In the spotlight with Katherine Tutton - Partnerships Manager at Rightlander.com

Introduction

What’s your name and role, and how long have you been with Rightlander? 

Hi, I'm Katherine Tutton, although most people call me Kat. I joined Rightlander in September 2024. 

My role is a hybrid one, which is one of the things I enjoy most about it. Part of my remit is working alongside Awin as a Partnerships Manager, building relationships with their account managers, gathering feedback from brands, identifying opportunities for product development and helping raise awareness of Rightlander across the Awin network.

The other half of my role is as Marketing Manager for Trackback, where I'm responsible for developing the brand, shaping the marketing strategy and helping bring the product to market. It gives me a great balance between partnerships, sales and marketing.

Can you share a bit about your professional background before joining the company?

My career has been quite different to many people at Rightlander. I started working as the PA to the Commercial Manager at the FA in Soho Square. Taking minutes in meetings with Steve McClaren, Graham Taylor and Stuart Pearce was very surreal.  

From the FA I fell into working in the creative communications industry, primarily with design agencies in London.  Joining Article 10 at 25, I quickly learnt about the world of design sitting in an account and project management role.  The agency was small so I also oversaw finances and ops for a while. After 6 years I moved onto Maverick, working with global brands to develop communication strategies and deliver large-scale internal and external campaigns. It was a fast-paced environment that taught me a great deal about marketing, storytelling, project management, and client relationships.

Having spent 18 years working in the creative industry, I went through a very difficult time mentally.  It took me a while to recover before making the leap into working at Rightlander.

Have there been some key milestones in your career? 

My first role was during placement year at university, I secured a unique opportunity to work with the commercial division of the Norwegian embassy, helping Norwegian SMEs break into the UK market.  One of the perks of the job was attending events at the Ambassadors residency. I recall one particular evening when I joined the Ambassador and all the senior leaders from the trade, IT and security teams. It was a surreal moment and one that really showed an early appreciation of international business and the importance of building strong commercial relationships. 

During my time at Maverick, we delivered a holistic comms programme for DHL. The objective was to educate their sales teams on the growing world of e-commerce and position DHL as the logistics partner of choice for online retailers.  We met the client in Amsterdam in April and launched globally in September, it was an incredibly ambitious timeline. Pulling together such a complex programme in such a short space of time was a huge challenge, but the results exceeded expectations and it still remains the most successful employee engagement programme within DHL to date.

Another stand out milestone was during my time at my first agency in London.  Working with a colleague we put on a very glamorous event for Bacardi in Cap Ferat, France.  It was an exclusive for their top Sales team so we went all out in terms of experiences, dinners, nights out and even the hotel we were staying out.  Events are always hard work but I get a real buzz planning and delivering them.  This was a real pinch me moment.

Finally I had a very intense but great 18 months as Account Director for Gtech G2, part of the Lottomatica group.  I oversaw the repositioning, rebrand and extensive marketing strategy that completely shifted their position in the market. It was a full 360 strategy covering all touch points.  Running the exhibition stands and events calendar for eGR in Barcelona and ICE in London was a total buzz.

Can you highlight a significant achievement or project at Rightlander that you’re proud of?

Launching Trackback has definitely been the highlight so far.  I was fortunate to be given the freedom to help shape the product's identity, messaging and go-to-market approach from the ground up. Bringing together my agency background with everything I've learned about affiliate marketing has made it an incredibly rewarding project.  It's been exciting to help create a completely new brand while working closely with the wider team to position Trackback as something genuinely valuable for ecommerce businesses.

What does a typical day look like for you in your role?

I'm definitely a people person, so I often start my day working from a local café. It helps me focus while still feeling connected to people around me.  Because we have colleagues in India and Australia, my mornings are usually spent catching up with the wider team, reviewing website updates, reviewing traffic and marketing performance and making sure projects are moving forward.

The rest of the day tends to be a mixture of content creation, marketing planning, partnership meetings, collaborating with colleagues and exploring new opportunities to raise awareness of both Rightlander and Trackback. Working remotely means communication is really important, so staying connected with the team is always a priority.

How do you see Rightlander evolving over the next few years? 

I'd love to see Rightlander continue strengthening its position as a leader in compliance while becoming equally well recognised within the ecommerce sector. Compliance will always be a core strength, but I think there's a fantastic opportunity to build on that reputation through products like Trackback and our wider enterprise ecommerce offering, helping brands and affiliate teams solve a broader range of challenges. The next few years will be exciting, but also competitive, as key players continue to strengthen their position in the market. That's why it's such an exciting time for us to evolve, reach new audiences and continue innovating. I'm really excited to be part of the journey. 

I'm also looking forward to spending more time together as a team. Working remotely has many benefits, but those face-to-face moments are invaluable. 

What are the key initiatives or goals you’re currently focused on? 

My main focus is continuing to strengthen our partnership with Awin, building relationships with advertisers and helping grow awareness of Trackback.  A big part of my role is making sure we're listening to the market, understanding what brands need and translating that into marketing that genuinely resonates.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Family and friends come first, most weekends are spent with my husband and our two children, whether that's exploring the countryside, visiting new places, seeing family/friends, or simply being outdoors.  We also make sure we always get some good food and exercise in too.

I'm a big fitness fan. I love strength training,running, Hyrox and anything that pushes me outside my comfort zone. It gives me a real sense of achievement and sets me up mentally for the week.  When I'm not exercising, you'll usually find me baking, cooking, sewing, embroidering or pottering around the garden. I'm happiest when I'm making something colourful.  

Can you share a fun fact or something unexpected about yourself? 

I have a separate Instagram account where I share my love of home-cooked food and baking: @fromscratchwithKat.  It probably stems from the day when I used to pretend I was Delia Smith and bake whilst talking to the kitchen tiles.  According to my family, I should probably apply for The Great British Bake Off, which I find very flattering.

I also had quite a serious back operation 4 years ago, I lost the use of my right leg.  The recovery was long but I was determined to get back to exercise so I persevered and the rest is history.    

What motivates you to keep pushing forward in your career?

Without question, my family.  The decision to change careers was driven by wanting to be more present for them and create a better balance between work and home life. That continues to motivate me every day.  I'm also incredibly motivated by the people I work with. I'm surrounded by people with deep knowledge of the affiliate industry and I love learning from them. They continually challenge me to keep improving and developing my own skills. 

Who or what inspires you in your professional and personal life? 

I'm inspired by those who lead with confidence, kindness and authenticity, but those who also empower others to succeed. 

My daughter inspires me, watching how self-assured she is and the little regard she has to please others is inspiring.  It’s a constant reminder to keep growing and not settle if you are unhappy… do what is right, not what is easy.

Is there anything else you’d like to share? 

You're never too old to make a change. Some of the biggest opportunities come from stepping outside your comfort zone, even when it feels risky, we don’t grow by playing it safe.

Also don't be afraid to back yourself, or follow your gut instinct.  There is often so much noise that surrounds us but using your instinct and staying true to your personal values will put you in good stead.

Finally celebrate your wins, however big or small. We often move onto the next challenge without taking a moment to acknowledge what we've achieved.