about & Origins

Working in Agency Ops can be hard; you’re making big decisions every day, often misunderstood, and probably feeling alone and isolated (even surrounded by a team).

about THE OPS COHORT

Born of frustration

“15 years ago, I was working as COO for a well-established Norwich agency. We rapidly grew from 10 to over 50 people, lining up for merger/acquisition with Skive London (backed by Omnicom).

Whilst this was a hugely exciting time, it was also massively challenging – at the centre of pretty much everything, and making big strategic decisions, I’d never felt more alone.

Since starting my agency career (way back in 1997), I’ve looked for an operations community – somewhere I could talk openly, get advice, and feel welcome. The closest I got was manufacturing & ops, which didn’t understand agency life. A truly dedicated 24/7 ops community didn’t exist.

The Ops Cohort was born as a legacy to that guy that struggled as he helped the agency through M&A. Somewhere Ops could turn to for help.

I want our community to provide excellence and legacy to everyone working operationally for agencies.”

Rob Sayles, Founder of the Ops Cohort

Community
Excellence
Legacy

Members include:

TESTIMONIALS

The Ops Cohort Difference

“The Ops Cohort has been invaluable for me. This group has allowed me to safely sense check, share ideas, and receive hints and tips from my peers. These people get what I do and we can all geek out together!”

Sarah McEvoy

Ops Director, Fluro Ltd

“The Ops Cohort is exactly what I was looking for! It’s a perfect group of supportive yet challenging operators who act as a sounding board and promote the importance of the role within the industry. I can’t recommend it enough!”

Ryan McNamara

Head of Ops, Rise at Seven

“It’s an essential network for anyone who works in ops management – a great space to connect with others, share experiences, ask questions and learn. It’s a friendly, inclusive culture that makes everyone feels welcome!”

Vicky Simmance

The OMG Center

“With the Ops Cohort, you’re not alone. The community is great, open, and supportive. You can literally throw a challenge into the Slack channel or bring it to one of the online sessions, and you’ll have a group of Ops people to help you resolve it. It’s great!”

Freia Muehlenbein

Be Reyt Agency Advisory

“Being able to share challenges, ideas and experiences with a mix of consultants and in-house ops leads doing similar work has been priceless. I now have an extended network of genuine, smart, friendly people who I can always call on for a chat, coffee, or something stronger!”

Claire Quansah

Quansah Consulting

“The Ops Cohort is full of the top ops minds from a range of backgrounds, and is genuinely lovely and supportive too! It’s great for anyone looking to progress in their careers, work through challenges with smart people, and be part of a dedicated ops community.”

Laura Jennings

Head of Ops, Fountain

“It’s been a game-changer for me. The fortnightly meetings are a perfect blend of professional insight and camaraderie, helping me tackle challenges with fresh perspectives and a few new friends in the industry. It’s perfect for sharpening your skills!”

Hannah Williams

Ops Manager, Chime

“The Cohort provides an open environment where I can share my struggles, seek advice, and learn from others who have tackled similar issues. The collective knowledge and support I’ve gained from these meetings have significantly enhanced my confidence!”

Manish Kapur

Kapur Consulting

“Agency operations can be a lonely place at times but being surrounded by your own people can help you in so many ways. The Ops Cohort helps bring together the best in agency ops to collaborate, share advice and work towards creating better agencies.”

Reece Matthews

COO, HewittMatthews

“The Ops Cohort is a valuable space for the sometimes isolated people who work in agency operations. The bi-weekly sessions are greatly appreciated, clearly demonstrating how beneficial collaboration is for personal and career growth.”

Luke Platt

Ops Consultant

“The fortnightly sessions come with great topics and plenty of value to take away each time – there’s always a helping hand and useful, actionable advice. The Ops Cohort is special – not trying to be everything, but excellent at true business operational growth and success!”

Katie Szollosi

Quickfire Digital

“The Ops Cohort is a brilliant group of like-minded individuals dedicated to sharing valuable information with those in similar roles. Operations can often feel isolating, but here, you’re never alone. If you’re responsible for agency ops, the Cohort’s for you.”

Tom Wilson

Agency Adventure