Paul Cooper, the former COO of EssenceMediaCom North has joined AI marketing firm, TAU.
Manchester-based Cooper, will remain a Non-Executive Director of Open Partners, a job he started in December and also as an IPA Council Member, but TAU North will become his main focus.
TAU Marketing Solutions is an independent marketing AI agency, set up in 2024. Based in London, it’s now seeking to bring its tech-driven marketing solutions to the North of England. TAU North will be overseen by Cooper.
“The North has one of the highest concentrations of fast-moving DTC and digital-first brands in the UK. These businesses are agile, commercially sharp and close to their data, which makes them perfectly placed to scale with AI. What they need is a partner that understands both the technology and the realities of running high-growth marketing operations. That’s why I joined TAU,” he explained.
“The team has the deep domain expertise, the engineering capability and the practical approach needed to help Northern brands adopt AI in ways that actually accelerate performance rather than add complexity.”
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He’ll be joined by another senior hire, Zuzanna Gierlinska (ex Microsoft, Oracle, Spotify, Google, MiQ), who becomes an Expert Consultant.
They’ll both work alongside TAU’s founding team including CEO Robert Webster, former Global VP of Strategy for CvE and Co-Founder Andy Stevens, the founder of Unique Digital and ex-COO of Syzygy.
“We’re at a critical moment for Marketing AI. The demand is huge, but many organisations still struggle to turn AI potential into operational reality,” said Webster.
“That’s why bringing in people with real depth of expertise is so important. Zuzanna and Paul have spent their careers working inside the systems, channels and workflows that AI now needs to support. Their arrival comes at a time of rapid growth for TAU in the UK and as we expand into the US. Zuzanna and Paul will support that growth and strengthen our ability to deliver AI that is genuinely useful: solutions that marketers can trust, shape and scale.”
The company is planning to open a US office later this year.
