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Leading independent brand and creative agency Mr B & Friends is celebrating its 16th birthday with a significant senior appointment as it embarks on an ambitious five-year growth plan.

Ellie Wilson will join the business as Managing Partner, bringing her expertise in managing high performance agency teams and building long term client relationships to Mr B & Friends.

Wilson is moving from Taxi Studios, where she worked for eight years, most recently holding the role of Operations Director. At Mr B & Friends she will join the senior leadership team and will be working with Client Services, Operations and Finance to ensure the business is in optimum shape as it eyes expansion.

Wilson’s appointment is crucial as the agency seeks to expand its presence at home and abroad to accelerate the growth of the business. Over the last 18 months, Mr B & Friends has seen a rapid increase in activity across existing client business, while securing a number of new clients including OVO, Britvic, Marsh and BMT. Increasingly working with more international clients, such as InterContinental Hotels Group and Sofidel, has ignited the agency’s ambitions to further its reach in a number of key cities.

With a host of clients already based in London, a new office there is a natural progression. This will be followed by a base in West Coast US close to the HQ of its sister company Noble, while a further presence in SE Asia is planned for 2025 to complete the trio.

Back in the South West, Mr B & Friends is due to move into a new HQ at Whitefriars in Bristol in July, offering more space for its growing Bristol team. The agency team across all departments will be offered the chance of secondments and relocation to the new locations as they are established.

The plans coincide with the agency celebrating 16 years in business. Still focused on delivering brand expertise, Mr B & Friends has attracted an enviable client roster of consumer and B2B brands seeking brand strategy, identity, communications, internal communications and creative services across some high growth vertical markets. The growth plans will see head count within the business more than double to 70 employees by 2026.

Founder and CEO Simon Barbato says, “This has to be the most exciting phase in Mr B & Friends history. We have engineered our business to deliver superb brand consultancy with creativity for ambitious clients while delivering a sustainable business model to encourage future growth. I am delighted that Ellie is joining us and will help spearhead the expansion of the business. She brings a huge amount of talent and experience in all levels of agency management, which will enable me to focus on our growth plans. The future is something we’re all excited about.”

Managing Partner Ellie Wilson added, “I’m thrilled to be joining Mr B & Friends at such a pivotal point. My conversations so far have confirmed that we’ve got an outstanding team and firm foundations in place to take on the expansion. I’m looking forward to playing my part and ensuring we all enjoy the journey.”

Bristol-based brand consultancy, Mr B & Friends, has unveiled a vibrant new look for cyber security and Cloud IT specialist Kocho, bringing the two established businesses together under one name.

Kocho is the company formed from managed services provider TIG, and identity and cyber security experts, ThirdSpace. Backed by the private equity house, BGF, they’ve come together to harness the benefits of their separate strengths, making them a leading provider specialist for Microsoft Security and Cloud Technology. The distinct combination of expertise will enable Kocho to help grow ambitious companies in a truly sustainable and secure manner.

The brand has been designed with transformation front of mind, and the name ‘Kocho’ comes from the Japanese word for butterfly. The logo features a crest-like butterfly symbol with a star symbolising the transformation and protection the new business provides its clients. The brand positioning is anchored by an organising thought of ‘Become greater’, demonstrating how Kocho enables every client, colleague, and partner to flourish.

The sector that Kocho operates is crowded, so it was vital to develop a brand that was distinctive and had clarity at its core. The entire branding system, including iconography, type, colour, photography and moving image, all ladder back to the strategy. The design system features a series of illustrated patterns and ever-changing shapes that suggest the fluid motion of wings. The tone of voice shows the humility and confidence in Kocho’s ability to deliver greatness and commercial impact at both enterprise and mid-market level businesses in the UK and beyond.

Steve Richardson, Executive Creative Director at Mr B & Friends says, “From our workshops with the client team ‘Becoming greater’ was our statement of intent. The identity and tone of the brand had to represent this, but also had to stand apart from its competitive set. What client doesn’t want to be greater today than yesterday? Huge thanks to the brave client team, who embraced this bold approach from the off.”

As part of the brand relaunch, Mr B & Friends worked on a light art launch film with Sola Lightbombing. This used Pixel stick light typography combined with real-time generation of light art both in a studio and in cityscapes. The light trails tell the story of transformation and innovation, creating a fresh way to build the Kocho narrative.

