How to build a high-growth agency in the Middle East in 2026
In Dubai, we unveiled the MENA region’s first data-led benchmark of commercial performance across marketing communications agencies – revealing where growth is heading in 2026. Built in partnership between Sprint Partners Consulting, PRCA MENA and YouGov, the report captures the real story behind revenue, profitability, investment, new business intensity and the strategic capabilities shaping the […]
Agency Hackers Growth Summit 2026: Six Hard Truths Agency Leaders Can’t Ignore
Agency Hackers’ Growth Summit was one of the most honest, practical and founder-led conversations about agency growth I’ve been part of in a while. What stood out wasn’t hype or theory, it was lived experience. Across M&A, new business, leadership, pricing, independence and scale, there was a refreshing lack of BS. Clear patterns from […]
The Advantage Agenda: Why 2026 Will Reward Judgement, Not Speed
For the past decade, marketing performance has been driven by execution: speed, scale, reach and efficiency. That era is ending.
In 2026, execution will no longer be the differentiator. Judgement will be.
Why Google’s Nano Banana Pro Is a Game Changer for Marketing Team
You’ve probably seen the wild visuals doing the rounds from Google’s Nano Banana Pro. I had a play by uploading my report, The Growth Divide, and turning it into a whiteboard… 🤯 The output was spot on: sharp analysis, clean design, eerily lifelike. Exactly the sort of thing that speeds up early-stage strategic thinking and […]
The Future-Fit Agency: Findings From The 35th Moore Kingston Smit
I attended the fantastic Moore Kingston Smith LLP annual agency survey event last night, which painted a very clear picture: the agencies winning today – and those positioned to win tomorrow – are the ones behaving like high-performance teams. They’re agile, strategically disciplined, and continually evolving their proposition. The difference between “fit” and “future-fit” comes down to […]
Ambition Won the Warm-Up. Execution Lost the Race.
A quick reminder for anyone shaping their 2026 plans: vision means nothing without delivery. This week, the PTO and the Saudi Federation signed an MoU in Riyadh to accelerate triathlon from grassroots to elite level – a clear sign of big ambition and long-term investment. But in the same weekend, one of the sport’s headline […]
Before You Set Your 2026 Strategy, Read This
I recommended what I called “the GOAT of business books” to a client last week – and I stand by it. If you haven’t read Good to Great by Jim Collins, it’s well worth it, particularly as you shape your 2026 plans. It was first recommended to me by an old boss, and the principles […]
Points of View From PRCA Matchmaker NewBizFest25 Glasgow
Glasgow you great. Great fun, great people, and great food (GaGa Kitchen)! Enjoyed speaking to many Scottish agencies and learn more about the market up there. Some seriously strong agencies that shouldn’t be overlooked just because they’re not in London. Thanks to the PRCA for inviting me to speak about Agency Growth in 2026 and Pitching Smarter, Winning Bigger. Here […]
Embracing Marketing Mistakes: Fixing the Pitch Process
Had a lot of fun chatting to Chris Norton and Will Ockenden from Prohibition PR. Thanks a lot for having me on and putting me on the spot more than once! We dug into why so many brand-agency pitches miss the mark, and how both sides can make the process work better: The usual suspects: AI-written RFPs, vague briefs, and […]
Why Great Leaders Don’t Stay in Top Gear All Year
Are you struggling to find a new gear and finish the year strong? After a long, demanding year, many leaders feel like they’re running out of steam – teams are stretched, priorities are blurred, and focus is hard to sustain. That’s why Hyperefficient by Dr Mithu Storoni is worth checking out. It explores how […]