Hanover

Part of Avenir Global, in 2024 Hanover focused on consolidating its business post-earn-out while expanding its capabilities in key markets, in preparation for a year that president and managing partner Gavin Megaw – elevated to the leadership role in 2023 after founder Charles Lewington stepped up to chairman – promises will be “audacious”.

Hanover strengthened its offer across public affairs, strategic communications, ESG consultancy, and creative execution. The agency made strategic hires to bolster its expertise in sport, EU policy, and working with the new Labour government, reinforcing its reputation as one of the best-connected agencies in the UK. Notable new hires included former sports minister Dame Tracey Crouch joining as MD for sport, and Labour comms director and political journalist Patrick Hennessy joining as a senior director.

While its revenue in the UK and Middle East was flat, the opening of a new office in Dublin supported significant client growth, resulting in an 18% year-on-year revenue increase in Ireland. The firm’s expansion into Riyadh enhanced its presence in the Middle East, securing high-value mandates from the Public Investment Fund and other key clients.

New wins included RSA, GE Aerospace, Orbex, and Too Good To Go, alongside confidential partnerships with major brands. It also successfully retained longstanding clients, securing repitches with Meta, FSCS, and NYU, while continuing to work with Amazon, Uber, AstraZeneca, and Pizza Hut.

Standout campaigns included ‘I Am Number 17’ for Takeda Ireland drove rare disease awareness, securing extensive media coverage and political engagement. The ‘Handcrafted’ campaign for Pizza Hut used bold marketing tactics to position the brand as the ‘preferred’ choice in a competitive market. The agency played a key role in securing £20 million in UK government funding for Orbex, demonstrating its expertise in influencing policy and investment decisions. Its work with Too Good To Go successfully shifted media narratives towards sustainability, increasing public engagement and app downloads.

Hanover has long prioritised inclusivity and employee wellbeing, with initiatives across ethnic diversity, gender balance, LGBTQ+ inclusion, mental health, and social mobility. In 2024, the agency exceeded its 15% ethnic diversity target, supported by partnerships with the Taylor Bennett Foundation and 10,000 Black Interns. Women hold 61% of leadership roles, with policies supporting pregnancy, fertility, and menopause. Hanover has also reduced its proportion of private school-educated employees from 70% to 25% over six years through targeted recruitment and apprenticeships.

In terms of thought leadership, Hanover’s ‘World Rewired’ campaign positioned it as a leader in corporate affairs during a year of political and economic uncertainty. Using its ‘Rewire Diagnostic Tool,’ the agency identified reputational risks for businesses and provided strategic guidance. The campaign featured the ‘2024 World Rewired Playbook’ and an event series with speakers such as Lord Mark Sedwill and the BBC’s Emily Maitlis. It also delivered tangible commercial results, boosting pipeline value by 96% and inbound opportunities by 64%, reinforcing Hanover’s standing as a true trusted adviser to global businesses. —MPS