Experience

AVA Acquisitions

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Partner and Chief Strategy Officer

  • Mar 2022 - Present

  Austin, Texas, United States We acquire agencies using best-in-class programmatic M&A with a team led by Peter Lang. We then scale them using the 2Y3X program. We now have 85 people generating $12m in revenue.



Scale at Speed Media

• United States
• E-Learning Providers

• Partner

  • Jun 2022 - Present

  Austin, Texas, United States Live events and mentoring programs for agency founders and leaders in the US.



The 2Y3X Programme

• United Kingdom
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• CEO at The 2Y3X® Programme, chair and board advisor

  • Sep 2015 - Present

  UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Middle East, Africa Eight years ago we launched an incredibly successful programme that gets your staff to buy into – and then drive – extraordinary growth. It delivers scale at speed using a proven framework. It breaks through inertia and "feast and famine", gets leaders out of the weeds, removes leadership bottlenecks to rapid progress, and develops robust succession teams. Most businesses on the 2Y3X programme double revenue, some triple it. It adds millions to business valuation. We have… Show more Eight years ago we launched an incredibly successful programme that gets your staff to buy into – and then drive – extraordinary growth. It delivers scale at speed using a proven framework. It breaks through inertia and "feast and famine", gets leaders out of the weeds, removes leadership bottlenecks to rapid progress, and develops robust succession teams. Most businesses on the 2Y3X programme double revenue, some triple it. It adds millions to business valuation. We have given owners in seven countries new enthusiasm, and many of them have become multi-millionaires as a result. The 2Y3X programme is described in detail in the book Scale at Speed – How to Triple the Size of Your Business and Build a Superstar Team, now in its second edition from Hachette worldwide. Show less



UK and USA

• Keynote Speaker, Workshop Leader and Trainer

  • Sep 2015 - Present

  Highly experienced keynote speaker and workshop leader specialising in: • Developing and executing fast-growth strategies • Agency M&A • Training for CEOs and senior management teams Example events: Keynote on creating fast-growth startups at SmartTech in Kyiv, Ukraine, to an audience of Cryptocurrency, Machine Learning and Augmented Reality entrepreneurs Speaker at Kingston Smith's Agency Growth Day, on how to drive up the value when selling an agency. Headlined… Show more Highly experienced keynote speaker and workshop leader specialising in: • Developing and executing fast-growth strategies • Agency M&A • Training for CEOs and senior management teams Example events: Keynote on creating fast-growth startups at SmartTech in Kyiv, Ukraine, to an audience of Cryptocurrency, Machine Learning and Augmented Reality entrepreneurs Speaker at Kingston Smith's Agency Growth Day, on how to drive up the value when selling an agency. Headlined The Drum's 'Brief Encounters' event at The Congress Centre in London with a keynote on how to grow and manage agencies. Gave a speech at Center Camp at Burning Man on 'Serendipity and the power of saying "Yes"'. Headlined three conferences on M&A for agencies, with keynote speeches covering Maximising Exit Value, Competitive Differentiation and Board Strategy Roadmaps. Talk at the House of Lords on career options for Parliamentary interns. Ran two workshops at the Innovation For Jobs Summit chaired by David Nordfors and Vint Cerf at SRI International (Stanford Research Institute) in Silicon Valley. Show less



Hult International Business School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Professor and visiting lecturer

  • 2011 - Present

  London, United Kingdom Lecturer on the Masters in International Marketing, MBA and International MBA programmes at one of the world's top business schools.



BEEP: Culture Transformation

• United Kingdom
• Business Consulting and Services

• Board Advisor

  • Aug 2018 - Present

  Behavioural engagement platform for digital transformation



Rawnet Digital Agency

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • May 2019 - May 2021

  Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom “Strategic Digital for Determined Brands” Sold for 1.5x average market rate



White Bear

• United Kingdom
• Design Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • Feb 2019 - Apr 2021

  London “Branding Future Unicorns”



VERB | powered by Croud

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • Dec 2018 - Jan 2020

  London, United Kingdom The leading luxury digital agency



People-Centered Internet

• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• UK Lead

  • Feb 2016 - Jan 2020

  Palo Alto, Silicon Valley The People-Centered Internet (PCI) coalition was chaired by Vint Cerf (Father of the Internet) until December 2019 and was co-founded and led by Mei Lin Fung (co-inventor of CRM). People-Centered Internet works to ensure that the Internet delivers economic, social and political empowerment for all. We work with World Bank, World Economic Forum, IEEE, ISOC and others to help the next 1.5 billion people connect to thrive.



