 During 1985–1986 Reed worked as a media planner and buyer for Saatchi & Saatchi plc, where he planned and managed advertising campaigns for British Rail, Club 18-30, Eurotunnel and Procter and Gamble.From 1987 to 1988 Reed worked for Afghanaid and Help the Aged, co-ordinating relief and development programmes in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Soviet-occupied Afghanistan.In Afghanistan he established a village assistance programme for farmers affected by regional conflict.