Lester Thorley

Senior Consultant

Long-lasting media relationships, an ability to identify potent story angles, and a total focus on accuracy, are legacies of Lester Thorley's eight years as an award-winning news and feature writer at the Waikato Times.

Before joining Wright Communications, his freelance articles appeared in magazines including Metro, NZ House & Garden, Wilderness Magazine, and prominent newspapers such as the New Zealand Herald, Sunday Star-Times, The Dominion Post, and The Press.

Lester's wide-ranging CV also includes writing email news bulletins for the legal division of Credit Suisse First Boston in London, and several months writing for small-town newspapers in Northern California.

This experience adds up to a consultant who can produce compelling media releases and articles for Wright Communications' clients. Lester's Bachelor of Commerce majoring in marketing, and two-year stint with global accounting giant Ernst & Young prior to his writing career means he brings excellent business knowledge to the table.

Lester joined Wright Communications following a 2.5-year stint as a senior media adviser at the Ministry for the Environment in Wellington. He found there is nothing like a Press Gallery hunting down a juicy story to hone skills in calm and professional media relations, astute risk analysis, and strategic crisis management. This time spent implementing communications plans which involved the Minister's office, the Ministry and other government agencies, allows Lester to help Wright Communications provide its clients with excellent insights into the machinery of government.

Chasing Waitemata Harbour snapper, or fly fishing further afield, is Lester's recreational passion. His approach to writing a story is similar - capture the target audience hook, line and sinker.