LONDON — Roxy Kalha, the former managing director of The Romans, has launched a new UK full-service earned media agency, The Heard.

Backed by four members of the John Doe Group board – chair Rachel Bell, founder of UK consumer agencies including Shine Communications and Mischief, Lee Beattie, Pam Scobbie and Magin (Gin) Trewhella – but operating independently, The Heard will offer PR, social media, experiential and influencer relations.

After nearly seven years at The Romans, Kalha (pictured) left in June last year. During her time as MD, the agency’s headcount tripled and revenue more than doubled, and she won and led on key clients including Ovo Energy, Dove, Ben and Jerry’s, Stitch Fix, Costa Coffee and Ella’s Kitchen.

Kalha said her new agency’s proposition – and name – was based on listening to clients and audiences: “Listening is our superpower and when we’re truly listening amazing things can happen. It’s super-simple but has really resonated with potential candidates and clients. Sometimes in the quest for creative excellence you don’t hear the client properly. Marriages break down because one party doesn’t feel heard, and it’s the same with client relationships: clients get frustrated with 10 iterations of a deck where the insights haven’t really tapped into their audience or have missed half the brief.

“By putting listening at the heart of the business, we’re creating a new way of behaving, both with each other and with our clients. We can also tap into unheard communities and reach new audiences that might otherwise be overlooked in the noise that goes along with creating industry-leading campaigns."

Of her previous role and her new investors, she told PRovoke Media: “I loved my time at The Romans, it’s a great agency, but I had been there a long time and was thinking about what to do next. Rachel Bell was my first boss and then her other John Doe Group board members Lee, Pam and Gin wanted to launch a new venture and we started getting excited about working together. It’s the best of both worlds: I’m independent and doing my own thing, and they lean in when I need them to.”

Bell added: “I worked with Rox when she was a smart, impressive account executive and knew then this was someone I should keep an eye on. Her career trajectory – being selected to be on the Future Leaders Academy at Weber Shandwick, leading teams at W Communications and her most recent stint at the helm of The Romans – has given her amazing experience in leading an agency to success. Investing in her was a no-brainer, and I can’t wait to see what The Heard does.”

The Heard is already working with founding clients including Dutch Barn Orchard Vodka and craft beer B-corp Brewgooder.

Kalha is recruiting and said she has invested in bespoke professional listening training for the agency team: “We’re working with an external trainer on client relationships and listening to colleagues, so we can all live and breathe The Heard’s ethos.”

As well as her new agency role – launched on International Women's Day – Kalha is on the committee of UK networking organisation Women in PR, including leading on the delivery of its inaugural 45 over 45 campaign and being part of its mentoring initiative.