The Escape Agency announces successful management buyout

By Harry Whittle

7 April 2022

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Global strategic brand and digital agency, The Escape, has announced a recent change to
its senior management and ownership structure.

Ian Mumford, former Creative Director, has completed a successful management buyout
of the business and will now take on the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Rob Jones, founder and former Managing Director, will now be taking on the role of Chief Commercial Officer. The latter is a new role for the agency.

Mumford has more than 20 years of experience in the creative industry, with the last 14
years at The Escape. As well as being responsible for all creative output, he will now take on
the responsibility of driving an ambitious and strategic growth plan.

Jones, who founded The Escape in 1998, will remain in the senior management team and
now be responsible for the company’s commercial and business development, with a
strong emphasis on their core sectors across property, professional services, and leisure,
tourism and hospitality.

Since the start of 2021 the agency has enjoyed a strong period of growth with the team
expanding from 14 to 25. It currently works with an exciting portfolio of brands including
Serco, Capita, DX Delivery, Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Casa Martini, Harbour Hotels, Vivid
Homes and Aster Group.

Mumford said, “This marks an important milestone in The Escape’s history and I’m delighted
to take on the new role of CEO and help drive the agency towards a thriving new chapter
of growth. With an incredible and talented team, I look forward to continuing to give a voice
to our client’s brand stories and to contribute to their own journey of growth and success.”

Added Jones, “Having built the agency from the ground up, I can’t think of a more capable
pair of hands to take it to the next level and am thrilled for Ian and the business. Creating
the right culture for our people as well as our clients has always remained paramount and
I’m excited to take on the next challenge in a more commercially focused capacity.”

The Escape has its head office in Basingstoke in Hampshire, with a further office in Cape
Town in South Africa.

The Escape is a full service agency primarily based in Hampshire, providing creative
services to brands globally across brand, digital and marketing. Founded in 1998, it
employs 25 staff across the disciplines of creative design, development, performance,
marketing, client services, finance and operations, and business development. Specialising
in three core sectors in property, professional services and leisure, tourism and hospitality,
the agency looks after an impressive portfolio of clients including Serco, Capita, Bombay
Sapphire Distillery, Harbour Hotels, University of Southampton Science Park, Vivid Homes
and Aster Group.