Quaestor

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

• ICO Advisor / Executive Producer

  • Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

  Stunning multi-channel film, VR, games and social media universe



Woroom.Network

• Chair

  • May 2018 - Apr 2019

  Kyiv, Kyiv City, Ukraine Two year-old Virtual Reality software, interface hardware and Machine Learning start-up, aiming for (and getting) funding in China



i4j Innovation for Jobs by IIIJ Foundation

• United States
• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Leadership Forum Member

  • Nov 2015 - Apr 2019

  London & Silicon Valley Innovation For Jobs (I4J) is co-chaired by Vint Cerf and David Nordfors. It exists to disrupt unemployment on a global scale – seeking to create meaningful employment for all through innovation. I4J is at the centre of 'Future of Work' thinking. Members include Curt Carlson, Robert Cohen, Steve Denning, Esther Dyson, Jim Knight, Katz Kiely, Mei Lin Fung, Marc Canter, Monique Morrow, and many other pioneering economists, technologists and thinkers from around the world.



Deeson (now TPXimpact)

• United Kingdom
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • Apr 2017 - Dec 2018

  London, United Kingdom Successfully sold to The Panoply PLC "High Profile, High Stakes Digital Transformation"



Impero

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • Dec 2016 - Dec 2018

  London, United Kingdom Ran the process to define the agency's positioning. Doubled revenue. Five-times ‘Agency of the Year’ winner in 2018. "We Make Tired Brands Famous Again"



Alpha Century

• United Kingdom
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Non-Executive Chair

  • Nov 2016 - Dec 2018

  London, United Kingdom Developed the agency's positioning and was chairman of the agency starting with seven people and getting to #35 in Campaign's Top 100 creative agencies, just behind Red Brick Road and St Luke's, in just two years. "The Creative Agency for Entrepreneurs"



Momentum ITSMA

• United Kingdom
• Business Consulting and Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chair

  • Jan 2016 - Jan 2018

  London Increased revenue by 2.4x. Introduced the Strategy Map and Execution Roadmap processes and established clear positioning and marketing strategy. Launched a new office successfully in the USA. Rebalanced to a majority-female board. Shortlisted in the UK Agency Awards 2017 for "Best Marketing Strategy for Agency Growth" and "Most Impressive Large Agency Growth" and nominated for CIM "Agency of the Year" 2018.



Underwired

• Advertising Services

• Chair

  • Jan 2014 - Feb 2015

  London, United Kingdom High profile, thought-leading CRM agency filled with down to earth, wonderfully smart people. RAR Elite Agency (as voted by clients and competitors) September 2014 and RAR award winner 2015. Working with a number of trusted partners to maximise the agency's value, I led and negotiated the agency's successful sale – then took a brief career break before refocusing on leadership mentoring, board consultancy and pro bono work.

• Chief Executive

  • Apr 2012 - Jun 2014

  London Led MBO from owners Hasgrove plc then re-focused the agency on Multichannel CRM. • Doubled turnover, doubled EBITDA in first twelve months following MBO • Recruited heavyweight A-Player management team • Implemented Execution Roadmap process to manage the board • Created and led client training courses for over 130 CMOs and heads of CRM to drive sales • Won Marks & Spencer, Sony, Regis, Travelodge, Financial Times, ESPN and Asics



The Conversation Group

• China
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • 2013 - Feb 2015

  London, United Kingdom Led the development of a collaborative Multichannel agency group, working with Bryan Wilsher (CFO) and Mark Adams (Chairman). • Identified and recruited specialist independent agencies into the group – CRM, Segmentation, Research, Mobile, Data and Social • Created a differentiating proposition around multichannel customer engagement strategy • Led successful multi-agency pitches to Tesco and Bauer Media among others



The Henley Centre for Customer Management

• Visiting Speaker

  • 2015 - 2015

  INBREC is the International Brand and Reputation Community, which in the UK is partnered with Henley Business School. INBREC includes heads of corporate affairs and heads of brand from a variety of major global businesses. Presentation topics included The Future of Digital Engagement, covering marketing strategy, digital service design, business process re-engineering and employee engagement.



Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM)

• Lecturer, Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Marketing

  • 2009 - 2014

  Lecturer on the advanced course, Developing Relevant Customer Communications, part of the IDM's Postgrad Diploma. I also led the digital CRM strategy courses at the IDM from 2001 onwards.



DMA Awards, DADI, LIAA, BIMA, New York Festivals etc.

