Meet the Team
Andrew Stokes
Chief executive, Marketing Manchester
Andrew joined Marketing Manchester in 1999 as director of destination marketing and became chief executive in November 2001.
Originally from London, Andrew studied in Liverpool and began his career in the theatre sector, at The Liverpool Playhouse and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. This was followed by a move back to London to the Royal Albert Hall and later appointment as director of sales and marketing for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Andrew is chairman of Manchester Pride and a board member of Manchester International Festival, CityCo Ltd, Manchester Central (the City's international convention and exhibition centre) and Piccadilly Partnership.
Andrew was chairman of Cultureshock, the award-winning multi-arts festival that surrounded the XVII Commonwealth Games in 2002.
Andrew lives in Chorlton, Manchester and enjoys spending time at the cottage he restored on the west coast of Ireland.
Paul Simpson
Managing director, Visit Manchester
Paul joined Marketing Manchester in 1998 as director of finance and operations.
Since 2002 he has also held the post of deputy chief executive and when Visit Manchester was created in January 2008, as a division of Marketing Manchester, Paul took on the role of managing director.
A qualified accountant for over 20 years, Paul has worked in a number of sectors before joining Marketing Manchester. These include training, newsprint manufacturing and financial services.
Paul is a trustee for Street to Stadium - a Manchester based charity helping to provide young people with opportunities through sport in the local community.
Living on the Wirral, Paul is married with four children.
Rachel Combie
Director of strategic marketing, Marketing Manchester
Rachel was appointed director of strategic marketing in September 2009.
She leads the City's marketing co-ordination unit, the team responsible for co-ordinating, influencing and inspiring the organisations that play a part in the promotion of the Manchester City region.
Above all, Rachel's main objective is to align the strategies and activity of the City's key players to deliver a consistent message that fits with the brand vision for the City.
Prior to Marketing Manchester, Rachel worked for MIDAS, Manchester's inward investment agency, where she held the position of head of marketing.
A graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University, she was born in Castlereagh, Northern Ireland and grew up in London before moving to Manchester in 1993.