As Manchester’s No 1 consumer PR agency*, Brazen PR, is celebrating its 21st year in business with a major PR agency restructure, following a record 18 months which has seen the digital PR agency double in size and win a roster of new clients including Butlins, Silentnight, Greene King, ISawItFirst and Foodhub.

In 2021 Brazen grew by 78% and this year’s growth will see the agency top £5M sales for the first time ever in its 21-year history. The consumer-specialist agency now has a team of 45+ and a client roster of 50+ brands.

The restructure sees long-standing board directors, Sasha Marks and Peter Burling, being promoted to the roles of Managing Director and Client Director respectively. Sasha will focus on leading the agency and delivering the growth and vision of the business and team; and Peter will focus on delivering the exemplary client servicing and retention rates that Brazen as a consumer PR agency is renowned for.

Founder & CEO, Nina Webb will focus on leadership, company culture and the evolution of the ‘people-first’ agency which she set up 21 years ago, including seeking out acquisition opportunities.

And Operations Director, Tom Webb, the fourth member of Brazen’s board, will focus on driving operational and commercial excellence.

The restructure will also see the agency divided into three multidisciplinary practices, run by a newly created sub-board comprising three Associate Directors. 

Adam Moss, former fleet street journalist who has been with the top PR agency for more than 10 years, will head up a newly created Newsroom, responsible for the news output, both proactively and reactively, across the agency’s portfolio of clients, working closely with the agency’s content production division, Brazen Live.

Associate directors, Corey Kitchener and Sophia Stewart, who joined the public relations agency from Ketchum in 2021, will each run client portfolios of £1 million, alongside newly appointed social media account director, Rebecca Cohen, formerly of Beauty Bay and THG, who will continue to run its social media and influencer team.

Founder & CEO of the online PR agency Nina Webb said: “When I set up Brazen 21 years ago, my vision was to disrupt the market with an agency that was anything but vanilla, offering bags of creativity, a fearless attitude and a no-nonsense approach.

“We’ve been loud and proud about our work and achievements over the years, but nothing has made me prouder than seeing the agency double in size over the past 18 months and to be able to donate £21K to charitable causes close to our team’s hearts in our 21st year.

“This restructure is setting us up for further growth and empowering the incredibly talented team to take Brazen into its next phase – with sights set on doubling the size of the business again over the next five years.”

Managing director of the Manchester social media agency, Sasha Marks, said: “It’s been an incredible journey since I started as a graduate trainee two decades ago. Nina’s clear vision and entrepreneurial, daring-do spirit has seen us adapt, pivot and evolve to the ever-changing comms landscape and, despite us doubling in size, we’ve still retained our unique culture and straight-talking offering. 

“Having turned in our best ever year in 2021 and forecast to smash that again, this year, I’m honoured and excited to have been trusted to lead the agency and continue our growth, alongside my long-standing colleague and friend, Peter Burling.”

Client director of the Manchester PR agency, Peter Burling, said: “Our clients are our lifeblood and we’d be nothing without them.  Like any relationship, they need to be built on mutual respect and trust, nurtured, and challenged so that we get only the best from each other. 

“I’m proud to say that we’ve had some clients for almost all of our 21 years while others have come, gone AND returned.  This isn’t just good luck. It’s about constantly evolving and adapting, showing our clients new and daring ways to keep them ahead in their marketplace (and always having their backs!). 

“One of the first things we’ll be launching is our Brazen Promoter Score study with existing clients to distil those elements most valued from us to help inform our future client servicing strategy.  I’m excited to be working with our team leaders to help nurture new relationships, unlock opportunities within our existing client portfolio and support the agency’s growth strategy with award winning campaigns and activations.”

*PR Week League Table 2022