You know what’s funny? Most people know Amanda Redman from New Tricks or The Good Karma Hospital. But ask them about her husband Damian Schnabel, and you’ll probably get blank stares. Here’s the thing though – this guy’s been quietly shaping some of the biggest brands you interact with every day.
Let me tell you why that matters.
So, Who Exactly Is Damian Schnabel?
Damian Schnabel isn’t your typical corporate suit. Born in London back in November 1971, he’s spent the last 25+ years crafting brand identities that actually mean something. Right now, he’s running the show as Head of Brand at Convex Insurance – and before you yawn at the word “insurance,” stick with me. This guy makes boring industries interesting, which is basically a superpower in today’s world.
What sets him apart? He’s got this rare combo of left-brain analytics and right-brain creativity. Most brand strategists lean heavily one way or the other. Schnabel? He’s figured out how to make them dance together.
The Education That Started It All
Here’s where things get interesting. Damian didn’t go the traditional marketing route. Nope. He studied Industrial Design at Brunel University London, graduating in 1995 with a BSc.
Now you might be thinking, “Industrial design? For a branding guy?” But that’s exactly what makes his approach different. While other marketing professionals were learning textbook theory, he was understanding how form meets function, how users actually interact with products, and how design solves real problems.
Think about it – when you’re building a brand identity, you’re basically designing an experience. That design background? It’s his secret weapon.
From Virgin to Victory: The Career Journey
The Virgin Years: Learning from Rebels
Damian’s first big break came at Virgin – both Virgin Media and Virgin Mobile. And honestly, what better place to learn brand strategy than from Richard Branson’s empire? These companies built their reputation on being the cool kids who challenged the status quo.
At Virgin, Damian wasn’t just pushing pixels around. He was:
- Creating experiences that made people actually feelsomething
- Making sure every touchpoint felt authentically Virgin
- Managing teams that turned wild ideas into real campaigns
- Keeping that rebellious spirit alive without losing business sense
The telecommunications industry can be pretty dry, right? Your phone service, your internet – usually just utility stuff. But Virgin made it fun. And Schnabel was part of the team making that happen.
Agency Life: Start JG
After Virgin, Damian jumped into agency life at Start JG as an Account Director. This is where you really learn to hustle. Agency work isn’t for the faint of heart – you’re juggling multiple clients, tight deadlines, and everyone thinks their project is the most important.
But here’s what that experience gave him:
- Client management skills that actually work in the real world
- The ability to switch between industries without breaking a sweat
- Leadership chops from running diverse teams
- A thick skin (because clients can be… well, clients)
This wasn’t just about making pretty presentations. It was about translating business problems into brand solutions that actually moved the needle.
The Big Leagues: Seven Years at AXA
Okay, this is where Damian Schnabel really proved himself. Seven years as Head of Group Brand and Marketing at AXA. We’re talking about one of the world’s biggest insurance and financial services companies here. Not some startup where you can just “move fast and break things.”
At AXA, the stakes were massive:
- Managing brand strategy across multiple countries and cultures
- Leading global advertising campaigns (with budgets that would make your eyes water)
- Integrating acquired brands like XL and Catlin without losing what made them valuable
- Getting thousands of employees worldwide to actually understand and embody the brand
You know what’s hard? Getting people in Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney to all tell the same brand story while respecting local nuances. Schnabel made it happen.
The financial services world is built on trust. One misstep with your brand messaging and customers start looking elsewhere with their life savings. The fact that he successfully navigated this for seven years tells you everything about his strategic chops.
Current Gig: Convex Insurance
Since November 2021, Damian’s been building something special at Convex Insurance. Now, Convex is a relatively new player in the insurance game, which means they don’t have the luxury of coasting on a century-old reputation.
What’s he doing there?
