managing director



I am creative with an endless fascination for how words and pictures – in ink-on-paper, digital, or in audio and film – cause reactions.

The various media available offer so many opportunities for rich content – which means that brands can tell their stories in a thousand different ways through a myriad of channels. The only limitation is our imagination.

My background is at the forefront of journalism and publishing, and I know Abstract is the best place to be, because we have the know-how, lateral thinking and passion to build your communications to work their hardest to achieve your goals.

Design attracts attention but it’s words that generate response, and more interesting to me than thinking about what’s going to be possible in 10 years, is recognising what’s possible now but that no one has yet built, written, designed, illustrated or photographed.

There’s never been a more crucial time to hone and extend the reach of your content

roger@abstractassociates.co.uk

 WILSHER IN 30 SECONDS

1958 Born 24 January in Notting Hill, London. Educated University College School, Hampstead, University College Wales, Aberystwyth, UC Cardiff
1984 Time Out news editor   
1986 Insight investigations editor, The Sunday Times
1989 Assistant Editor, Sunday Express
1990 Editor, Scottish Sunday Express
1996 Editorial consultant on Barclays Business News, launch of BMW Magazine and London City Airport’s City to Cities  
1999 Launches own contract publishing business
2009 As Managing Director, expands scope of Abstract to implement cross-media content strategy

Abstract has a dog

Abstract has a dog-friendly policy, and as a result the MD Roger Wilsher believes the lives of many employees and Otto, his Chocolate Labrador, have greatly improved.

Given the nature of Abstract’s work, Roger says he and colleagues can feel stressed when confronting the many deadlines and processes the team works on every day.

“The ability to step away for a moment and give Otto a belly-rub or a walk in the park can really help to alleviate the stress and provide renewed inspiration to continue our work. It’s good for the business, “ Roger says.

Many companies find that animal-friendly policies celebrate the great relationship that people have with their pets.

Jennifer Fearing, The Humane Society of the US’s chief economist, came from a dog-friendly workplace and made a detailed case for moving in that direction. At The HSUS, Fearing provided compelling evidence that a change in policy benefits both employers and employees.

“It’s not just smaller companies that can enjoy the benefits of dogs in the office,” said Fearing, who, along with dog trainer Liz Palika, has written Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces.

“With some foresight, planning and attention to the concerns of those who may be less excited about having dogs around, even large companies can welcome dogs into the workplace while maintaining a professional—if more engaging—culture.”

 How to be dog-friendly at work

1. Get buy-in from the top
2. Seek input from everyone on your team
3. Make it clear that people (not dogs) come first
4. Establish clear rules and enforce them consistently
5. Design rules to minimise distractions and maximize respect
6. Establish a good enforcement or policymaking process