Granite 5 appoints new Managing Director as Founder steps back after two decades of leadership
May 25, 2022
For the last two decades, Granite 5 has been led by Jill Davies, who founded the business at the turn of the millennium. After building one of the region’s leading web agencies, Jill has decided to step back from the day-to-day running of the business to pursue some personal goals.
Simon will work closely alongside Christian Scott, Granite 5’s Strategy and UX Director, and other members of the agency’s board to steer the business forward and deliver on the team’s ambitious growth plans. Simon has been at the forefront of delivering digital services since the start of his career. He joined Barclays UK as a Computer and Systems Analyst back in 1987. He has subsequently worked at Account Director level at various creative digital agencies. He has also spent time in-house, with recent roles including Digital Campaigns Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Commenting, Christian Scott, said: “We are delighted Simon has joined Granite 5 and agreed to lead the agency. With the team expanding and our digital skills and services in greater demand than ever before, he joins us at an incredibly exciting time. When Jill announced her plans to step back, Simon was the obvious appointment. Jill has worked hard to build a solid business with an enviable reputation, both locally and nationally. As she shifts into a less active role, she can be confident that the leadership team she has put in place will continue to follow the vision and values she has embedded and which mean so much to Granite 5 clients.”
Explaining more, Jill Davies said: “Digital was not my first career. Previously I was a commercial airline pilot. After retiring from that line of work, I undertook a few digital marketing projects for some personal contacts. Before I knew it I’d set up some of the first local council websites – and the agency grew from there. I’m incredibly proud of the team and what we have achieved together. Today we have 80 clients across a range of market sectors – many of who have worked with us for decades. I have absolute trust in Simon and Christian and look forward to remaining involved in the strategic direction of the business.”
Simon concluded by saying: “I am thrilled to be leading the charge at Granite 5. Having worked in agencies, large and small, for the past 30 years, I know what it takes to make a successful team. Equally, I love working with clients – diagnosing, designing and delivering digital solutions that make a real impact; helping them to provoke a response from their audience. I will be drawing on my experience of strategic direction and leadership to help build the team, grow the business and make Granite 5 one of the leading agencies in the region.”
Granite 5 is a Cambridge-based digital marketing agency specialising in website UX & UI design, web development and online marketing. Guiding its clients to digital success, the business has a fantastic track record with B2B, membership and charitable organisations. A full-service agency, Granite 5 also offers inbound marketing expertise in SEO, PPC, content, social media, CRM and strategy. Taking a user-focused approach, Granite 5 employs real-world data and analysis to inform decision-making and utilises a continuous improvement methodology to ensure constant evolution. Clients choose to work with Granite 5 for many reasons. Some are unable to see how to drive traffic to their website or are frustrated that visits aren’t converting to sales enquiries. Others are uncertain about how to create engaging content online, or worried that their digital marketing investment isn’t delivering the expected return. Whatever the marketing challenge, Granite 5 can help.