Supersonic

An independent creative and strategy agency that started in Leeds in 2023 and is opening a Manchester office, working with brands such as Stagecoach, Jet2 and William Hill.

About Supersonic

Supersonic is an independent creative, strategy and production agency whose tagline is "Ideas at the speed of right". It makes brand and advertising work for national brands and has built a client list that includes Stagecoach, William Hill, Jet2, British Land, Dusk and De Vere Hotels. Its Prolific North profile notes that Stagecoach Bus has named it as its lead agency.

Its co-founder and executive creative director, Don McGrath, describes the agency's approach as "smaller, faster, stronger", saying the aim is to avoid the red tape and process that come with growing too big, and to deliver "ideas at the speed of right". Another founder, Ben Bateson, put the same idea as "smaller, faster, stronger", and production director Cat Cronin said the aim is big ideas that work everywhere. We did not find a longer formal mission statement.

Supersonic started in Leeds in April 2023, set up by four former senior people from the agency IMA-HOME: Don McGrath, Ben Bateson, Cat Cronin and Brad Hill, who have over 60 years of experience between them. Its Leeds office is at 2 Mabgate. It is now opening a second office at Michigan Studios in MediaCity, Salford, to be led by Leighton Horsley, a former partner at Cheetham Bell/EssenceMediacom, together with Martin Smith, a creative director who joined from Driven. The team was reported to have grown from four people to 14 senior creatives, strategists and industry professionals, so it is an example of a small agency growing quickly outside London.

A 'Week in My Life' feature describes a close, light-hearted team with a Monday work-in-progress meeting, Thursday team lunches, a shared snack drawer, and an office window overlooking a dance studio where the team once joined an Irish dancing class. A listing in Prolific North's Independent Agencies to Watch 2025 reports that Supersonic shares 10 percent of its annual profits equally among all employees. This is reported from the agency and we did not see it confirmed on its own pages, so ask when you speak to them. Senior hires from other agencies suggest a team built around experienced people.

An agency of this size employs creative directors, creatives, strategists, producers, client and account leaders, and business managers, usually in small teams that work directly with clients. It is a good example of how the North of England has its own creative scene, with careers in advertising that do not require a move to London.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Ideas and campaigns for national consumer brands.', 'title': 'Brand and advertising creative'}
• {'desc': 'Working out the audience and the message.', 'title': 'Strategy'}
• {'desc': 'Making films, content and finished campaign assets.', 'title': 'Production'}

Key facts

• Started in Leeds in April 2023 by Don McGrath, Ben Bateson, Cat Cronin and Brad Hill; Manchester office at MediaCity
• Grew from four to 14 people (Prolific North)
• Clients named include Stagecoach, William Hill, Jet2 and De Vere
• Reported 10% profit share for all employees (Prolific North listing)

Website: www.supersonic.co.uk