- Positioning Convex as the modern, agile alternative to legacy insurers
- Building a brand presence from the ground up internationally
- Making insurance feel less like a necessary evil and more like a smart partnership
- Aligning internal culture with external promises (because nothing kills a brand faster than employees who don’t believe in it)
Here’s the truth about brand leadership in 2025 – you can’t fake it anymore. Customers see right through the BS. Social media has given everyone a megaphone. One bad experience goes viral. Schnabel gets this, which is why authenticity is baked into everything he does at Convex.
The Schnabel Philosophy: How He Actually Thinks About Branding
Let me break down what makes Damian Schnabel’s approach different from the consultant types who show up, drop a 200-slide deck, collect their check, and disappear.
Strategy + Creativity = Magic
Most companies have strategists who crunch numbers and creatives who make things pretty. They exist in separate departments, barely talking to each other. The strategists think creatives are flaky. The creatives think strategists are robots.
Damian smashed that wall down years ago. His philosophy? The best brand strategies come from marrying data with emotion. Use research to understand what people actually need, then tell them a story that makes them care.
It’s not revolutionary, but it’s surprisingly rare. Especially at the executive level where most leaders are either suits who don’t get creativity or creatives who can’t read a spreadsheet.
Rolling Up His Sleeves
Here’s something I really respect about Schnabel – he’s not one of those executives who “delegates” everything and just shows up for the final presentation. He’s in the trenches with his teams.
Why does this matter? Because when leadership is disconnected from execution, things fall apart. The vision gets watered down. The details get lost. The final product barely resembles what was originally intended.
Damian’s hands-on approach means:
- Quality control throughout the entire process
- Teams that actually understand what leadership wants (because he’s there explaining it)
- Faster problem-solving when things inevitably go sideways
- Young talent getting mentored by someone who actually knows what they’re doing
Breaking Down the Silos
You know what kills brand management? Departments that don’t talk to each other. Marketing does their thing, product development does theirs, HR is off doing something completely different, and sales is just trying to hit their numbers.
Schnabel has always pushed for integration. A brand isn’t just marketing’s job – it’s everyone’s job. The way your receptionist answers the phone? That’s brand. How your product actually performs? Brand. What employees say about the company on Glassdoor? You guessed it – brand.
Getting everyone aligned isn’t easy. It requires patience, clear communication, and usually a few battles with territorial managers who don’t want to change. But when it works? That’s when brands become truly powerful.
Stories That Actually Resonate
I could write an entire separate article about this, but here’s the short version: people don’t buy products or services. They buy stories about who they’ll become when they use those products or services.
Throughout his career, Damian has understood that brand storytelling isn’t about making stuff up. It’s about finding the authentic truth of what your company does and why it matters, then articulating that in a way that connects emotionally.
Look at the brands he’s worked with:
- Virgin: “We’re the rebels who fight for you against boring corporate giants”
- AXA: “We’re the trusted partner protecting what matters most”
- Convex: “We’re the agile innovator bringing insurance into the modern era”
Each story is different because each company is different. But they all share one thing – they’re believable because they’re rooted in something real.
Beyond the Day Job: The Side Hustles
What I find interesting about Damian Schnabel is that he doesn’t just clock in and clock out. The guy has genuine interests beyond corporate branding.
He’s a director at Artists Theatre School Ltd, helping guide strategy for an educational institution focused on performing arts. This isn’t a vanity position – he’s actively involved in nurturing young talent in theatre and arts education.
Plus, he’s been running ATS Productions Ltd since November 2019. So while he’s building brands for major corporations, he’s also supporting the creative industries that probably inspired him in the first place.
It makes sense, right? Creativity feeds creativity. You can’t just be about quarterly reports and KPIs all the time. You need outlets that remind you why creative work matters.
The Amanda Redman Connection
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Yes, Damian Schnabel is married to Amanda Redman, and yes, people are curious about it.
They met back in 1999 – she’s a hugely successful actress, he was making his mark in the branding world. They dated for four years, split up, then got back together in 2006. Sometimes it takes a breakup to realize what you’ve got, right?
