The leading multi-channel talent search specialist in Digital, Media and Tech, headquartered in London.
We introduce world-leading talent to world-leading companies across EMEA and APAC and make the whole process seamless – from introduction to integration.
Since 1999 our team have shaped the market, placing people from exec-to-director level in every corner of the digital universe – across all major verticals and channels.
Since our inception we’ve targeted a unique combination of markets and disciplines. This approach has built us an unmatched network and knowledge-base in EMEA and APAC.
The world of advertising and marketing is changing. Media channels are fragmenting, the rise and use of data exploding
The rise of in-housing is again challenging and shifting ‘the norm’. Increasingly, Brands are becoming Media Owners. Media Owners are becoming Agencies. Agencies are building content teams. Ad Tech companies are joining, selling to, and serving all of these groups.
Things are changing – and that’s where we come in. We’re perfectly placed to help the right talent to move where they can thrive. Our sweet spot is being placed right in the middle of these groups, with the right relationships across both commercial and operational positions.
And in a converging market where transferable skills are at a premium, engaging and securing the very best partnerships is an exacting science. So credibility counts.
Here are some more examples of the companies we have partnered in each distinct group.
Our role is to provide individuals and businesses with the options and the insight they need to make informed, career-enhancing decisions. We work alongside people to give them choice, ideas & context. If you partner with round8, we’re in it together.
round8 were retained by Samba.tv’s senior leadership team (based in San Francisco) to find them an MD, EMEA.
Following an unsuccessful direct search, the CRO and CEO wanted to see the very best senior commercial talent in market who would be able to execute their aggressive EMEA growth plans.
We focused on individuals with experience across video, programmatic and data, with extensive networks across media agencies, brands and tech partners.
View case study“I’ve hired some great people from Exec to Director-level via round8 over several years. round8’s capabilities to work in a talent-mapping and headhunting capacity are excellent, principally because they have traded in the media and ad tech space since the nineties (so they are incredibly well connected at mid-to-senior level), and because their approach and style of business lends itself to customers valuing and trusting their input.”
Brightroll’s CEO and Global SVP retained round8 to secure them a new Managing Director, Europe.
Their US-based leadership team was eager to get full visibility on Brightroll’s actual and perceived position in-market in the UK. To this end, round8’s search was nonlinear.
We mapped the UK media market at Media Director, Digital Director, Country Director and MD-level.
View case study“round8 was everything we were looking for in an executive partner – genuine collaboration, a tuned ear to our needs and the marketplace, a deep network of contacts and a process that was fluid and flexible enough to accommodate changes that inevitably arise. We benefited enormously from their energy and expertise.”
Minute Media had secured series B funding, and needed to fill several business critical roles, ranging from marketing, to client development, to sales, and programmatic.
They needed a well connected talent partner. A partner with deep level connections across advertising, ad tech, and brand in Europe and APAC, and who was able to target, engage, and secure the very best, and relevant talent.
View case studyMinute Media is a global football media and technology company that caters to the digital generation. Primarily, it acts as a content factory, tapping into the passion, knowledge, and dedication of the hyper-connected fan to create authentic, engaging, and socially driven content distributed to a rapidly growing audience of over 35 million global users.
We’ve had a very fruitful partnership with Adap.TV in Australia, Singapore, the UK, and Germany over the years – placing at exec-to-director level.
Our leadership teams in both hemispheres worked to secure Adap.TV their German MD and APAC Commercial Director.
View case studyround8’s capabilities to work in a talent-mapping and headhunting capacity are excellent, principally because they have traded in the media and ad tech space since the nineties (so they are incredibly well connected at mid-to-senior level), and because their approach and style of business lends itself to customers valuing and trusting their input.
A series of high profile acquisitions meant Amobee needed a 2IC to the MD to roll out the vision for the business.
They’re a leading presence in the mobile and AdTech space, so a strong technical knowledge complemented by sales leadership was imperative.
After an initial consultation and report on the trends and talent shortage in the market, collectively, we came to the conclusion Amobee needed a Head of Technology as well as a Head of Sales to achieve long-term goals as the leaders in the tech space.
View case studyExceptionally dedicated is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Alex. I have had the pleasure of working with Alex for three years whilst at Amobee, collaborating on several large recruitment projects. I was particularly impressed by her deep understanding of us as a client, and her ability to then interpret briefs and match these to ideal candidate talent – a skill that comes naturally to her. Alex is extremely professional and radiates positivity, and is an absolute pleasure to work with. As a HR professional to lead a project, or as an employee, Alex earns my highest recommendation.
We’re a trusted partner of Bauer, so they asked us to help find a Head of Digital operations for their growing Advertising Operations and Programmatic development team.
