Damian Bentley: Snowball

Damian Bentley
Age: 32
Company: Snowball

Life is good for Bentley. His club, Chelsea, are Premier League champions. Roman Abramovich is a client – albeit on a relatively small scale – and his direct marketing agency has recorded 300% or more growth in the two years since he and two others set it up. The nine-person London business’ luxury brand clients include Alfred Dunhill, Bang & Olufsen, and home fitness specialist Technogym. Turnover already stands at £2.2m and is expected to rise significantly as its scientific data profiling, targeted mail, advertising campaigns and organisation of exclusive events continue to entice top clients to take initially UK work global.Within five years though Bentley, who owns 40% of the business, expects to exit, with its client list sure to draw interest.

2017 update:

Snowball realigned its sister agency Tangent Direct under its brand in 2010, doubling the size of its operation and rebranding as Tangent. The company is now 150 strong and counts blue chip organisations such as Microsoft, SAP, Sky, PepsiCo, L’Oreal, Wolseley and The Labour Party. Bentley stepped away from Tangent in 2013 and started a new agency, 450 Blue, focused purely on the luxury good sector.