Where Are They Now: Dan Berry, CEO of UNRVLD

The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme has celebrated more than 300 exceptional individuals since its launch in 2018. In this series, we reconnect with some of our alumni to find out what happened next in their growth journey, the impact of being part of the programme, and their ambitions now.

Since becoming CEO of digital agency UNRVLD in 2020, Dan Berry has super-charged growth. He’s led the business in its ongoing transformation with major client marquee wins and is making inroads into the US – it’s this ambition and drive that he was recognised for when he featured in The LDC Top 50 in 2022.  And that was the year that Berry managed to grow both profit and revenue, despite the macroeconomic challenges which gripped the globe.

In 2023, he managed to buck the wider industry trend, winning clients such as Confused, Speedy Services and Diageo. “We have strengthened our proposition, which is powering our growth,” Berry says. “Now our vision is to be a global agency. That’s our north star.”

What’s changed about your proposition?

Our focus has moved from outputs to outcomes. Our model is unusual in our industry. It isn’t all about launching a new digital product, it’s about what happens next, and helping clients to hit their targets and meet their goals. That’s one of the reasons we’re forecasting double-digit revenue growth this year.

How is the US expansion going?

For a couple of years, the exchange rate meant that the economics of moving into the US didn’t stack up, but even without a local presence we still won US clients. Now, we are ready to open an office on the East Coast and we plan to grow there both organically and through acquisitions.

How do you maintain your drive and focus?

No one gives you a manual, unfortunately, and you often have to take each day as it comes. It’s also no secret that agency life is fast paced, which can be tough. But I also find that energising. I know I can adapt quickly, make change and influence at pace. And I’m also not doing this alone; I have an incredible team. They keep me going, and I wouldn’t achieve anything if I didn’t have their talent around me.

How do you attract top talent?

I think the fact we have retained our Investors in People gold star for more than a decade says a lot. We have some really progressive perks, like allowing people to manage their time to work 10 days over 9 – that’s an extra day off every fortnight. But mostly it’s the work that keeps people here. We work with incredible clients on some fantastic projects, and this is stimulating work. Every day really is different.