They finally tied the knot on September 4, 2010, at Maunsel House in Somerset. Beautiful venue, by the way, if you’re ever looking for wedding inspiration.
Now, here’s the thing everyone fixates on: Amanda is 15 years older than Damian. And honestly? Who cares. They’re both successful professionals who found each other. The age gap obsession says more about society’s weird hang-ups than it does about their relationship.
Amanda’s had this incredible career – New Tricks ran for a decade, and she’s currently starring in The Good Karma Hospital. Meanwhile, Damian’s built an impressive career in his own right. They’re both successful. They support each other. That’s the story.
Oh, and Damian is stepfather to Emily Glenister (Amanda’s daughter from her marriage to actor Robert Glenister). Blended families are normal now, and by all accounts, they make it work.
The couple keeps their private life pretty private, which seems smart given Amanda’s public profile. But when they do appear together at events, they seem genuinely happy. Sometimes it really is that simple.
What We Can Learn From His Career
Whether you’re in marketing, brand strategy, or just trying to build something meaningful, Damian Schnabel’s career offers some seriously valuable lessons.
Start With Strategy, Execute With Heart
Too many people treat strategy and creativity as opposites. They’re not. The best work happens when you’ve got solid strategic foundations but you’re not afraid to take creative risks.
Damian proved this at Virgin, AXA, and now Convex. Do the research. Understand your audience. Know your competitive landscape. Then create something that makes people feel something.
You Can’t Phone It In
Remote work is great and all, but brand leadership requires presence. Not just Zoom calls – actual engagement with your teams. Schnabel’s hands-on approach throughout his career is a big reason why his initiatives succeed while others fizzle out.
If you’re leading a team, be there. Answer questions. Workshop ideas together. Get your hands dirty. Your people will respect you more, and the work will be better.
Invest in People
Look at Damian’s career arc. He’s consistently built strong teams and mentored younger talent. That’s not just nice – it’s smart business. The people you train today become your network tomorrow. They spread your ideas. They become advocates for your approach.
Plus, you know, it’s the right thing to do. Not everything has to be coldly calculated.
Be Willing to Change Industries
Damian went from telecommunications to financial services to insurance. Totally different worlds. But the fundamentals of good branding translate across industries.
Don’t box yourself in. The skills that make you good at brand strategy in one sector usually apply elsewhere. Sometimes a fresh perspective from someone who doesn’t know “how things are done” is exactly what an industry needs.
Authenticity Isn’t Optional Anymore
This might be the biggest lesson. We’re living in an age where consumers have BS detectors on high alert. Every company claims to be innovative, customer-focused, and mission-driven.
Schnabel’s work emphasizes finding what’s genuinely true about your brand and amplifying that. Not inventing a fake personality, but discovering and articulating the real one.
The Money Question
Since people always ask: what’s Damian Schnabel worth? Various sources put his net worth somewhere between $4.5 and $6 million. Not billionaire money, but definitely successful by most standards.
That wealth comes from:
- Senior positions at major corporations (those Head of Brand roles pay well)
- His entrepreneurial ventures
- Years of career progression in high-value sectors
- Probably some smart investments along the way
But here’s the thing – if you look at his career choices, money doesn’t seem to be the main driver. He could probably make more in pure consulting, charging massive fees to advise brands from the sidelines. Instead, he stays in-house where he can actually build things over time.
That tells you something about what motivates him.
Where Branding Is Headed (And Why Schnabel’s Approach Still Works)
The marketing landscape changes fast. Social media, AI, changing consumer expectations – it’s easy to feel like what worked five years ago is totally irrelevant now.
But watching Damian Schnabel’s career, I’d argue the fundamentals still matter. Actually, they matter more than ever. Here’s why:
Real Beats Fake Every Time
With AI-generated content everywhere, authenticity stands out. Consumers are exhausted by brands trying too hard to be relatable. Schnabel’s emphasis on genuine brand storytelling is actually more valuable now than when he started.
