Who
we are.

Founded by brothers Ted and Olly Holden along with their late father Peter, our history dates back to the advertising heydays.

But today Holdens is more than just a name, it’s a mindset. A restless curiosity, a relentless pursuit of big ideas and a reverence for all things creative.

Our
leadership team.

Ted Holden

Ted Holden

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Ted co-founded the agency and has more than 20 years of experience in the world of advertising and marketing. He leads on brand and marketing strategy for our clients. Past and present clients include Heritage Great Britain, Banner, PUMA, Safestyle, AIG and Pizza Express.

Olly Holden

Olly Holden

Co-Founder & Production Director

Olly oversees production and delivery, from AR and VR experiences to websites and multi-faceted above-the-line campaigns. He collaborates with our creative and production teams, clients and external suppliers to coordinate every detail and ensures the successful execution of the work.

Daniel Thompson

Daniel Thompson

Creative Lead (Design)

Daniel has more than 11 years of experience working on the full spectrum of creative projects, from branding and digital to illustration and campaigns. With a passion for the big idea, he helps start-ups and global brands connect with audiences through beautiful design and craft.

Ryan Owen Gibson

Ryan Owen Gibson

Creative Lead (Copy)

Ryan has been with the agency for 4 years and has more than 10 years of agency experience writing for TV, radio, outdoor, digital and social. Past clients include PUMA, Crown Paints, Yeo Valley, Vets4Pets and Safestyle.

In-house specialists,
global scale.

We have an in-house team of thinkers and doers across every specialism, supported by a global network of freelancers and creatives that we collaborate with to give brands a competitive advantage in specific markets and territories.

Together, we blend creativity with smart strategy and emerging technology to stay at the forefront of how brands connect with people in an ever-changing world.

Some of our
achievements & awards.

Cannes Lions - Holdens Agency
RIBA Award Winner - Holdens Agency
The Drum - Holdens Agency
Awwwards.com - Holdens Agency
Prolific North - Holdens Agency
UK Agency Awards - Holdens Agency
Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients  Clients 
Aardman
AIG
Estee Lauder
Inspace Fitness
We Are Cow
Keepmoat
National Trust
Bruntwood
Puma
Heritage Great Britain
Le Labo
Allied London
WSP
New Vic Theatre
Pizza Express
Burger King
CA Ventures
Banner UK
Harrison Street
Land's End Landmark
Edinburgh Weavers
The Loch Ness Centre
Utopi
Renaker
Snowdon Mountain Railway
RLB
Big Fang Collective
Yard and Coop
The Needles
DLC Europe
Our studio in Manchester's NQ
Holdens Agency
Just look for the h.
Holdens Agency
Our Berlin studio space
Holdens Agency
MCR's ever changing skyline
Holdens Agency
Our home in Barcelona
Holdens Agency
Setting the tone with some beats
Holdens Agency
Holdens Agency
Holdens Agency

An agency built on big ideas & stood on the shoulders of giants.

Our
history.

Peter Holden - Holdens Agency

Rich in history
& heritage.

Our approach is firmly rooted in tried and tested thinking. Pioneered by our late, great co-founder Peter Holden, a true creative heavyweight with ideas as big as his beard and the first Manchester ad man to win a Cannes Lion award.

He made his name in the 70s at Royd's (now McCann Manchester), helping it to grow into the UK's biggest agency outside of London, before branching out on his own in the mid-80s to form what would later become the Holdens we know & love today.

Peter Holden (bottom right) directing a Viscount Biscuits TV commercial back in the 1970s.
Holdens Agency
Peter delivering a talk on creative thinking at PUSH festival, HOME in January 2018.
Holdens Agency
Holdens Agency
Peter delivering fresh ideas around the Northern Quarter on his bike in August 2016.
Holdens Agency
Peter on the set of a Girobank TV commercial in the 1970's.

Looking for an agency to grow your brand? We were born ready.