Croud is a leading digital marketing agency that operates from offices across the world, with a diverse client portfolio including Vans, AXA IM, Virgin Trains, The North Face, Intuit, The AA, Hiscox, and IWG.
It uses its proprietary technology to support the planning, automation and execution of digital marketing campaigns – and then scales this capability via its unique global network of 2,400 on-demand digital marketing specialists.
In November 2019 the management team secured a £30m minority investment from LDC. The deal is helping Croud to further accelerate the business’ global growth via its innovative service delivery.
The investment will also support further development of Croud’s proprietary technology products and expansion of its range of services. LDC is backing the existing management team led by Co-founders Luke Smith and Ben Knight.
We underwent a rigorous process in finding the right partner for us and looked at several options, but LDC share our vision and offer the ideal platform for us to continue on our mission – which very much remains to become the world’s finest digital technology and communications group.”
Accelerate global growth
Since LDC’s investment Croud has appointed key hires including the former Chief Executive of Dentsu Aegis Network, Jerry Buhlmann, as its Non-Executive Chairman and former iProspect UK Chief Strategy Officer Emil Bielski to be UK Managing Director to support the business’s expansion.
The business has also completed strategic acquisitions including luxury digital marketing agency VERB Brands, data and analytics company impakt Advisors and global social media agency Born Social.
Influential agency
Co-Founder Luke Smith, discussed his experience of the benefits of securing private equity investment and his future ambitions for Croud in a recent podcast from Waypoint Partners and Croud’s Chief Strategy Officer, Avinash Kaushik, shared Croud’s AI journey and how the business has grown its team of experts to embrace the impact and stand out against competitors with The Times.
The benefits of private equity
CEO and Co-Founder, Luke Smith, Croud, spoke about his experience with LDC and the benefits of private equity at the BVCA High Growth 2022.
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Awards
Best Places to Work 2023 (Big organisation)
The Sunday Times
Performance Marketing Agency of the Year
Agency of the Year UK and EMEA Awards 2022 & 2020- Campaign Magazine
Digital Agency of the Year & Agency Wellbeing
The Drum Agency Business Awards US 2019