Leigh Summers
Commercial Director | Brand Creator | Strategic Partner
I am all about the brand. I support businesses in all aspects of brand, commercial and operational excellence. I am a professional, dynamic, enthusiastic Commercial Director with over twenty-five years’ experience in the luxury lifestyle hospitality industry. I have a strong record of achievement and demonstrated success driving multimillion-pound businesses in highly competitive markets by re-positioning key brands in the global marketplace. Adept at driving revenue growth through effective people management, I am an exceptional mentor and coach. I am tenacious in building new business through strategic partnerships, securing customer loyalty and forging strong relationships with both internal and external business partners.
My previous employment includes 10 years with Iconic Luxury Hotels. Having joined Chewton Glen in 2011 as Sales and Marketing Director, the role evolved and, following the aquisition of Cliveden, I became Commercial Director for Iconic Luxury Hotels. I was pivotal in bringing The Lygon Arms into the portfolio and creating the Iconic Luxury Hotels brand. I was instrumental in helping the group grow to include the management contract for 11 Cadogan Gardens and launch of The Mayfair Townhouse. Prior to this, I spent over ten years with von Essen hotels, where as the youngest General Manager in the group, I opened a brand-new spa, achieved red star status and then went on to open 5 new spas within the group and supported the opening of Hotel Verta at Battersea.
I have undertaken recent projects at The Lakes by YOO. I’ve helped with commercial support and the launch of the new Birch Community hotel in Croydon and been an integral part of the launch of THE NICI hotel in Bournemouth. I have also been back at Iconic supporting the marketing team and budget process.
What I do
I am a commercial strategist
First and foremost, I am a commercial strategist. I work with you to devise a plan. I understand the goals and vision of the company and from this we build the strategy. The strategy involves all key stakeholders and ensures to cover all areas of the business. From brand positioning, to operational excellence and global recognition. For me, it’s simple, know the vision, stay true to the brand and deliver the goal.
I am a strategic partner
Business success is supported by a strong partnership, and this works best when we all have one vision, that we are all working towards. It is essential there is fluid and open communication, engagement from the team and mutual transparency. You can trust that I will bring expert advice, to support the vision and elevate the brand. I am an extension to your team and will totally immerse myself in the brand and the delivery of the goal.
I am a leader and motivator
I believe that at the heart of our values, we lead, not follow. We set the standards and we deliver the future. I have a dynamic approach and am forward thinking but I am not one person. The whole business needs to be behind the strategy, from the inside out and the outside in. It’s about bringing the team on the journey, understanding the goals and delivering the vision. Know the goal, begin the journey and look back as a team and know that ‘we’ did that. I am a strong believer of ‘we’ not ‘I’.
I am a relationship developer
After twenty-five years in the business, I have developed key relationships within the luxury sector and call most of the best-known industry leaders, friends. Our business is all about people and relationships and this is key to ensure the success of the business and the brand positioning. The right partners and the right relationships will ensure global presence and brand recognition.
Projects I have worked on and people I have worked with
The Treehouse Launch at Chewton Glen
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I have worked with Leigh for over seven years and she is the complete package. Highly professional and efficient, Leigh knows how to truly move the needle where clients need it the most and is extremely strategic. Solution orientated, Leigh is hyper responsive and articulate. She seamlessly operates as an extension of a client’s internal team and thinks outside the box. Most importantly, she is a real joy to work with.
Emma Hartland-Mahon
Managing Director | JPR
The Re-positioning of Cliveden
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In all the years I’ve had the pleasure of working with Leigh and getting to know her better, I’ve come to understand her commercial mind and learn from her strong work ethic. Her creativity and ability to work collaboratively with other luxury brands to maximise each others opportunities and find ways to mutually benefit from such collaborations are like no other. Leigh is passionate, hard working, focussed, honest and her ‘can-do’ attitude makes you feel like everything is possible! I should also add that working with Leigh is not only productive but a lot of fun!
Cristina Munoz
Brand and Marketing Director | Cunard
The Creation of Iconic Luxury Hotels
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I have worked with Leigh for many years on events, support for events, and hotel bookings. She has given assistance to our artists on day to day hotel bookings to helping with our annual Brits parties where we deal with over 1,000 guests.
Leigh is a consummate professional, helpful in every way and with fantastic creative ideas. She is thorough and gives attention to detail which when dealing with artists is essential. I feel that when working with Leigh I have total support and can totally rely on her seeing anything through to the very end.
Jackie Hyde
VIP Artist Relations Manager – Sony Music
The Launch of The Mayfair Townhouse
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Leigh’s commercial insight, industry knowledge and ability to build long lasting relationships, have made her an incredible partner over the last 10 years. I believe that her approach to nurturing partnerships and an open-minded perspective is the main reason we have had such an outstanding relationship. It is always a pleasure to work together and I know that any project Leigh is involved in will be a resounding success.
Aimee Hodgkin
Head of Hotel & Villa Partnerships | Mr & Mrs Smith