Katharina Stolley is a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Birmingham, where she teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate students. She also serves as a personal tutor for undergraduates. Additionally, Katharina is a member of the Culture Research Group and acts as the Library Representative for the Department of Marketing.
Katharina’s research explores the intersection of marketing, media, and culture, with a focus on the evolving dynamics within the film, entertainment, and creative industries. Using interpretative methodologies, she investigates the growing role of branded entertainment in global branding strategies, applying a socio-cultural lens to understand its evolution from traditional product placement to a sophisticated marketing communications format. Her work critically examines the challenges faced by industry practitioners in conceptualising, creating, and distributing branded entertainment, as well as the new collaborative and intellectual property practices that have emerged. Additionally, she addresses the ethical considerations involved in integrating brands into entertainment, aiming to shed light on the broader dynamics, responsibilities, and implications of these practices.
Before joining the University of Birmingham, Katharina worked as an Associate Lecturer at both Goldsmiths, University of London, and the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London. She also served as a Research Assistant at Goldsmiths within the Institute of Management Studies, contributing to a project funded by Innovate UK that investigated mobile payments and real-time marketing. In her professional practice, Katharina has experience in marketing across the film and music industries, as well as in the hospitality and skincare sectors. She completed her vocational training as an Audio-Visual Media Specialist at a talent agency.