London Communications Agency (LCA), the full-service PR consultancy that delivers campaigns, consultations and content to clients across the built environment sector, has announced that six senior members of staff have become shareholders in LCA.
The move follows the corporate restructure completed in September 2021 that saw Founder and then-Chairman, Robert Gordon Clark, move into a part-time Senior Advisor role, and Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Jonny Popper, become the majority shareholder, with increased shareholdings for Jane Groom and Chris Madel. PR industry heavyweight Alastair Gornall also joined at that time as Non-Executive Chairman.
New shareholders (shown with an *) were issued with share options, which they have all exercised, and LCA will now have ten shareholders, listed below. All have worked in the business for at least ten years, playing an instrumental role in delivering first-class work for clients and driving growth.
• Jonny Popper, Partner & Chief Executive (majority shareholder)
• Jane Groom, Partner & Co-Managing Director, Politics, Engagement and Planning
• Sam Emery*, Partner & Co-Managing Director, Politics, Engagement and Planning
• Duncan Hepburn*, Partner & Director, Politics, Engagement and Planning
• Chris Madel, Partner & Co-Managing Director, Corporate, Consumer & Social
• Helena Carrie*, Partner & Co-Managing Director, Corporate, Consumer & Social
• Jenna Goldberg*, Partner & Managing Director, Insight
• Suzi Lawrence*, Partner & Managing Director, Talent
• Natalia Musial*, Partner & Managing Director, Commercial
• Robert Gordon Clark, Partner & Senior Advisor
The introduction of the Managing Director tier follows the completion of a recent internal restructuring to support continued growth. Specifically:
• Politics, Engagement and Planning, led by Jane Groom and Sam Emery, focusses mostly on project-based work to support planning applications for major developments led by the public and private sectors, alongside stakeholder and political engagement briefs.
• Corporate, Consumer and Social, led by Chris Madel and Helena Carrie, spans reputation and crisis management, public affairs, integrated campaigns, media, social media and influencer engagement for clients across the built environment, infrastructure and culture sectors.
Both divisions are supported by:
• LCA’s Design Team, led by Design Director Grant Gillard. This growing studio works across print and digital to create content and materials, build websites and develop branding. The design portfolio can be viewed here.
• LCA’s Insight Team, led by Jenna Goldberg, ensures the agency’s work remains underpinned by industry-leading research and intelligence.
• LCA’s Talent function, led by Suzi Lawrence, is focussed on ensuring the recruitment and retention the best talent around, with skills and development to provide the highest possible quality of service for clients.
• LCA’s Commercial Team, led by Natalia Musial, manages the finance functions and works with clients and partners to establish seamless commercial relationships.
At the same time as these changes, Sarah Rawlings is moving to a Senior Advisor role, still working four days a week for the agency, focussing on growing retained work with architecture and professional service firms. She joins fellow Senior Advisors, Paddy Hennessy and founder Robert Gordon Clark.
Jonny Popper, LCA Chief Executive, said:
“This a major moment for the business as we bring some brilliant colleagues into shareholding, all of whom have already been instrumental in driving our growth and delivering first-class work for our clients over many years.
“We will continue to provide opportunities for others to become shareholder in the business and for existing holders to increase their stake, as we further grow and enhance our full-service offering to clients in the built environment sector.”
Alastair Gornall, LCA Chairman, said:
“I am delighted to see LCA take this step as we continue to invest in attracting and retaining the smartest talent and adding real value to clients by engaging local communities, navigating complex political and stakeholder environments and promoting brands, places and spaces.”