Ivan Fernandes

Helping agency founders Grow, Exit, or Rebuild with clarity and a plan.

Shaping What's Next

The marketing and communications industry is being redefined by AI, new operating models and changing economic realities. My work sits at the intersection of these changes, helping organisations understand what is happening, what it means and what they should do next.Over the past 12 months, I have worked alongside global agency groups, technology companies, investors and industry organisations, contributing to the conversations shaping the future of our industry.

Beyond Client Engagements

Thought Leadership
Contributing to podcasts, executive interviews and industry publications, with insights featured in the Financial Times, Campaign, The Drum, the New York Post and other leading business and marketing publications.AI Transformation
Helping organisations move beyond AI experimentation by designing AI-native operating models, governance frameworks and organisational capabilities.Ecosystem Development
Helping organisations build strategic partnerships across agencies, technology providers, investors and industry networks to accelerate innovation and growth.Global Speaking
Delivering keynote presentations, executive briefings and leadership discussions across Tokyo, Barcelona, Brussels, London, Cannes and Vilnius on AI, business transformation, agency evolution and the future of marketing.Strategic Advisory
Advising global agency groups, independent agencies, AI companies, martech businesses and executive leadership teams on strategy, transformation, operating models and growth.Industry Collaboration
Partnering with global agency networks and collectives, including WPI, 27Names and United Partners, to foster collaboration, innovation and industry-wide knowledge sharing.Supporting the Profession
Supporting organisations such as the Effie LIONS Foundation and the 4As through mentoring, executive education, workshops and industry discussions that help develop future leaders.Executive Transition
Advising senior executives as they move into board positions, advisory roles, portfolio careers and the next phase of leadership.Organisational Transformation
Supporting leadership teams as they redesign structures, capabilities and ways of working to improve agility, performance and long-term competitiveness.Building What's Next
Leading a collaborative industry white paper bringing together leaders from agencies, brands, technology companies, consultancies and investors to define the future operating model of the marketing industry.

Advisory. Planning. Execution. Capital.

I help independent agency founders turn ambition into action.
I work with teams ready to scale, raise investment, or exit with clarity and confidence.
It’s about building real value and realising it when it matters most.

Advisory

Strategic clarity for founders who want more.

Sometimes you don’t need more hands just clearer thinking. I offer light-touch guidance to help you see the road ahead, pressure-test decisions, and grow with confidence. Monthly or quarterly sessions built around your biggest questions.

Planning

Design the roadmap to growth or exit.

Whether you want to scale or sell, success doesn’t happen by accident. I work with founders to build 12–36 month plans that define direction, sharpen positioning, and unlock value from productisation to team structure.

Capital

Attract the right investment, not just any investment.

From evaluating offers to securing funding, I help founders assess the right capital strategy including equity partners, growth investors, and financing options. Align your numbers, your narrative, and your next move.

Execution

Turn strategic plans into scalable systems.

Big goals require operational backbone. I help you operationalise your vision from building the right team and systems to improving margin, structure, and delivery so you’re not just growing, you’re growing sustainably.

For founders who want more than just advice

I work with agency founders who are ready to grow, exit, or reshape their business for what’s next. Whether you're planning a sale, raising capital, or rebuilding from the inside out. I help you unlock value, think strategically, and move with clarity. No fluff. Just what moves the needle.

Advisory

Strategic clarity for marketing leadership, ready to think bigger

Cut through the noise with direct, leadership-focused advice. Whether you're weighing a big decision, testing a new direction, or simply need a strategic sounding board, advisory keeps you focused on high-leverage moves.

  • Monthly or quarterly strategy sessions

  • Market and positioning pulse checks

  • Founder performance map + next-step priorities

Planning

Build the roadmap to exit or future-proof growth

Start shaping the outcome before you’re forced to react. Together, we map a 24–36 month plan that aligns your ambitions with market expectations, so whether you’re aiming to sell or scale, you’re not winging it.

  • 36-month strategic growth/exit plan

  • Agency valuation baseline and benchmarks

  • Key focus areas by quarter and by department

Capital

Make your agency investor-ready and find the right fit

Raising capital or exploring M&A? I help you prepare, position, and pitch and connect you with the right buyers, funds, or partners from my network. This is about smart money, not just any money.