• Awards Judge

  • Mar 1996 - 2014

  I have been on judging panels and led judges for a variety of creative and digital awards over many years. Lots of fun, always with interesting people and always amazing to be exposed to the best work being done at the time.



Underwired

• Advertising Services

• Managing Director

  • Oct 2009 - Oct 2011

  London, United Kingdom Reported directly to Hasgrove plc CEO and was a member of the group's operational board alongside MDs of Amaze, Interact and The Chase. • Won clients including Asics and McCain Foods whose group-wide fees rose 10x • Delivered more than £10m annual incremental sales for McCain and £21m for Asics • Most profitable company in the group 2011



Underwired

• Advertising Services

• Managing Director

  • 2001 - 2009

  London Created and led the world’s first – and continuously market-leading – eCRM agency. Helped define the industry's playbook. • Grew fee income from two-person consultancy to £2m strategy firm in under four years • Developed and managed the first eCRM programmes for a number of fantastic brands – Virgin Holidays/Games/Megastores, The Sun, NSPCC, Peugeot, VSO, LA Fitness and Orange • Personally responsible for winning more than £1million in new fee income per year



Head New Media

• CEO

  • Mar 1997 - Aug 2001

  London Co-founder of ‹Head› which became the world's most awarded digital agency. I negotiated the agency's sale to Lowe Group (then world's fourth largest ad agency network – now MullenLowe) to become its UK digital arm. Created some of the world's first deliberately viral campaigns. Led award-winning digital strategy for clients including Unilever, UDV, Mars, General Motors, HSBC and HP. Implemented a policy of giving all staff one day a week for personal creative projects. An agency… Show more Co-founder of ‹Head› which became the world's most awarded digital agency. I negotiated the agency's sale to Lowe Group (then world's fourth largest ad agency network – now MullenLowe) to become its UK digital arm. Created some of the world's first deliberately viral campaigns. Led award-winning digital strategy for clients including Unilever, UDV, Mars, General Motors, HSBC and HP. Implemented a policy of giving all staff one day a week for personal creative projects. An agency with a fantastic culture; huge fun. Launched the first specialist interactive TV agency, Head-End, in 1998, producing the first Interactive Television ads for Tesco and Unilever. Show less



Head-Space

• Advertising Services

• Co-Founder

  • Feb 1997 - Aug 2001

  Co-founder and co-curator of Head-Space with Jason Holland. The Head-Space Project was a collaborative, creative web community for digital designers, programmers and poets. It won over 150 awards between 1997 and 1999, including Cannes, Campaign and IPPA awards. In 2011 Forbes listed it as one of the world's ten most influential websites, a precursor to YouTube [and] created the blueprint for intranets. It features in the touring 'Digital Archaeology' exhibition. Head-Space had… Show more Co-founder and co-curator of Head-Space with Jason Holland. The Head-Space Project was a collaborative, creative web community for digital designers, programmers and poets. It won over 150 awards between 1997 and 1999, including Cannes, Campaign and IPPA awards. In 2011 Forbes listed it as one of the world's ten most influential websites, a precursor to YouTube [and] created the blueprint for intranets. It features in the touring 'Digital Archaeology' exhibition. Head-Space had contributors from all over the world including the United Kingdom, Nigeria and Canada, and incubated many websites including IndieWorld, Urban75, the world's first Multi-threaded Interactive Novella and CircleMakers.org, the home of the crop circle phenomenon. Show less



HyperInteractive

• Co-founder and Commercial Director

  • Oct 1994 - Feb 1997

  London, United Kingdom Founder of one of the first specialist digital creative agencies. I was responsible for planning and sales and acquired a high profile in the nascent industry despite having blue hair (you really read this far down? Well it's true!) Created the first digital strategies for clients including D&AD, Hewlett-Packard, Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy), Leo Burnett, Dun & Bradstreet, PwC and Mars Confectionery. I also planned and wrote the groundbreaking and multiple award-winning Snickers MegaBite… Show more Founder of one of the first specialist digital creative agencies. I was responsible for planning and sales and acquired a high profile in the nascent industry despite having blue hair (you really read this far down? Well it's true!) Created the first digital strategies for clients including D&AD, Hewlett-Packard, Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy), Leo Burnett, Dun & Bradstreet, PwC and Mars Confectionery. I also planned and wrote the groundbreaking and multiple award-winning Snickers MegaBite, one of the world's first commercial script-driven communities and one of the earliest brand websites focusing on user-generated content. Show less