This year, BBJ&K is celebrating our 10-year anniversary, so to start this series we are looking back at where our people were in 2016 vs where they are now.
To celebrate BBJ&K turning 10, we are starting a new series where each month we will share how our independent agency has grown, the impact we have made and the vision for the years to come.
This month, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on where we were in 2016, where we are now in 2026, and the people whose careers have grown alongside the agency. From first roles and university days to award-winning campaigns, these experiences and expertise showcase how BBJ&K has evolved over the last 10 years.
In 2016 BBJ&K was founded, from a frustration with how media budgets were often handled across the industry. Too many businesses were investing in media without fully understanding where their money was going or what return they were getting. The aim from day one was to build a financially ethical agency, offering complete transparency with clear breakdowns, no hidden charges and an open-book approach where every pound is invested in media to deliver real results.
A defining moment in the early days for Emma and John Keane (Co-founder) was winning and retaining a client from a large group agency with a team of just six. That validation cemented a philosophy that still stands today: go the extra mile for clients, even beyond scope, and treat every relationship as a long-term partnership.
Today, BBJ&K continues to work in close partnership with clients and media owners, delivering honest advice, constant optimisation and campaigns built for performance. Emma has grown the agency over the last decade where ambition, forward thinking is at the heart whilst nurturing emerging talent and building a team culture of people who care deeply about doing the right thing for both clients and for each other.
Louise brings a wealth of media knowledge and passion to BBJ&K. After more than a decade selling radio and integrated media solutions at Bauer Media across a wide portfolio of brands, primarily in radio, Louise knew she wanted to move into a more marketing-focused role. While she loved the pace and relationship-building side of sales, she was increasingly curious about how brands could be supported more holistically across channels. At BBJ&K, Louise helps brands maximise their effectiveness and impact of their advertising. Since joining us Louise has been able to grow her experience across multiple disciplines and plays a strategic role in shaping campaigns and our agency’s growth.
Louise’s advice to her younger self: Trust your intuition and stick to your guns.
(Fun fact: Louise used to be a commercial radio presenter – and if she wasn’t in marketing, she would be pursuing her other passion as an actor or voiceover artist.)
At BBJ&K, Kieron plays a key role in establishing trading agreements with our clients and media partners. Previously, Kieron worked in AV at Mediacom where he developed his experience in the negotiation and trading to better understand on how deals and rebates work. Moving from a large group agency to an independent required flexibility and a willingness to get stuck into everything, a challenge Kieron has embraced. For Kieron, the most rewarding part of working at BBJ&K is simple: the people. With over 10 years of experience, Kieron has a vast network of people within the industry but meeting Diego Maradona at an ITV event is a career highlight.
Kieron’s advice to his younger self: Don’t take life too seriously.
Within a decade, Beth has grown with BBJ&K, playing an integral role in driving the agency forwards but also delivering award winning campaigns that have appeared on billboards, TV, and radio! In 2016, Beth was studying PR and Marketing at university in Manchester, where she developed a passion for the industry. Her career media started even earlier, at 16, during a week of work experience at Clear Channel. That first glimpse in the industry stuck with her. For Beth, what makes it special is seeing the work come to life and knowing she helped bring it all together.
Looking back, her advice to her younger self? Have more confidence and put yourself out there.
In 2016, Nat was working at a growing full-service agency gaining experience across creative, digital, PR and advertising, with opportunities to work internationally. Her career into the industry began with a simple Google search for marketing agencies while at university, but the challenges were very real. Starting young, and as a woman, meant sometimes being overlooked. Nat overcame this the only way she knew how: hard work, resilience and consistently proving her value. Fast forward to 2026, now at BBJ&K Nat account manages some of our key clients and is involved in some exciting projects which will make a real impact.
What keeps Nat motivated? Simply enjoying the work and collaborating with ambitious, like-minded colleagues and clients.
A defining early moment in his career came straight after university, when Michael chose not to take the typical post-graduation summer. Instead, he spent time working for an NGO in Cameroon, supporting an orphanage and teaching in a local school. On returning to the UK, persistence paid off when an agency he had been pursuing for months offered him an intern position – a starting point that set his career in motion. Looking back, 10 years ago, Michael was working primarily in television advertising alongside account management across a wide range of clients and sectors. This experience made him the perfect fit for BBJ&K where he now manages all our TV planning and buying for clients, whilst exploring different perspectives and connecting data with media performance.
Driven by his family, Michael’s motivation is about continual growth not just as a BBJ&K team member, but as a person and a father. Being better than yesterday is always the goal.
Looking back, his advice to his younger self? Be patient as you will get there, be kind to yourself, have no regrets, ask for the things you want, life is short so go after what you want, voice your opinion, but be open to others opinions and different ways of tackling things.
Looking back to 2016, Elizabeth was in her first marketing role building the marketing foundation she brings to her current role here at BBJ&K. Starting from nothing, she helped push her agency into the top 50 socially active recruiters, an experience that ignited her drive for change, measurable impact and clear business results. Now a key part of BBJ&K, Elizabeth brings deep digital expertise and a full spectrum marketing background that spans creative, content, project management, and digital strategy. Leading and growing our paid search service offering, Elizabeth enjoys seeing tangible results for clients – growth that can be directly traced back to work she and her team deliver.
10 years on, her advice is simple: don’t be afraid to go for what you want and speak for yourself.
In summary, from 2016 to 2026, BBJ&K has grown and evolved but what’s remained constant is the people at its heart of this agency. These stories reflect our expertise in industry, confidence built over time, a willingness to take chances, and a culture that values learning, collaboration, and kindness.
As we celebrate 10 years of BBJ&K, we’re not just looking back at our careers to date but how proud we all are of how far this agency, and our people have come and excited to see what the next decade holds.