  • Investor narrative + pitch support

  • Buyer/investor mapping & introductions

  • Capital raise or acquisition packaging

Execution

Build the operating system investors want to buy

Execution is where value becomes visible. We put the plans into play fixing margin, simplifying structure, and making your agency run like a business, not just a hustle.

  • Operational scorecard + priority improvements

  • Productisation or IP packaging

  • Integration of scalable processes across delivery, ops & finance

Built for Founders and Leaders. Designed for Value.

I work with independent agency leaders who want more margin, more scale, more strategic clarity. Whether you're planning an exit or rebuilding for growth, my approach is simple: increase your agency’s value, reduce reliance on you, and create optionality for the future.

Strategic Advisory

From £5,000/month

Independent strategic guidance for leaders navigating growth, transformation and change.Partnering with CEOs, executive teams, boards and investors to solve complex business challenges, shape strategy and accelerate long-term value creation.

Strategic Planning

From £8,500/month

Building practical strategies that turn ambition into action.Developing business, AI, commercial and growth strategies with clear priorities, measurable outcomes and actionable roadmaps.

Strategic Execution

From £10,000/month

Turning leadership strategy into measurable business results.Supporting leadership teams through transformation by aligning stakeholders, maintaining momentum and ensuring successful execution of strategic initiatives.

Executive Workshops

From £12,500/month

Facilitated workshops that help leadership teams solve their most important challenges.Interactive sessions focused on strategy, operating models, organisation design, revenue models and business transformation, resulting in clear decisions and practical action plans.

Executive Signal Intelligence

From £6,500/month

Helping leaders identify tomorrow's opportunities before they become obvious.Translating emerging market signals, industry trends and executive insights into strategic intelligence that supports faster, better-informed decision-making.

Executive Roundatables

From £8,500/month

Curated executive discussions that challenge thinking and inspire action.Private roundtables, executive dinners and leadership forums designed to facilitate meaningful conversations around the future of business, AI and organisational transformation.

Public Speaking

From £12,500/month

Insight-driven keynotes that inspire leaders to think differently.Delivering engaging keynote presentations, executive briefings and conference sessions on AI, business transformation, leadership and the future of marketing.

Capital Advisory

From £6,000/month

Connecting strategy, investment and growth.Advising founders, investors and leadership teams on fundraising, strategic partnerships, value creation and growth while connecting businesses with the right opportunities and relationships.

Clarity, Strategy, and Growth On Your Terms.

Whether you're scaling toward a sale, rebuilding for resilience, or simply seeking clarity, these service tiers are structured around what agencies actually need. No generic frameworks. No one-size-fits-all. Just practical, strategic support designed to increase agency value over time. Pick the level that fits where you are and where you're headed.

Agency Value Creation

The right partner for founders who think long-term

You’ve built something valuable, now it’s time to shape what comes next.I don’t sell theory.I help agency founders like you build a stronger, more resilient business: whether that means preparing for exit, attracting capital, or simply making your agency work better without you.With decades of experience across marketing, consulting, and M&A, I bring the strategic clarity and operational guidance that turns ambition into action.

Your Partner

Ivan Fernandes

I’m a marketing management consultant and M&A advisor with a career built across independent agencies, holding companies, and management consulting. I've worked inside leading networks like Publicis, WPP, scaled independents, advised PE-backed businesses, and supported global intermediaries like Ebiquity and Oystercatchers.Over the last decade, I’ve partnered with private equity firms, VCs, and family offices to evaluate, grow, and exit marketing and agency businesses. Most recently, I completed an Executive Programme in Mergers & Acquisitions at Imperial Business School, deepening my ability to bridge the creative and commercial sides of the agency world.I understand agencies. I understand investment. And I help founders navigate both with clarity and confidence.

Ready to Build What’s Next?

Whether you're planning an exit, seeking capital, or simply want to run a better agency, I help founders unlock the next chapter with strategic clarity, operational focus, and investor-level insight.Let’s turn your agency into the asset it deserves to be.

Let's Talk!

If you're an agency founder looking to grow, sell, or secure capital, let's start the conversation. Fill in your details below and I’ll get back to you within 24–48 hours.