What happens when the opportunity to own the business you've been working in suddenly lands in front of you?
In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren is joined by Jess and Nick Bain, the husband-and-wife team behind Halo Associates, to share the story of taking over the Bournemouth creative agency through a management buyout in 2022.
They unpack what the MBO process really looked like, from funding the deal and managing the risks of a highly concentrated client base to communicating with the existing team and deciding what needed to change. Since taking ownership, Halo has grown from around 12 to 13 people to a team of 20, while evolving from a predominantly delivery-led agency towards a more strategic marketing partner.
Jess and Nick also discuss the realities of running a company together as a married couple, learning to delegate, separating work from home, developing their individual leadership styles and creating a people-first culture.
The conversation also looks ahead at AI, creativity, sustainable growth and their ambition to build a business that can thrive independently of them.
If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to Evolve to Succeed, leave a review and share it with another business owner or aspiring entrepreneur.
Why Jess and Nick always wanted to own a business together
How the opportunity to buy Halo came about
What a management buyout actually involves
Funding the acquisition and taking on the risk
Buying a business where one client represented around 75 to 80% of the work
Bringing the existing team through a change of ownership
What they would do differently if they went through an MBO again
Growing Halo from around 12 to 13 people to 20
Running a business together as husband and wife
Learning to delegate and transition from doing to leading
Why business ownership can be lonely and the value of peer support
The impact of AI on marketing, creativity and junior roles
Building a business that can eventually operate without its founders
00:00 Intro
01:02 Did you always want to own a business?
02:45 How did the management buyout happen?
05:58 What does an MBO actually involve?
11:03 What did you get right and wrong?
15:07 What did becoming owners feel like?
19:01 How has Halo changed since the buyout?
24:55 How has peer support helped you?
27:04 How have you changed as leaders?
33:00 How do you run a business as husband and wife?
43:54 How will AI change creative agencies?
46:12 What's next for Halo?
What happens when the opportunity to own the business you've been working in suddenly lands in front of you?
In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren is joined by Jess and Nick Bain, the husband-and-wife team behind Halo Associates, to share the story of taking over the Bournemouth creative agency through a management buyout in 2022.
They unpack what the MBO process really looked like, from funding the deal and managing the risks of a highly concentrated client base to communicating with the existing team and deciding what needed to change. Since taking ownership, Halo has grown from around 12 to 13 people to a team of 20, while evolving from a predominantly delivery-led agency towards a more strategic marketing partner.
Jess and Nick also discuss the realities of running a company together as a married couple, learning to delegate, separating work from home, developing their individual leadership styles and creating a people-first culture.
The conversation also looks ahead at AI, creativity, sustainable growth and their ambition to build a business that can thrive independently of them.
If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe to Evolve to Succeed, leave a review and share it with another business owner or aspiring entrepreneur.
What The Episode CoversWhy Jess and Nick always wanted to own a business together
How the opportunity to buy Halo came about
What a management buyout actually involves
Funding the acquisition and taking on the risk
Buying a business where one client represented around 75 to 80% of the work
Bringing the existing team through a change of ownership
What they would do differently if they went through an MBO again
Growing Halo from around 12 to 13 people to 20
Running a business together as husband and wife
Learning to delegate and transition from doing to leading
Why business ownership can be lonely and the value of peer support
The impact of AI on marketing, creativity and junior roles
Building a business that can eventually operate without its founders
00:00 Intro
01:02 Did you always want to own a business?
02:45 How did the management buyout happen?
05:58 What does an MBO actually involve?
11:03 What did you get right and wrong?
15:07 What did becoming owners feel like?
19:01 How has Halo changed since the buyout?
24:55 How has peer support helped you?
27:04 How have you changed as leaders?
33:00 How do you run a business as husband and wife?
43:54 How will AI change creative agencies?
46:12 What's next for Halo?
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