This was a key hire. The head of Digital Operations leads the team responsible for securing seamless sales to safeguarding the invoicing process; delivery of advertising campaigns; and, management of commercial inventory to maximise revenue while ensuring audiences have the best experience of Bauer’s content.
View case studyBauer Media is a division of the Bauer Media Group, a European publishing powerhouse, and the continent’s largest privately owned publishing group. It offers over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV, and radio stations.
The Jamie Oliver Group is the business end of “all things Jamie” They help him achieve everything he sets out to do across three main areas: restaurants, media, and charity – The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation.
Jamie’s media business sells to over 200 broadcasters and has become a trailblazer in its utilisation of Youtube and social content.
View case studyI have known Jim since he set up round8 back in 2000 and have been both placed by him as well as using him to recruit into my various teams. Jim is incredibly intuitive. He has placed me in my last two roles both of which he knew and understood very clearly what I wanted in a position and understanding exactly the culture and ‘fit’ I was looking for. And just as importantly, what I wasn’t looking for. He is incredibly knowledgeable, an expert at what he does and as such has a fantastic network of clients and candidates. He’s also just a lovely person to work with.
We were asked to help find the Head of Digital for the recently retained Lloyds Banking Group account.
The candidate was going to lead the digital output of MEC’s newly created business unit, Greenhouse.
MEC wanted an elite digital talent that could evangelise digital to the most senior clients while also producing a digital roadmap for Lloyds Banking Group’s future activity. They’d also be responsible for the digital output of the agency, from both a strategic and commercial standpoint.
View case studyWith domestic and international billings over $27billion, and a total workforce of over 5,000 people – MEC is one of the world’s largest media planning and buying agencies.
Their clients include Lloyds Banking Group, BGL, Everything Everywhere, Wm Morrisons, Bupa, Nintendo, Danone, Paramount Pictures.
MediaCom is a global media planning and buying powerhouse. With a workforce 5,800 working from 122 offices in 97 countries – its central coordination hubs are in London, New York, Miami, and Singapore.
View case studyClients include: Coca Cola, BSkyB, Glaxosmithkline, Proctor & Gamble, DFS, Universal, Dell, Volkswagen Group, Mars, TUI, Shell.
Mi9 had just launched, and an essential new role for them was Director of Specialist Sales.
They wanted someone to drive the overarching vision and product go to market strategy across the extensive network of sites and products in their back catalogue.
View case studyMi9 is one of Australia’s leading digital media firms and a member of Nine Entertainment Company. Its products include online publishing, data strategies, consumer insights and ad tech. Premium sites include ninemsn, Nine News, Wide World of Sports and TheFix and it reaches over 12.92 million Australian users per month.
We’d worked with SpotX in London and Sydney. When round8 moved into the German market, we asked them about their plans there. This lead us to source and broker a Market Entry Consultancy to help them evaluate the tech and advertising prospects in the DACH region.
Then, we worked exclusively with them to secure their German launch MD.
View case studySpotX is the global video ad monetization platform for premium publishers and broadcasters. It helps them manage all of their demand sources from a central hub, and monetise content. RTL Group, the German broadcast media giant now own a majority stake.
We partnered with Triad to find exec-level talent across display, native, programmatic and data – in the UK, Australia and Singapore. Some of the keys roles they asked us to fill included Head of Media, Sales Director EMEA, and Sales Director APAC.
View case studyTriad Media has 13 offices in North America, Europe, and APAC. It’s the industry leader in creating, managing, and operating digital programs for the world’s largest retailers, including Ebay, Phillips, and American Express.
Triad now reaches 141 million unique visitors.
Our team has a rich mix of industry, talent, and executive search expertise. Our consultants have embedded themselves in the markets they serve. We’re down-to-earth, practical, and commercial. This is a career journey we’re all on. Team up with us and we will make it productive.
Jim is one of the few people in the industry to have extensive, first-hand experience running contingent and retained searches across all media platforms - in addition to each digital media technology as they have emerged (e.g. search, social, ad serving, mobile, video, programmatic, native/branded content formats, data)
He has lead external hiring initiatives for companies including Business Insider, European Broadcast Exchange, Hearst, Refinery 29, MSN, BBC Worldwide, AOL Platforms/Oath, Bauer Media, Fox Networks, Criteo, Brightroll, spotX, Vice. Having built round8 in London and Sydney, and hired for many US clients, he has a strong international network.
Jim has judged at the M&M Global, PPA Digital, and British Media Awards; Advised for digital accelerators and as an NED, and featured on various panels – including Guardian Media, Techpitch 4.5, Elle University. He is a qualified assessor in a range of psychometric testing, a certified Master Practitioner in NLP and a trained executive coach.
