Surrey: Smart Cookie announces MBO following threefold increase in turnover

Creative technology agency Smart Cookie has today announced that it has been the subject of a management buyout (MBO).  

A multi-award winning agency, Smart Cookie’s success and growth over the past 18 months has been exponential.  In the past year alone it has achieved a turnover of £3 million, up from just £1m just two years ago when it was known as Mediastation.

In these two years Smart Cookie has developed from a small, relatively-unknown company based in tiny offices outside Guildford in the village of Cranleigh, to a globally-recognised agency with offices in both the UK and US.

The company has achieved this rapid growth by transforming the business from delivering (mostly white labeled) production services to an agency that finds exciting new ways for brands to engage customers. Smart Cookie is now competing with world-leading marketing agencies to deliver creative solutions that solve business problems.

One of its most high-profile clients in the past two years has been American Airlines. Smart Cookie helped the airline launch its rebrand at the beginning of 2013 by creating photo-realistic CGI film of the new planes for the launch day, long before the planes themselves were ready and at a fraction of the cost of filming a plane in flight.

Smart Cookie was also responsible for creating the new American Airlines boarding experience film that has changed the stressful experience to one that is more akin to entering a luxury spa.

The agency has not just become famous for its CGI work; it has also created one of the world’s largest touch screens, produced games that dramatically improve brand recognition and is also behind “event in a box”, that has made it possible for exhibitors to set up within minutes, as well as “hologram in a box”.

Additionally Smart Cookie produce virtual reality experiences and even gesture-control screens that bring the science fiction of James Bond and Minority Report to life.

Chris Searson, executive chair of Smart Cookie, who has led the transformation and led the MBO team, is delighted with the growth that has been achieved.

He said: “Smart Cookie always had huge potential but over the past two years we have been brave enough and confident enough to approach some of the world’s biggest companies. Without exception these clients have been bowled over by the quality of the work we delivered and so our reputation has grown very rapidly.  We’re now looking to open other international locations. The MBO demonstrates the team’s enthusiasm and commitment to the company.  It is a very exciting time for us.”