Paul Thornton

Owner of New Zealand based Digital Marketing Company ‘Digital Hothouse’

Class of: 1998

Paul studied A Levels in Business Studies, Principle of Accounts and Computer Studies at Greenhead from 1996 to 1998 winning the 1998 Wheawill and Sudworth Award.

During his time at Greenhead, Paul showed a particular interest within Marketing within the Business Studies A-Level course, so he went on to study Marketing at Northumbria University. After graduation, Paul got a job working for Internet Direct a local business started from somebody’s garage selling Digital Cameras over the Internet. At this point, Paul realised that the Internet and Digital Marketing was the future so Paul stayed in this field, working for Redcats before moving to Agency side. After working for a couple of agencies, Paul was offered a move to Shanghai to work for a specialist retailer selling accessories to over 25 international markets.

After a year living in China, Paul was then offered a job in Auckland, New Zealand, where he still resides. After working for a large Digital Agency, Paul decided to do it for himself and setup his own business, Digital Hothouse. Digital Hothouse has been going since 2010 and provides Digital Marketing services to some of New Zealand’s largest businesses including 1 of the top 6 most visited websites in the country.

Commenting on his time at Greenhead College, Paul said:

Before I started at Greenhead College, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but upon graduating I knew what I wanted to do with my life and what I wanted to work in. I had fantastic teaching and support from the Business Studies team in particular, alongside their unrestrained enthusiasm which drove me to go to University and study Marketing. If it wasn’t for the staff at Greenhead, I don’t know what I’d be doing now, but I don’t think I’d have had anywhere near the success that I have had. I will always look back at my time at Greenhead with great fondness and some of the friends gained there are still my best friends today – even living at the opposite ends of the earth!