Bristol's Istoria Group appoints COO

Philip Atherton has been appointed to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bristol-based collective Istoria Group.

Having previously worked for global exhibitions experts Ignition, part of Istoria Group, as Operations Director between 2010–2018, Philip then took on an advisory role for Istoria Group up to 2022 while he focussed on growing tech start-up Solverboard that he founded in 2015.

When Solverboard was acquired by Minneapolis-headquartered Sopheon in 2022, Philip left Istoria Group as part of the deal to oversee the integration following the acquisition. He is now returning to Istoria Group as part of the senior management team taking the business into a new growth phase. 

With a career that began as a manufacturing engineering apprentice, where he transformed traditional factory shop-floors into lean, and optimised units, he developed a passion for improvement and efficiency. Leveraging this, he became a catalyst for change in small and medium-sized enterprises, deploying innovative management techniques to revolutionise business functions. In his early twenties, he tested his entrepreneurial skills by founding and successfully exiting his first business. Joining BAE Systems in 2001, he progressed from project management roles to executive-level positions in business management and transformation. His career was always underscored by his commitment to drive businesses toward a more prosperous future.

The newly created COO role will include a remit over all the agency businesses within Istoria Group. He will also be heavily involved in Istoria Group’s own incubator hub for SMEs which is currently supporting several early-stage businesses with workspace, resources and advisory support. 

Philip said: “I am delighted to be returning to the business in this role at a very exciting time of growth and innovation. I really enjoy being part of a dynamic, creative agency business which very much reflects my appetite for entrepreneurial culture. 

“I am particularly looking forward to getting involved with start up businesses as part of the incubator – I am passionate about sharing my knowledge of starting and growing a business to people who are embarking on the journey.”    

Sam Rowe, CEO of Istoria Group said: “Philip coming back to the business is testament to the creative and entrepreneurial culture we are immensely proud of. It is a strategically important time for Istoria Group as we are entering an exciting new growth phase across all the agency businesses and his expertise will be invaluable across the team as we work towards our mission to be a carbon-neutral business by 2030.”   

Istoria Group is a B Corp certified, women-owned business. The group includes exhibitions, events and experiences agency Ignition which also has an office in Indianapolis, US; hospitality interior design specialists Phoenix Wharf; and digital experience agency Tiny Spark.