
LBi was one of the world’s leading creative independent digital networks. Private equity backed by, amongst others, Carlyle Group. John worked with Luke Taylor, the Global CEO, on both geographic expansion and margin improvement in the core business, prior to the successful sale process. Sold to Publicis Groupe, after which LBi was merged with Digitas, forming DigitasLBi.

DNX was The UK’s business-to-business Agency of the year two-years running. John Worked closely with Drew Nicholson and Domini Pettifar, the Group CEO’s of DNX, on the development of their B2B proposition, and their growth agenda prior to the sale to Ogilvy & Mather, forming OgilvyOne Business.

Worked closely with Lord Peter Chadlington and the Huntsworth Board of Directors on the strategic plan for the Huntsworth Group. This included the development of a China strategy to support the global business development opportunities that Huntsworth had. This, in turn, led to the sale of a minority stake of Huntsworth to the fast-growing Chinese conglomerate Blue Focus.

Acceleration is a global advertising technology consultancy business based out of South Africa. John acted as a consiglieri to the Executive team, initially advising on restructuring the business, and then working closely with Jacques Van Niekerk and Stephan Pretorius on the growth agenda, leading to sale. Sold to WPP Digital.

Mould breaking advertising communications business, specialising in building technology brands. John worked closely with Jason Goodman, the CEO, on building out the capabilities of Albion, and improving profitability, whilst still enjoying growth. Sold to MDC.

Ad Tech business and lead partner for Adobe on the CQ5 Platform, Cognifide are based in the UK with a technology engine in Poland. John helped Miro Walker and the executive team with an enhanced business development strategy, while simultaneously improving margins and efficiency across the business. Sold to WPP.

Industry-leading publishing and content marketing business. John Brown was majority owned by Bridgepoint private equity, so a large part of John’s role was to act as a bridgehead between the executives, the buyers and the majority private equity owners. Sold to Dentsu Aegis.

We are working closely with Chris Gorrell-Barnes, the charismatic leader of thought-leading content marketing business Adjust Your Set. We had to endure a company restructure in the light of challenging commercial circumstances and global client realignments, which had nothing to do with Adjust Your Set performance. Despite these challenges the restructure was successful, we have developed the intellectual capital and selling proposition, and put the business firmly back on the path to growth prior to the sale to the Oliver Group.

Founded in 2001, Octopus Group is a full-service creative agency working in the B2B sector. Based in London, the company has won a number of industry awards, including the B2B Marketing Awards Grand Prix, and today its 60-strong team works with leading international clients across diverse B2B industries. Recently Octopus Group was acquired by Publicis Groupe UK to provide a centre of excellence for B2B communications in Europe.

Matt Lynch and Rob Armstrong, the leaders of Feed, have been working with John Farrell & Associates on applying their industry leading CRM skills to a broader mix of clients, whilst maintaining their unique industry leading service standards on existing business. As an extremely high-growth business, with world class expertise in the customer relationship management field, we have also been assisting with the development of international operations in Germany and the USA.

Fold7 is an iconic advertising and communications business, delivering award-winning campaigns, to clients both nationally and internationally. John’s Role is to provide strategic counsel to the creative founder, Ryan Newey, and the CEO, Marc Nohr.

Leagas Delaney is a premium creative advertising agency, with a national and international creative reputation. John’s role was to provide counsel to the CEO, Margaret Johnson, and the founder and principle, Tim Delaney.

We are assisting David Wood, the founding entrepreneur of DWA – the world’s leading independent media planning and buying business specialising the technology sector – in the transition to new global management and the positioning for accelerated growth in the future.

2Heads looks to create meaningful brand experiences worldwide, with an offering that includes exhibitions, brand activations, permanent installations and digital, innovation and creative technology.

Four Communications is a leading integrated communications business with offices in the Middle East as well as the UK, where John Farrell has been appointed as chairman of the board. His role includes assisting the executive team with strategy and maintaining alignment with the shareholder base. John joined Four as part of a minority investment deal by BGF, which provided capital to accelerate the acquisition strategy being pursued by the team, led by Nan Williams.

Hanover Comms advise companies on how to identify, articulate and propagate a clear brand positioning, purpose and strategy. One that is clear, memorable and ensures differentiation in an increasingly competitive fight for audience mindshare. So everyone can understand who you are, what you stand for and why you’re right for them.

Transmission is a full-service B2B marketing agency delivering solutions for world-class customer experiences – with an eye toward the future.

In our first venture into start-ups, we are helping the Founder Entrepreneurs, Ed Rogers and David Alberts, in the development of commercial propositions to take their unique offering and move it to scale with global stature brands as quickly as possible. BTDT (Been There Done That) is an anonymous online community of some of the best strategic and creative minds in the creative industries, producing outstanding branding and creative solutions for clients and agencies alike.

AML is a specialist agency taking complex business propositions and developing simple and powerful communications in a compelling way for clients. John’s role is to work with the creative founder, Ian Henderson, and the board of AML to help them with growing the business and taking it to the next level.

Oliver builds dedicated agencies inside their clients worlds. They call this inside intelligence, which enables Oliver to deliver the full spectrum of marketing services communication executions.
John’s role is to act as a consigliere to Simon Martin, the CEO, on all aspects of the Oliver business growth strategy, and future direction.
John has worked closely with Simon Martin on the successful sale of the Oliver business to the fast growing holding company You & Mr Jones.

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Portrait of John Farrell provided by Christopher Parsons
Videos courtesy of Rocking Horse Pictures