Brien (pictured) left Creston in April 2017 after 12 years at the company, following its sale to investment firm Dbay. He led the company, which owns agencies including TMW, ICM and Nelson Bostock, during a period of transition as it became the Unlimited Group, dropping Creston from its name in 2016.

Founded in 2009, Firstlight works with clients in the corporate, technology and health sectors.

Paul Davies, managing director of Firstlight corporate, said: “After nine years of plotting our own path we felt it was the right time to introduce extra objectivity to the senior team. Barrie’s experience working across the wider marketing mix and his years spent building and refining the Creston offer will be invaluable as we enter our next phase of growth.”