Altrincham-based creative and digital marketing specialist The Genius Group (TGG) has been listed as one of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies after boosting its annual revenue from £4.16m to more than £210m in just four years.
Founded by Chris Niebel and Mark Shephard in 2017, TGG came third in The Sunday Times 100 ranking of private UK businesses, reporting a 269% growth rate over the last three years, which has seen the business boost its headcount from 10 in 2022 to 63 in 2026.
Earlier this year, TGG made a string of senior hires after moving its headquarters to Foundation on George Street and revealed plans to continue its hiring spree as the firm targets a team of more than 100 in 2026.
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The business specialises in lead generation and works with a ‘wide range of clients’, running creative campaigns on TikTok, Meta and Google.
Chris Niebel, Founder and CEO, said: “We’ve achieved this growth by consistently looking for opportunities others have overlooked and by creating genuine value for both consumers and our partners.
“I always believed we could build something significant. What I couldn’t have predicted was the incredible team, partners and technology that would help us achieve that vision.
“As someone who comes from a working-class background, I’ve always believed that success should be shared. We work hard to create an environment where people genuinely enjoy coming to work and feel part of something bigger.”
He added he is “particularly proud” to have built the business in Altrincham.
“We believe businesses have a responsibility not only to create commercial success but also to make a positive impact on the communities around them.
“Being recognised by The Sunday Times as one of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies is a huge honour, not just for what we’ve achieved as a company, but for what we’ve achieved as a team. Our focus has never been on volume alone; it’s been on delivering measurable outcomes and building long-term trust.”
The company’s expansion has been supported by investing heavily in proprietary technology, data infrastructure and automation, helping generate millions of validated consumer claims for regulated partners across the UK.
A number of Northern brands and creative, digital and tech businesses also feature on the Sunday Times 100 list this year, including Manchester-based fashion retailer Murci; beauty retailer P. Louise; fashion brand Adanola; Preston’s Car.co.uk; Slick Gorilla in Leeds; and meal delivery platform FuelHub.