Kim's reputation precedes her. Armed with first-hand experience in contract, permanent and retained search, she's helped secure talent across all major advertising categories and across media, brand, and ad tech sectors.
Grant joins the board of round8 as COO, following a successful career in digital advertising and publishing.
Grant brings experience building and driving businesses across the UK, Europe and Asia-Pac and has been a key figure in the digital advertising sector for over 20 years.
His invaluable skills and exposure mean round8 can, yet again, offer clients new insights and ideas as well as proven strategies for even wiser and more effective recruitment solutions.
We can help you get real results.
We’re real people with soul and substance, practical and pragmatic about careers and businesses. If you’re interested in making things happen, please get in touch.
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“Jim Brown is a complete professional and an absolute pleasure to work with. Personable, knowledgeable, experienced and savvy, Jim is an asset to anyone building senior talent in the UK, EU or Australia markets.”
Global SVP
BrightRoll
“I have worked with Kim on three different projects both as a recruiter and when looking for my next move. As a recruiter Kim moved fast and came up with brilliant candidates who I recruited both times. She is always available when you need her. When looking for my next role she had the maturity and experience to get the brief immediately and the strategic vision to find me the perfect role.”
Director of Strategic Partnerships
The Exchange Lab
“Jim always supplies market leading and relevant candidates to any job briefs I’ve had. His ability to listen and understand what I am looking for makes working with Jim easy, and I always feel I have is 100% focus and support when recruiting.”
Managing Director of Advertising
TimeOut Europe
“I have known Jim since he set up round8 back in 2000 and have been both placed by him as well as using him to recruit into my various teams. Jim is incredibly intuitive. He has placed me in my last two roles both of which he knew and understood very clearly what I wanted in a position and understanding exactly the culture and ‘fit’ I was looking for. And just as importantly, what I wasn’t looking for. He is incredibly knowledgeable, an expert at what he does and as such has a fantastic network of clients and candidates. He’s also just a lovely person to work with.”
Global CRO
Jamie Oliver
We retained round8 to help us secure key commercial hires for our European business. From the outset their consultative and knowledgeable approach gave us great confidence in the process. We valued their input, insight and broad range of market experience. We were also extremely pleased that we received positive feedback from candidates in the process.
Senior Vice President and Head of International
Refinery29,Inc.
“Jim has a deep knowledge of the industry; not just the people side, but the technology itself. He makes it his business to have a true understanding of his clients’ value proposition, culture and goals, and it is this that sets him apart in a very crowded space. Jim has been a trusted adviser to me, both on my own career and helping me build the culture I would like in my team. He operates with absolute integrity and professionalism and it’s this that makes him my first port of call for advice on building the right team. If you are looking to recruit people in the media and tech space, I would highly recommend speaking to Jim, and he’s a thoroughly likeable person to boot.”
Regional VP, Northern Europe
Sizmek
Ali has been great in finding talent for us at Rakuten. From our days in a small start up office Ali always understood our brief and the type of people we were looking for.
Always available (even on weekends!) Ali has given us great customer service and most importantly gives the candidates the same level of attention.
Managing Director, Australia
Rakuten Marketing
“Kim is without doubt a shining light in the media recruitment space. Thorough and professional and honest. Couldn’t recommend Kim highly enough!”
Sales Controller, TV Creative Solutions
Bauer Media
Exceptionally dedicated is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Alex. I have had the pleasure of working with Alex for three years whilst at Amobee, collaborating on several large recruitment projects. I was particularly impressed by her deep understanding of us as a client, and her ability to then interpret briefs and match these to ideal candidate talent – a skill that comes naturally to her. Alex is extremely professional and radiates positivity, and is an absolute pleasure to work with. As a HR professional to lead a project, or as an employee, Alex earns my highest recommendation.
VP Client Services EMEA
Amobee
“Jim is an excellent operator – at once personable and professional. He has an intimate knowledge of the media marketplace and a network of contacts and relationships that is as deep as it is wide. He has always been a very useful sounding board for me and has provided useful career advice over the years – never afraid of being frank and honest and always displaying a good understanding of my situation. I would happily recommend Jim and round8 to anyone looking either to hire in media or for career guidance.”
Group International Publisher
TIME & Fortune
I had the pleasure to be contacted by Pascal regarding an opportunity highly relevant to my experience and career ambitions. Pascal is an outstanding recruiter, he was always available, friendly and his experience has been very helpful throughout the recruitment process. I highly recommend his service!
Director of Business Development
OpenX
