The consultancy, which was founded in 2005, has more than 20 employees and began transitioning to an employee-led model in January 2020, when founders Andy Davies and Roger McKerr took a step back from daily operations.

Following the shift to an employee-owned model, the agency will continue to be led by managing partners Shaun Barton, who joined in 2014, and Tom Anderson, who joined in 2018.

Barton and Anderson will be joined on the new board by Alex Webb, who joined in 2021 to head up the quantitative division, and Sandy Franklin, who leads the project management function and has been at the firm since 2007.

Davies and McKerr will remain working part time for the foreseeable future and will sit on the board alongside the management team.

McKerr said: “The employee-ownership trust model allows the company to carry on doing what it’s done brilliantly, while motivating and inspiring the whole team to put even more of their own stamp on a culture that helps them deliver the best work of their careers, and have the best time doing it too.

“Now as co-owners, the agency will benefit from a powerful injection of youthful and ambitious ideas and drive. Everyone has a tangible stake in the success of doing brilliant energising work for our clients.”

Davies added: “Growing the d+m brand for 18 years has been a bit like raising a family – you nurture, instil your values, beliefs and work ethic, and then the time comes to let them fly.

“We’re thrilled to be able to hand the business over to the people who have helped us build it, the growing team have really shown what’s possible and it’s exciting to see them fully express themselves as d+m 2.0.”