THOUGHTS
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WELCOME TO THE NEDS
THE NEDS
[NO SUIT REQUIRED]
2023©
With us, what you see is what you get. A collective of globally experienced agency owners. Who’s actions speak louder than their words. Whose achievements back up their promises.
A consultancy business and network like no other. An objective partner that’s walked the talk. Delivering successful advice and measurable results. Business acumen with the back-story and black book to back it up.
Our time is precious. We invest it in improving businesses. Unapologetic opinions. Unfiltered expertise. Unparalleled experience. A proven track record of growing independent agencies. An in-depth knowledge of strategies that work.
OUR NEDS
THE NEDS
Our aim is to help the independent agency sector thrive and compete, to take on the big networks and show that those business models can be beaten.
The NEDS was created to keep the talent active and give every single agency in the UK access to the best expertise, experience, and support to help them improve and succeed at pace.
STEVE SOWDEN
From humble beginnings driving a small client services function to leading the country's largest independent agency. Steve has built in depth knowledge around all aspects of agency operation. Financially aware, operationally suspicious… no stone is left unturned in helping drive growth and success. With a focus on relationships, services and agency promotion Steve will help in all areas of growth and success.
JONATHAN ALLAN
From beginning his career in media agencies, rising to run the largest media agency in the UK and now as COO of Channel 4, Jonathan has immense experience in transforming business, improving operating models, challenging the norm and providing business with a clear pathway to success. Jonathan has broad experience across a variety of business types in the media and marketing sector. His time is precious so opportunities to work with him are limited.
PAUL BAY
JAMIE ALLAN
An award winning global marketeer, business growth specialist and now adviser and investor who understands the fundamentals of running a successful, diverse and highly profitable business in multiple territories around the world. M&A experience, from SMEs to multinational companies on both the buying and selling side. Able to recognise that work should be fun as well as rewarding, creative and challenging at the same time.
MATT STRATHERN
An entrepreneur and designer with 18 years of brand building expertise in the outdoor and adventure sports space. Matt founded a business and brand, scaling from start up to a multi-million £ exit in 2021. Experience covers most aspects of running a successful, profitable SME business aligned with proven brand development including; business planning, forecasting, pricing, brand strategy, content creation, B2B/D2C routes to market, product development and packaging design, product launch, social media and influencers, manufacturing/sourcing, international shipping logistics, intellectual property, scaling and more.
2023©
A cultural change citizen in the marketing communications industry, as both speaker and change agent he is in demand. As an advisor, board member and chair he provides clarity of thought and broad spectrum of advice gleaned across his 30 year career.
WHAT WE DO
THE NEDS
“THE NEDS HAVE BEEN INVALUABLE IN HELPING RESET OUR BUSINESS, BUILD OUR CLEAR STRATEGY FOR GROWTH AND CHALLENGE US IN EVERYTHING WE DO"
2023©
Geoff Griffiths, CEO Builtvisible.
Our team of NEDs have decades of experience starting, growing and selling business and our range of services is a diverse as it is deep. We can work with you and your agency in a flexible way to fit in with your operational priorities. We typically provide board level NED support initially expanding into specific work areas and projects. These range from growth strategies to exit planning and everything in between.
PEOPLE
We don’t just think about the impact of the business decisions we make today. We also think about the role and meaning we want to have in people’s lives.
THE NEDS
2023©
PROFIT
To be a good business you need to create lasting positive impact alongside profit. We put our money where our (big) mouth is – with 10% of all profits going into pushing global sustainability.
PLANET
We are proud to be part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) – a coordinated global effort to enable the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.
