Edinburgh-based creative and media group Lane has transitioned to employee ownership, bringing together its creative, digital and media divisions under a new Lane Group umbrella.
Lane & Lane Media have transferred a majority shareholding into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), reportedly making the newly formed Lane Group Scotland’s largest employee-owned integrated creative and media agency. The move formalises the long-term independence of the business while unifying its specialist teams into one fully integrated agency.
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Founded in 2008 by Ali Findlay, Lane has grown from a fully integrated shop into a group spanning creative, digital, brand, content, media and performance marketing. Lane Media was established in 2015 when co-founder Barry Fearn joined the business, with both companies already operating under one roof.
The shift to employee ownership, the agency said, protects its collaborative culture and gives staff a formal voice at board level. The existing Group Board will continue to run the agency, ensuring continuity for clients, while employees gain new opportunities for growth, collaboration and reward.
Under the new structure, Fearn becomes CEO of Lane Group, with directors Chris Bruce (MD of Lane), Ian Duncan (Group Innovation Director) and Paul Borthwick (MD of Lane Media) continuing in their day-to-day leadership roles. Findlay remains as Chair and will work with the board to implement the EOT model and support future growth.
Findlay said: “For me, this is about creating a legacy for Lane. By bringing creative, digital, content and media back together – and by moving into employee ownership – we’re ensuring the agency can stay independent, protect our culture of creative collaboration, and stay focused on clients and performance for the long term.”
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Fearn added: “Lane’s independence has always been one of our greatest strengths. This move gives us the best of both worlds – long-term stability with the same leadership and focus, and a renewed sense of shared purpose. It’s a structure that reflects who we are: collaborative, forward-thinking and ambitious for each other and for our clients.”
The EOT Board will include founder trustees, two employee trustees and an independent trustee, industry specialist Mark Probert, creating what the agency describes as a transparent and accountable governance model.
Lane’s move also supports its B-Corp commitment to people, planet and performance, embedding those values into its long-term structure.
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Edinburgh, Lane Group is an award-winning, B-Corp certified agency working across brand, strategy, creative, content, digital, media planning and performance marketing. It was named Marketing Society Scotland Employer Brand of the Year 2024.
