Maja Pawinska Sims 15 Sep 2023 // 11:27AM GMT
LONDON — Tom Berry, the former co-owner and chair of B2B technology agency Chameleon, has joined MikeWorldWide as its new general manager.
Chameleon was sold to MikeWorldWide in 2021, and co-owner Tom Buttle became president and MD of MWW London. Berry left shortly after to extend his work as a part-time secondary school business teacher, as well as a portfolio of non-executive director roles. Buttle left the business in May to work on new projects, after two years leading the UK office.
The duo had previously led an MBO at Chameleon in 2017, and Berry became chair in 2019 as he segued into his part-time teaching career. Before joining Chameleon in 2013, Berry was FleishmanHillard’s head of technology for the UK and EMEA, and had also been a board director at Bite Communications.
Berry has been working as a consultant for MikeWorldWide since April, helping the management team deliver growth and senior client counsel. Over the summer, Berry and the US leadership team decided he should stay on to run the UK and European operation.
In his new role, Berry will be working three days a week for MWW and will be spending the remaining two days on his existing non-exec and trustee commitments; he is also a member of the council of King’s College London. Berry has taken a pause from teaching so he can return to agency life.
Berry told PRovoke Media: “I honestly didn’t think I would return to agency after I sold Chameleon, but here I am. I’ve always loved building agencies, so the offer to work with the team at MikeWorldWide in the UK and US was just too tempting. We have some brilliant people and clients, but the commitment from Michael and his leadership team to do creative, purpose-led work is right up my street. I really enjoyed my four years as a teacher, but the PR world has a way of calling me back. I’m really looking forward to the coming year.”
MikeWorldWide founder and CEO Michael Kempner added: “Anyone who has ever worked with Tom knows how lucky we are to have him return to lead our UK and European operation. Tom is widely recognized as being one of the best counsellors and strategists in the UK. And his inspirational leadership and inclusive management will help accelerate our growth and attract the best talent to MikeWorldWide.”
Berry said his strategy in his new role was to build on the agency’s existing expertise in media and technology, and to bring on a rolling programme of pro-bono clients. This year, the UK team has already delivered pro-bono work for Everyday Racism, Mental Health First Aid England, and The Employers’ Network for Equality and Inclusion.
MikeWorldWide launched its pro bono PR programme in 2020 and has since invested more than half a million dollars globally in public relations services for purpose-led initiatives and underrepresented small businesses.
MWW London’s current B2B and B2C client portfolio includes the Sunday Times, Shutterstock, fashion retail platform Secret Sales, IT software company Ivanti, virtual cycling app MyWhoosh and cybersecurity firm Fortra.