Stratton Craig, a leading specialist content strategy and copywriting agency, has announced a change of leadership, with the departure of CEO Darren Clare and the appointment of Nina Whittaker to succeed him, effective 1 June 2024.

Darren, who bought Stratton Craig in 2008, will be stepping down to spend more time with his family. Under his successful leadership, Stratton Craig has seen phenomenal growth – transforming from a one-employee company with a £150k annual turnover to a thriving 20-plus team, exceeding £2.4m annually.

Since its founding in 1987, Stratton Craig has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses seeking exceptional written communication solutions. It offers core services, including ESG and annual reporting, content strategy, tone of voice development and training, SEO consultancy and copywriting for ongoing content programmes.

Last year, Darren played a pivotal role in guiding the business through its sale and integration into the Positive Change Group, a unique stakeholder advisory and engagement group of specialist agencies united by their commitment to positive impact and leadership within the global marketplace.

“From the outset, my vision for Stratton Craig was to create a communications business that was truly a first-of-its-kind, combining the intellectual prowess of The Economist with the agility and client-centricity of Virgin,” Darren says.

“And we’ve done exactly that. But I’m most proud of the remarkable culture we’ve built at Stratton Craig. It’s a place where everyone is valued and contributes to our collective success. We celebrate achievements, and we support each other through challenges.”

Darren leaves Stratton Craig in a strong position with robust financials, a diverse and loyal global client base, a seasoned management team and a talented pool of copywriters, strategists, SEO experts and project managers.

Nina Whittaker’s appointment as CEO marks a significant milestone for Stratton Craig. Having joined the company as its second employee, Nina’s career trajectory from graduate account executive to CEO exemplifies the agency’s commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.

Over the past 15 years, she has been instrumental in shaping Stratton Craig’s service offerings and driving the growth of key client relationships, including adding to the agency’s roster of international blue-chip clients.

Nina has helped to build the exceptional team and company culture that thrives in the business today. Her new leadership promises to propel Stratton Craig forward, building upon its established reputation for excellence while embracing innovation. Her fresh perspective will bring new opportunities and strategies to keep Stratton Craig at the forefront of the communications industry.

“I feel honoured and excited to lead Stratton Craig into this next chapter,” says Nina. “We have a brilliant team in place and a bright future ahead of us. I’m ready to hit the ground running, collaborating with my colleagues at Stratton Craig and the Positive Change Group to deliver exceptional results for our clients across the globe.

“I’d like to thank Darren for his leadership over the years and the strong foundation he has built at Stratton Craig. I’ll work hard to ensure the unique, dynamic and empowering culture Darren so meticulously cultivated continues to be a significant cornerstone of our success.”