Smoking Gun has revealed a fresh identity, a restructured leadership team and a renewed focus on growth as it enters its 15th year of trading. The agency also said it plans to double in size over the course of 2024 having just posted a record fee income.
Under the restructure, co-founder Rick Guttridge becomes CEO, Hayley Peters becomes planning & strategy director, Sarah Twyman becomes head of consumer & client services director, whilst recent recruit Caroline Aspinall is head of B2B & commercial director. The wider SMT comprises head of media Carl Stroud, Rose Allerston, head of sales & marketing and Carly Chell, senior digital account director.
The agency has won a number of significant competitive pitches for PR, social media marketing and influencer marketing briefs, allied to growth of existing clients over the last 18 months, including the likes of PG Tips, Alton Towers Resort, Eurocamp and Interflora World Cup.
Its new website and fresh branding portrays its wider service offering than PR, including its prowess in strategy and evaluation. The majority of its work encompasses a mesh of media relations, content, social media marketing and influencer marketing campaigns.
CEO Guttridge said: “We don’t do PR. We do creative storytelling that changes perceptions, creates publicity and moves the right people to action. Our new look clarifies this.
“The results this year are testament to the dedication and craft shown by every single one of the Guns. We have a clear vision and the team has bought into the project and our methods of working. This shows in the excellent work we’ve delivered for our clients.
“With our purposeful growth into new B2B and corporate areas, and a multitude of new account wins and appointments, we head into 2024 expecting to double the size of the business.
“Fundamental to our growth has been our meticulousness in finding high calibre candidates that also match our vision and values and ensuring that our brand remains as vibrant and meaningful as when we first launched.”
