L-R Chris Scudder, Joanne Rigby, Sam Manson and Kris Kennedy
Newcastle-based digital agency Orange Bus has restructured to support its growth ambitions to reach £10 million within three years by targeting firms investing in innovation.
The company, which supplies digital products and services to large businesses such as Philips, the NHS and Aston Martin Racing, says it has had a ‘phenomenal’ six months trading with quarterly revenues of around £1m.
The changes see co-founders Mike Parker and Julian Leighton take up chief innovation and chief executive officer roles respectively – former head of operations and new managing director, Kris Kennedy will oversee a team of five new directors.
Phil Jones, founder of Podge Events, which brings together leaders and leading lights in the digital industry – and DADI Awards chairman, joins as non-executive director and mentor to the management team.
Leighton explained: “Each director brings a wealth of expertise in their field, and Kris is an incredibly safe pair of hands and allows us to separate the management of the day-to-day running of the business from the turbulence of rapid growth. He’s largely unflappable, gives real attention to detail and is excellent at managing people – Orange Bus has a cool, calm eye on the ball at all times with him. Phil Jones brings a wealth of experience and industry contacts to the management team, and is already proving to be invaluable.”
The agency, which expanded into London last year, currently employs a team of 50. Orange Bus clients include HMRC, Barbour, the NHS, Capita, Pearson Education, Philips, Joules, Aston Martin Racing, the Department for Education, the Department for Energy and Climate Change and Sage.