Gareth Rees Jones, Director of Marketing at Kocho says, “Mr B & Friends really captured the vision that we were trying to achieve. The new brand celebrates our people, our expertise and the outcomes that we achieve for our clients. We’re delighted to be launching our new combined business under the Kocho brand.”

 

 

Mr B & Friends has welcomed Charlotte Hoare to the team as an Account Director to bring her client services expertise to some of its newest accounts.

Having spent over a decade in London consultancies, from BBH to VMLY&R to Isobel, Charlotte brings a wealth of experience to the agency. She’s led campaigns across a range of sectors for clients such as Virgin Media, Silent Pool Gin, MS Society and Petplan, and has honed her skills in seamlessly bringing client’s visions to life. Among the notable projects Charlotte’s worked on is RSPB’s ‘Give nature a home’ five-year strategic campaign to shift the charity from solely focused on birds to a wider approach to whole nature preservation. She was part of the team for the Savills ‘With us it’s personal’ advertising campaign, designed to reposition the estate agency with a warmer approach increasing appeal to a wider audience and BrewDog’s ‘Rate Beer’ OOH activity across central and wider London.

Mr B & Friends stood out to Charlotte because of its no jargon, no bluff, no added nonsense approach. She says that she got a sense that while an efficient outfit, there was a great sense of culture at the agency and the focus on relationships appealed to her.

Charlotte says, “I came across Mr B & Friends and felt the values reflected mine, and the agency just seemed to be a great fit generally. I’m really enjoying getting stuck in.”

Based in Totnes and working predominantly remotely, Charlotte enjoys throwing ceramics and spending lots of time outdoors when she’s not at her desk. On top of effortlessly juggling multiple projects at work, Charlotte is also organising her spring wedding and daughter’s first birthday celebrations.

Simon Barbato, CEO of Mr B & Friends, says “We’re delighted to welcome Charlotte to our growing team. We’ve had a really positive start to the new year, and I have no doubt that Charlotte will help to contribute to that momentum.”

Mr B & Friends has welcomed another new member to the team, following a period of growth. Ali Al Amine has joined the team this month as a Junior Designer.

Ali was struck by some of the agency’s work while studying at Bath Spa university. He applied for the Future Friends internship but the role had already been filled. Luckily for all, the panel were so impressed by his work that he was brought into the design team anyway. Within his outstanding portfolio is an award win from the prestigious D&AD Young Blood Award, where Ali redesigned the Grey Poupon dijon mustard brand.

Outside of work Ali enjoys hiking. Having previously lived in the Middle East, he’s enjoying exploring the surrounding green spaces and national parks. While working from home he’s often accompanied by his cat, Cosmo, who has already made himself part of the team too.

Ali says, “Aside from the work I’d seen created by Mr B & Friends, the warm, welcoming culture really appealed to me- and since joining the agency this hasn’t disappointed.”

Creative Director, Kate Gorringe, says, “Even when we’re not actively recruiting, we like to keep our eye out for real talent. When we came across Ali we knew we couldn’t let him go – he has skills, aptitude and smart thinking that are exceptional in someone of his experience. And he’s lovely to have around.”

Independent brand consultancy, Mr B & Friends, has unveiled a bold new brand strategy and design identity for global serviced accommodation booking agent, Situ.

Situ combines industry leading technology with first-class customer experience to provide an impeccable and effortless service for a range of client companies, from large corporates to film production companies, to clients in the construction industry. Having continually proven its credentials since its inception in 2006, Situ needed a brand that reflected the organisation’s unique positioning – while delivering a visual and verbal identity that stood out in an increasingly homogenised and predictable sector.

Situ’s point of difference was clear from the outset – they emphasise the value of the relationship between their team and the client. Every Situ listing is subject to stringent quality checks to make sure it’s perfect; criteria that ensures Situ continually achieve excellent service ratings ensuring that in a world of faceless booking agents and platforms, Situ’s approach has always been, and will continue to be, people-first.

Mr B & Friends worked collaboratively with CEO Phil Stapleton, Head of Communications Jo Redman and Senior Marketing Manager Tamara Edgar. The brand idea took its lead from the company ethos and created the organising thought ‘Connected by people’. A perfect encapsulation of the way Situ empowers their team to deliver unforgettable service, sources quality serviced accommodation options and creates unique tech which supports their clients.