Integration Is Everything
In a world where customers interact with brands across dozens of touchpoints – website, app, social media, customer service, physical locations – consistency matters. Damian’s cross-functional approach anticipates this reality.
Purpose Over Hype
The brands that thrive aren’t the ones with the cleverest Super Bowl ads. They’re the ones that clearly articulate why they exist beyond making money. Schnabel’s work has always focused on finding and expressing that deeper purpose.
Flexibility Within Framework
Yes, you need brand guidelines and consistency. But you also need to adapt to changing markets. Damian’s ability to work across different industries shows how core principles can flex without breaking.
The Bottom Line
Damian Schnabel probably won’t ever be a household name, and I suspect he’s fine with that. He’s not building a personal brand on LinkedIn or tweeting hot takes for engagement.
Instead, he’s been quietly doing the work. Building brands that matter. Creating frameworks that last. Mentoring people who’ll carry these ideas forward.
In an era obsessed with personal branding and self-promotion, there’s something refreshing about someone who just does excellent work and lets that speak for itself.
Whether you’re a brand manager trying to figure out your career path, a marketing director looking for a better approach, or just someone interested in how major brands actually get built – Damian Schnabel’s career is worth studying.
Not because he’s done anything flashy or revolutionary. But because he’s consistently shown up, done the strategic thinking, executed creatively, invested in people, and built brands that actually connect with humans.
In today’s noisy, cluttered, AI-saturated marketing world? That steady excellence is the real superpower.
Your Burning Questions About Damian Schnabel (Answered)
Who is Damian Schnabel and why should I care?
Damian Schnabel is a British brand strategist currently leading brand efforts at Convex Insurance. With 25+ years shaping brands at Virgin, AXA, and beyond, he represents the rare blend of strategic thinking and creative execution. If you care about how major brands actually get built (not just marketed), his career is a masterclass.
Where did Damian Schnabel go to school?
He studied Industrial Design at Brunel University London, earning his BSc in 1995. That design background gives him a unique edge in brand development – he understands how people interact with products and experiences at a fundamental level.
What does Damian Schnabel do at Convex Insurance?
As Head of Brand since November 2021, he’s building Convex’s global brand presence from the ground up. Think strategy, digital transformation, internal culture alignment, and positioning against much bigger competitors. Basically, everything that makes a brand feel like more than just a company.
How did Damian Schnabel meet Amanda Redman?
They met in 1999, dated for four years, split up, then reunited in 2006. They got married in September 2010. Sometimes you have to lose something to appreciate what you had, right?
What’s the deal with the age gap between Damian and Amanda?
Amanda is 15 years older than Damian. And honestly, it’s 2025 – two successful adults found each other. The obsession with their age difference says more about outdated social norms than their actual relationship.
What companies has Damian Schnabel worked for?
His career spans Virgin Media, Virgin Mobile, Start JG (branding agency), seven years at AXA as Head of Group Brand and Marketing, and currently Convex Insurance. Each role built on the last, taking him from telecommunications to financial services to insurance leadership.
Does Damian Schnabel have kids?
He’s stepfather to Emily Glenister, Amanda Redman’s daughter from her previous marriage. Blended families are pretty normal these days, and by all accounts, they make it work well.
What’s Damian Schnabel’s net worth?
Various sources estimate between $4.5 and $6 million, though exact figures aren’t public. That comes from executive roles at major corporations, entrepreneurial ventures, and smart career moves over 25+ years. Not billionaire money, but definitely successful.
What makes Damian Schnabel’s approach to branding different?
He combines strategic analysis with creative execution better than most. Plus, he’s hands-on – not the type to dump a strategy doc and disappear. He works with teams, mentors talent, and stays involved through execution. That combination of strategic vision and tactical engagement is rare at the executive level.
Is Damian Schnabel on social media?
He keeps a low profile compared to many executives. No massive LinkedIn following or Twitter presence. He seems to prefer doing the work over talking about doing the work, which is honestly refreshing in today’s look-at-me culture.
