Waypointers

Waypoint Partners
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Waypointers is the go-to podcast for agency leaders. In this series, produced by Waypoint Partners, we bring together the brightest minds in the industry and our own in-house growth advisory specialists to share illuminating conversations to grow your agency.    Bringing you insights, analysis and knowledge from the leading lights of the UK agency landscape, Waypointers is a must-listen for aspirational agency leaders.    Subscribe to Waypointers wherever you get your podcasts.    Waypoint Partners is an expert global growth and M&A advisory firm providing support to businesses in the marketing services and technology sectors.

  1. Sep 8

    46. Adapt or die - Jon Williams, The Liberty Guild, on creative agencies and the joy of disruption

    Waypointers

  2. Jun 4

    45. What it really feels like to sell your agency - OK COOL’s Ben Gordon tells all to Waypoint’s Matt Lacey

    Waypointers

  3. 11/05/2025

    44. Expanding into the MENA region – a practical route map for success

    In this, the third episode in our MENA region series we get down to brass tacks. Partner Phil Gripton is joined by Nick Walsh, founder of Migrate, to explore in forensic detail how agencies can successfully enter and grow in the MENA market. After nearly 18 years leading network agencies across the Middle East, Nick now helps independents “land, expand, and thrive” there. He set up Migrate to de-risk market entry and provide leadership teams with a route map for sustainable growth. Together Phil and Nick unpack the mechanics of successful expansion: why many agencies stumble on setup; talent and positioning; how to pace investment; and why a phased “test and scale” model will usually outperform cookie-cutter global playbooks. They also explore the emerging indie ecosystem and new initiatives Nick is spearheading, e.g. creating an independent agency directory to make it easier for brands to find specialist partners as well as helping launch the Alliance of independent Agencies in the region. Whether you’re a founder, investor or agency leader weighing entry, expansion or acquisition, this conversation provides practical advice on getting MENA right from someone who’s lived and breathed agency growth in the region for almost two decades. Key themes include: The indie opportunity: Networks are still over-represented in the region (around 80 / 20) and independents under-indexed. So the latter have space to win.Foundations first: Get legal setup, licensing, procurement registration and banking right; build for MENA realities (payment terms, gratuities, processes).Invest with growth, not ahead of it: Phase hiring and overheads; target foundational clients; plan a realistic 3-to-5-year path.Positioning for the region: Don’t copy and paste your home market story and approachTalent and culture: Blend HQ “firepower” with local capability; avoid all-expat teams; hire for cultural fluency.

  4. 09/03/2025

    43. No Quick Wins: How agencies can really succeed in the MENA market

    The MENA region offers growth on a scale hard to find elsewhere, but only for those willing to commit, adapt, and align with the region’s long-term vision. In this episode of Waypointers, partner Jim Houghton is joined by Mike Khouri, Founder & CEO of Tactical. Together they explore the realities of scaling an agency in one of the fastest-growing, but most nuanced, markets in the world and how Mike and his team have done the hard yard to become one of the region’s pre-eminent independent social agencies. From the role of AI and innovation, to the local nuances of key markets such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Mike discusses why agencies with a “fly in and fly out” attitude often fail. He explains why investing in truly understanding the region, or to use his words, “going deep on the terrain”, and long-term alignment with specific national visions are critical for lasting success. Whether you’re a founder, investor, or agency leader eyeing expansion, investment, or acquisition, this episode offers clear insights into what works, and what doesn’t, in MENA’s dynamic landscape. Key themes include: Why local depth matters: Global playbooks rarely succeed; agencies must invest on the ground, hire locally, and understand cultural nuance.Growth with discipline: Tactical simplified from 18 services down to 4, focusing on what truly delivers long-term results for clients.What buyers should look for: Investors should value sustained client success, team retention, and deep market integration.The regional dynamic: The UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and beyond - each offers distinct opportunities, underpinned by ambitious national agendas like Saudi’s Vision 2030 and Dubai’s D33.

  5. 07/16/2025

    42. Is your agency missing out on the Dubai/GCC Boom? Here’s what you need to know

    At a time when growth is hard to come by in traditional markets, the Gulf offers something rare: scale, ambition, excitement and clients hungry for transformation.  In this episode of Waypointers, partner Jim Houghton sits down with colleague, MD Gary Whyte to explore the opportunity and discuss why it’s not always a straightforward play for agencies; missteps can easily happen for businesses that don’t do their homework. Gary shares practical lessons from working with independent agencies across Dubai and the wider GCC region including a highlight; taking fast-growing local agency Create Group on a journey that culminated in Gary and his team advising on their sale to Stagwell earlier this year. Whether you're considering acquisition, expansion or partnership, this episode offers valuable insights into navigating a market where growth is very much on the table, but local knowledge is key.  This episode kicks off a new Waypoint series focused on the Middle East, offering advice for anyone looking to enter the market or take their existing operations further.

  6. 05/14/2025

    41. Organisational culture – a world expert reveals her formula for success – in conversation with Professor Dame Vlatka Hlupic

    Waypointers

  7. 04/16/2025

    40. Is your agency truly change ready? Lessons from the performance marketing sector

    Agencies in the performance marketing sector are arguably having to face up to change faster than other parts of marketing services. When the platforms you’ve built your career and businesses around over the last 20 years are suddenly transforming, you have to reinvent yourself or face oblivion. For this Waypointers episode (link) partner Phil Gripton talks to someone who was there at the dawn of performance, Joe Procter, co-founder of Open Partners. Open Partners was founded around the conce...

  8. 03/12/2025

    39. How the right bank can turbo-charge your agency’s growth: In conversation with Frazer Barrs, head of media, Barclays

    Private equity grabs most of the headlines in our sector, but without the range of facilities your bank has to offer, you might find it hard to grow your agency effectively. Exactly quite how significant that contribution can be comes to life in this latest Waypointers episode (link), where partner Matt Lacey talks to Frazer Barrs, Head of Media, within Barclays Corporate. If you thought you knew what your bank can do for your scaled business, you’re in for a few surprises. Frazer’s appearanc...

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About

Waypointers is the go-to podcast for agency leaders. In this series, produced by Waypoint Partners, we bring together the brightest minds in the industry and our own in-house growth advisory specialists to share illuminating conversations to grow your agency.    Bringing you insights, analysis and knowledge from the leading lights of the UK agency landscape, Waypointers is a must-listen for aspirational agency leaders.    Subscribe to Waypointers wherever you get your podcasts.    Waypoint Partners is an expert global growth and M&A advisory firm providing support to businesses in the marketing services and technology sectors.

Information

  • Creator
    Waypoint Partners
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Waypointers
  • Show Website
    Waypointers

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