The visual identity was transformed, capturing the energetic, upbeat personalities of the team behind Situ. A warm, charming tone of voice adds to the appeal, while the three brand pillars (technology, people and product) are brought to life through three powerful propositions: Search with ease, Service with heart and Stays with soul.

Liam Smith, Associate Planning Director at Mr B & Friends said: “From the first meeting we felt the warmth and positivity of the Situ team and could see their dedication to making booking effortless for their clients. Following category research, we identified this space as the narrative that Situ could own and make distinctive. It was clear that we had to translate this into a powerful brand idea.”

Situ Founder and CEO, Phil Stapleton says, “The new brand strategy and identity is perfect. Our ambitions meant that we needed a brand and cultural platform that would unite our company and take us all to the next level. The work that Mr B & Friends have created epitomises what we’re all about as a company, but also importantly enables us the Situ brand to really stand out in the business travel, global mobility, and relocation sectors.”

Tamara Edgar, Senior Marketing Manager at Situ says, “What I loved about working with the team at Mr B was their ability to really tease out our personality, our ethos, our aspirations and our culture and make that shine through in the new brand which now just feels so us, so Situ!”

The project was awarded to Mr B & Friends following a competitive, but non-creative pitch process. The agency has now helped Situ to implement the new idenity across internal communications, digital estate and customer facing marketing.

Client team

Phil Stapleton, CEO

Tamara Edgar, Senior Marketing Manager

Jo Redman, Head of Communications

Agency team

Liam Smith, Associate Planning Director

Harriet Whitehorne, Head of Copy and Content

Sara Foley, Middleweight Designer

Chris Tozer, Associate Creative Director

Andy Kaye, Account Director

Steve Richardson, Executive Creative Director

Simon Barbato, CEO

Mr B & Friends has created a vibrant brand transformation for two South West hospital charities as they merge into one.

The agency developed a brand positioning to strengthen the appeal of two charities as they combine under the new name of Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity. Formerly separated as Above & Beyond and Weston Area Charitable Trust, the charity will now support all 10 sites within University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) beyond what the NHS is able to provide.

The distinctive new identity will provide a platform to launch the unified charity, engaging both new and existing supporters. Built from an organising thought of ‘Do great things’, the new brand shows the huge potential of the merger. The logo’s sunburst acts as a visual metaphor for the work the charity does. It’s the joy they deliver, the mark they make and the spark they ignite. It radiates the positivity synonymous with the team’s approach to fundraising, creating a truly single-minded beacon for their brand. A playful, punchy tone of voice instils a dynamic sense of personality, resulting in an identity that’s hard to ignore.

In addition to the strategy and identity work, full brand guidelines have been provided for ongoing consistency, while Mr B & Friends has worked with the charity team to develop a range of assets, from on-site shop posters to website visuals.

The charity funds the little things that make a big difference and work with the Trust to provide healing environments and spaces which provide dignity, privacy and empathy. They also fund world-class technology, treatments, knowledge and medical research and champion equitable access for all patients.

Simon Barbato, CEO of Mr B & Friends said: “From the first conversation we had with the team at Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity we could see the passion and dedication they brought to the organisation. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to use our brand expertise to translate their vision into a striking new identity that will raise awareness of the charity and enable them to further its fundraising abilities.”

Paul Kearney, chief executive of Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity and we wanted a new identity that radiates positivity and has a clear name to represent and reflect this partnership as we move forward.

“Mr B & Friends has really embraced our cause and this new look and we’re looking forward to being a bold, positive and energetic force across Bristol and Weston.”

For more information about Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, visit bwhospitalscharity.org.uk

Mr B & Friends has welcomed two new members of the team this summer. Olivia Cox and Faye Stephens have joined the Client Services team as Senior Account Manager and Project Manager respectively.

Olivia has lived in Bristol since her time at UWE, and has solid experience both client and agency side. She had Mr B & Friends on her radar having seen the agency’s work on the Bristol Bears rebrand, and when the role came up, the timing was right for her to make the move. In her spare time she likes to take on new challenges – from learning to row to calligraphy to building a bin store!

Faye has recently relocated to the area from London, where she worked on the ASDA account. With a solid background in communications and content, she’s excited to delve further into the world of brand transformation. Faye has been embracing her move to the South West, getting to know the area and soaking up the culture. She also enjoys turning her hand to art and craft projects.

