Creative communications agency Brandnation has transitioned to an employee ownership trust (EOT) as part of its growth plans for its 30 members of staff.
Mary Killingworth, founder and managing director, sold her majority stake in the organisation, resulting in the EOT gaining a controlling stake of 75%. The remaining 25% will be retained by Killingworth, alongside minority stakeholders deputy managing director Eva Ringwood, and creative director Joe Murgatroyd.
Under the new ownership model, Killingworth, Ringwood and Murgatroyd will appoint EOT employee representatives and an independent trustee to guide the agency’s strategic vision. Employees who have been in their roles for more than 12 months are now eligible for profit sharing, which includes part-tax-free bonuses based on an their seniority, salary and tenure.
The decision is part of Brandnation’s commitment to employee empowerment, long-term stability, and collaborative growth. The managing directors feel it is the natural next step in the agency’s journey because it reflects its values as a business, and hopes it will empower its team.
Killingworth said: “Over the last 20 years, Brandnation has proudly built a reputation for delivering a flawless client experience and has an impressive track record of long-term client retention; a result of fostering collaborative relationships and delivering on our word.
“While this remains a constant, Brandnation has evolved to become a creative, dynamic, and future-focused agency that’s underpinned by our philosophy that harnesses creativity and service integration to deliver measurable brand impact for our clients. We’re actively recruiting to bolster our boardroom with our sights set on senior hires across social, strategy and content to help us realise our ambitions and share in the team’s success.”
