Be the
Clear choice
Clarity is the Strategy
Every version of your pitch sounds slightly different. Your team tells the story one way, you tell it another, and your deck tells a third. Prospects take too long to get it. Investors nod politely and move on. You know something’s off but you just can’t see it clearly from the inside.That’s the positioning problem. And it’s costing you more than you think.
30+ years. Both sides of the table.
I’ve built brand and go-to-market strategies for Vodafone, P&G, Diageo, Mastercard, Microsoft, Selfridges, Sainsbury’s, and 3M. I’ve also been inside a 5-person agency and helped build it to 120 people and £7M+ in fee income.Most consultants have done one or the other. That’s the difference.
Who I Work With
Scale-ups with a complex product and a critical moment coming. A fundraise. A new market. A pivot. Or a positioning problem that’s been quietly costing you for longer than you’d like to admit. I get into the problem with you. I stay until it’s fixed. I don’t hand you a deck and disappear.
Book a Free Discovery CallWhere Do We Start?
Every engagement begins with a free call. No pitch, no agenda, just an honest conversation about what’s going on. From there, we work out what you actually need.
The Honest Hour
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The Honest Hour
The Diagnosis
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The Diagnosis
The Full Fix
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The Full Fix
In Your Corner
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In Your Corner
How it Works
Week 1-2: Find What’s Actually Broken
I dig into your brand positioning, go-to-market approach, and commercial model. The goal is a clear picture of what’s blocking revenue, what’s confusing your market, and what’s already working that you should be doing more of
Week 3-4 – Fix the Most Urgent Things
Sharper messaging. A pitch your whole team can deliver consistently. Positioning that lands with investors. These aren’t recommendations in a document, they’re changes you’ll actually use
Months 2-3 – Build the Roadmap
A 12-18 month plan with clear priorities and a go-to-market strategy built for your team. Not for a boardroom presentation that gets opened twice and forgotten.
Months 3-6+ – Get It Done
I work alongside your team to implement, adjust, and make sure things actually land. I’m in the work with you.
A Selection of Work That Actually Happened
TSW (FinTech) – Africa’s first government-licensed stable coin needed a brand and a story that institutional partners and investors would trust. Built the positioning, the messaging architecture, and the narrative from scratch
Shrap (FinTech) – A revolutionary payments business in a crowded old school market with a sales team saying different things in every conversation. Sharpened the message until it was something they could actually use
YOHO (AI Workplace Specialists) – A fast-moving category that was about to get a lot more crowded. Helped them define who they were for, what made them different, and how to show up before everyone else caught up.
3M Safety Division (B2B) – Maintained market leadership in hearing and workplace safety across the UK. Big brand, high stakes, zero room for vague positioning
Diageo (FMCG) – Smirnoff and Guinness. Two of the most recognised drinks brands in the world. Worked at that scale on innovative sale focussed campaigns
Marketing Agency – Joined the leadership team at 5 people. Left when it was 120 people and £7M+ in fee income.
Every Month of Unclear Positioning Is a Month of Revenue You Didn’t Capture
The deals that went to someone who told a cleaner story. The investor conversations that went nowhere. The sales cycles that dragged on because no one on your team could say the same thing twice. None of that is bad luck. It’s the cost of a problem that hasn’t been fixed yet.
What Clients Say (In Their Own Words)
“Oliver is unabashedly himself. Which, trust me, is a good thing. He’s transparent, hilarious, extremely knowledgeable and experienced. Having Oliver in your corner will be a great thing, as a consultant, sounding board, strategist, and guiding hand to help you get to grips with your business journey.”
“I really enjoy working with Oliver. He brings a wealth of experience, clarity, and candidness that is hard to achieve independently when you’re stuck in the day-to-day running of an agency. Highly recommend.”
“Oliver is a great sounding board, a real creative talent, and has filled several key gaps in our knowledge. I know he will be an asset and great mentor to any organisation whether to provide help formulating business strategy, planning a new media campaign, developing a pitch to prospective clients or investors, or just to sanitise or refine an idea.”
“Oliver embodies unapologetic confidence. With a knack for wit and humour, he effortlessly lightens the mood while imparting valuable insights drawn from his extensive expertise and years of experience. He is the ideal ally to have by your side. His role as a consultant extends beyond mere advice. He becomes a steadfast sounding board, strategist, and mentor.”
“I met Oliver and took advantage of one of his Launchpad sessions. His perspective and knowledge on how I could build my business, from overall strategy to the way my business becomes a brand, was evident. Now, we are working together with weekly sessions to move the plan forward. I felt like my business was stuck in the mud and I wasn’t enjoying it, but Oliver’s enthusiasm, ideas, and support have given me a new lift. My motivation now is through the roof for what the business is capable of achieving!”
“Oliver is one of those rare people who just ‘gets it,’ balancing big vision and pragmatism. He’s a great listener who offers sound strategic advice and a healthy dose of positivity in any situation. Oliver has been instrumental in clarifying our ideas, structuring our value proposition, and preparing our service for launch.”
“Oliver delivered great results for me at the ATP and in Abu Dhabi. The work is creative, good value, and delivers results. Oliver isn’t precious and is a pleasure to work with.”
“Oliver is the real deal – capable of immediately adding value to any project that he’s involved with. He’s a creative and strategic marketer. On top of that, he’s also a top guy, great company, and a mean bass player!”
“Our messaging and core USPs were the biggest part of our recent rebrand that needed work. They were simply not clear enough and were costing us potential clients. We would have struggled to rectify this without the amazing services of fellow creative and strategist extraordinaire, Oliver Russell, whose advice and direction were invaluable. I can’t recommend his Launchpad sessions highly enough!”
“Working with Oliver to shape Together Co’s strategy for our 25th anniversary has been an absolute pleasure and a transformative experience. Oliver has a remarkable ability to draw out creative ideas and inspire fresh perspectives. His engaging, dynamic approach created a space where our team felt energised and confident to explore bold, innovative concepts.”
“Oliver has provided me with clarity and direction on how I can improve my business, leveraging his expertise and understanding. As a business owner, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether your approach is right or wrong. Oliver has helped me better understand my own ‘message’ and how my customers perceive my brand.”