retail, media, travel and automotive. A graduate of Trinity College, Dublin with a Masters from University College London, Maria has extensive experience in producing research-based thought-leadership content to position clients as experts in their field. She also is skilled in developing commercially-focused PR strategies.
