The leading multi-channel talent search specialist in Digital, Media and Tech, headquartered in London and Sydney.
We introduce world-leading talent to world-leading companies across EMEA and APAC and make the whole process seamless – from introduction to integration.
For over sixteen years our team have shaped the market, placing people from exec-to-director level in every corner of the Lumascape – across all major verticals and channels.
For the last 16 years 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.
Increasingly, Brands are becoming Media Owners. Media Owners are becoming agencies. Agencies are building content teams. And 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.
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.”
90MiN 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 study
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 study
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Clients include: Coca Cola, BSkyB, Glaxosmithkline, Proctor & Gamble, DFS, Universal, Dell, Volkswagen Group, Mars, TUI, Shell.
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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.
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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 study
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 studyOur 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.
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 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
“James (Croft) and round8 have had great success placing a number of candidates with The Exchange Lab in a very short span of time. They took the time to really understand our company and team culture, and add that personal touch combined with a no-time wasting approach. Aside from making sure that the candidate is who we’re looking for, they don’t put forward anyone until they themselves are convinced the candidate is ready for the interview. And I appreciate that they follow up with both the company and the candidate after someone’s been placed to make sure things are going smoothly. Keep it going.”
International Operations Director
The Exchange Lab
“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
“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
“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.”
Senior VP, International
Adap.TV
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.
“James’ approach to recruiting is very consultative which means he takes the time to learn and question the specific requirements for the vacancies he works on. Therefore his matching skills, for candidate to job, always, spot on. Having worked within the media landscape for a number of years, James knows the industry well and is able to offer his knowledge and advise where he sees fit. James is charming and great fun to work with.”
Talent Acquisition Manager, Recruitment Lead
Maxus
“Kim is without doubt one of the best recruiters I have dealt with. I have worked with her on both a personal and professional level. Her knowledge of the media landscape is exceptional and she always links the right people to their perfect role. I look to work with Kim whenever I can and I wholeheartedly recommend Kim as a go-to for anyone looking for a new challenge or to find new talent for their team.”
Head of Agency Partnerships
65twenty
“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 Commercial Director
Jamie Oliver
“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
Marie-Anne has been great in finding talent for us at Rakuten. From our days in a small start up office Marie-Anne always understood our brief and the type of people we were looking for.
Always available (even on weekends!) Marie-Anne has given us great customer service and most importantly gives the candidates the same level of attention.
Managing Director, Australia
Rakuten Marketing
“In an industry where service, relationships and crucially results matter more than anything it is fair to say that Jim excels in all three. He has a can-do attitude, is professional in all dealings from start to finish and just as importantly delivers an accountable, after deal service that is rare.”
COO
Squawka
“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 worked and known Jim for over 10 years. Jim delivers what he has agreed and a lot more. He is easy to work with and an excellent business partner. If you want to understand the UK Digital hiring market and attract the best candidates then Jim is your man.”
General Manager EMEA
PocketMath
round8 take a genuine interest in the business and invest the time to understand what really matters to both candidate and employer. It’s unusual that recruitment be so professional, but to be so whilst simultaneously focussing so intently on matching the right people is rare indeed – refreshingly, they are just as keen to avoid a bad match as they are to find a good one.
Chris Le May, CEO
EBX
“James (Croft) is one of those rare recruiters who know exactly how to find the right match for companies and job seekers. He has the ability to listen and understand the key needs and wants of his clients. The icing on the cake is his great personality, filled with honesty as well as solicitude, and ambition. James uses these traits to build a strong reliable network consisting of the best industry experts.”
Global Accounts Manager (Operations/Strategies)
Sizmek
“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 James for a number of years and he has filled numerous roles for my agency. James is one of those rare recruiters who knows exactly how to find the right match for companies and job seekers. He has the ability to listen and understand the key needs and wants of his clients. As an employer, my pet hate is having my time wasted with applicants that are off brief – this has never been an issue with James.
The icing on the cake is his great personality, filled with honesty as well as solicitude, and ambition. James uses these traits to build a strong reliable network consisting of the best industry experts”
Operations Director
Agenda Media Services
