Steve Booth takes top role at MC&C

The former UK chief executive of Havas media giant Arena, Steve Booth, is joining Mike Colling’s data, strategy and media agency MC&C as executive chairman, following a major growth spurt at the agency.
Booth will chair the MC&C board and assist Colling in identifying the right group structure, strengthening the top team, helping with talent development and evolving products and services.
Having started his career at Dorlands in 1979, Booth became the founding director of buying at Zenith Media in 1988. He went on to co-found Booth Lockett Makin in 1990, and developed sister digital agency Quantum eight years later. In 2008, BLM and Quantum joined Havas Media Group to become Arena Media. Both left in June last year after 23 years with the business.
Last year, MC&C witnessed a 70% growth in revenues and double its staff headcount. Its clients include Oxfam, WaterAid, Warner Leisure Hotels, Royal Mail and Smooch Bingo.
Booth said: “The team at MC&C have got the agency to a great place already. Building on a record year is a challenge on its own and one I am familiar with my previous experience. I’m looking forward to working with Mike and his team to assess the next level of growth opportunities and evolve the product and service line up to meet and exceed client expectations”.
Colling added: “Our brand promise is simple. We create sustainable, profitable, incremental growth for clients. If we can accelerate the growth we create for clients, we can become the Number One media independent in the UK. We have plenty of headroom and the skills that Steve brings help us define and deliver that expanded promise to clients. His proven expertise is a perfect fit, one that will complement the existing skillset of our current team.”