Simon Barbato, CEO at Mr B & Friends says, ‘We’re delighted to have secured these appointments to the team. With excellent project management experience and fantastic relationship building skills we think both Olivia and Faye will be a massive hit with our clients.”

Designers, animators, writers and everything in between. If you’re an ambitious student or graduate brimming with creative thinking, we want to offer you an authentic taste of agency life. We’re giving you the chance to work on big projects and campaigns, from conception to completion, alongside our talented creative team. 

So if you want to break into the industry, learn from some of the best, and have fun doing it; send your portfolio and a covering letter to [email protected]  

Want to know more? 

The lucky candidate will be offered a six month, paid internship starting around August or September. We’re happy to be flexible.

During your time with us, you’ll get an opportunity to experience every facet of agency life; from marketing strategy and collaborative idea generation, to beautifully crafted creative solutions across design, motion, copywriting and digital. 

All of this while side-by-side with great people and an agency culture that’s second to none. 

Here are just a few of the things you’ll benefit from at Mr B’s: 

“As a Mr B intern you’re straight into the deep end of agency life: with briefs rolling in, there’s never any doubt that you’re an important part of the team. I couldn’t have found a better way to learn huge amounts about design and the industry, or to meet so many great people.”

Interested? Send your portfolio and a covering letter to [email protected] 

Mr B & Friends has scored a hat trick of wins at this year’s Transform Europe Awards.

At the event, held on Wednesday 23rd June, the agency won Gold and Bronze awards for its work with Accsys, as well as a Young Contender award for designer Kieran Hawes. The awards recognise and celebrate the best of the best in brand strategy, development and transformation- how a company, brand or product’s visual identity, story and proposition can make an impact.

The Gold award for the ‘Best Visual Identity from the engineering or manufacturing sector’ and the Bronze award for the ‘Best rebrand of a digital property’ reflect the work that Mr B & Friends has done with Accsys over the last year for its sustainable wood product Accoya. The new positioning, branding and best-in-class website connect business and consumer customers to both the product and each other, making the decision and purchase easier and smoother than ever before.

Midweight designer Kieran was awarded Distinction in the Young Contenders category, which recognises the best up and coming creative and strategic talent in the business.

Members of the Mr B & Friends team attended the event with the client team from Accsys.

The full Accoya case study can be found here.

The leading homeopathy group in the UK, 4Homeopathy, is celebrating a successful campaign to raise awareness of the benefits of homeopathic practice. The engaging video campaign was created by independent brand consultancy Mr B & Friends and has seen over 13,500 people view the films within the first month of launch.

Founded in 2011, 4Homeopathy brings together ten of the UK’s largest homeopathic organisations to promote the positive impact of homeopathy. Through the website findahomeopath.org people can find a wealth of information about how homeopathy works, registered practitioners and training courses.

For Homeopathy Awareness Week (10-16th April), 4Homeopathy appointed Mr B & Friends to create a campaign to increase their profile and to encourage people to visit their website to find out more.

The agency designed a video-based campaign comprising a main film with testimonials from several people who have successfully used homeopathy, plus three shorts that focus on individual experiences. The video was designed to be a teaser – recounting personal experiences but only revealing the subject matter right at the end, in a bid to provoke interest and encourage further exploration of homeopathy. Built around the proposition that you can ‘Turn your life around in a moment’, the campaign shares the stories of people with a range of conditions who have had life-changing results from homeopathic treatment.

Kate Gorringe, Creative Director at Mr B & Friends, says, “We wanted to share the stories of some of the individuals who have quite literally had their lives turned around because of a homeopathic approach. As homeopathy is based on working with the body’s natural healing abilities, we created a hand drawn animated illustration that reflected the thoughts and feelings of the contributors.”

Due to ongoing Covid restrictions the interviews were all recorded remotely, with equipment sent out to the homes of those featured. Combined with the bespoke graphics, the end result is an emotive and authentic campaign that takes the viewer on a journey from problem to resolution.

In addition to featuring on the website, the campaign has been distributed by the various member organisation and is being supported by advertising on Facebook and Instagram plus Google ads.

Mani Norland, Principal of The School of Homeopathy, says, “Homeopathy provides so many benefits to both people and animals through its patient-centred approach of individualised medicine. The remedies come from nature and work in line with nature. We’re on a mission to raise awareness of the profound difference homeopathy can make to a person’s health and wellbeing, we want to help people see the choices they have in healthcare, and this video campaign will help us take another huge step forward in achieving that.”