Matthew Bullas

Inspirational business leader and digital subject-matter expert with 25 years of professional experience, including 15 years as founder and CEO of Click Consult, a leading search and digital marketing business, acquired by PE-backed Ceuta Group.

Named Drum

Top 50 Most Influential Individuals in Search, and winner of multiple industry awards, including SEO Agency and Organic Team of the Year. Experienced board member who guided sustainable growth, successful exit and earnout of Click Consult; built business from ground up to become a recognized thought-leader with £5M revenues, £1.4M EBITDA and 150 employees, and a client roster of the world's leading advertisers. Expert NED, board advisor, and group leadership committee member for PE-backed and founder-owned businesses, advising on all aspects of strategic growth, including digital transformation, partnerships and acquisition pipeline, brand and business development, and people and culture.

Compelling communicator with the gravitas and diplomacy required to influence, challenge, and provide high-value, independent judgement.

Board Advisor - Aran Ltd (FDL Packaging)

(2021-12 - 2022-12)

Guiding newly acquired £20M packaging manufacturing on transforming digital capabilities, working closely with CEO and reporting to parent board.

Board Advisor - New Reg

(2021-12 - 2022-01)

Advising £5M leading online number plate business on turnaround of their digital transformation, including significant audit and issues management, and development of strategy and business case.

Non-Executive Director - Digital People

(2016-06 - 2017-06)

Advised on strategic development of this boutique international digital recruitment business, including development and execution of digital strategy and capability building that grew business by >80% in one year.

Member of Group Leadership Committee - Ceuta Group

(2018-01 - 2021-12)

Owned by Juggernaut Capital Partners since 2013, Ceuta Group is a global, consumer brand services group of 12 business, with £100M turnover and 450 employees. Ceuta Group acquired Click Consult in 2018.

• Group Leadership Committee: appointed to Ceuta Group Leadership Committee upon acquisition of Click Consult and played a key role in strategic direction of the Group as it grew from £4M to £10M EBITDA (2018 – 2021). Key outputs included new partnerships, and acquisition pipeline.
• Digital Strategy: led digital strategy across Ceuta Group's 12 businesses, establishing digital committee and working extensively with Group leadership, private equity investors, and each business CEO to institute a strong digital presence that rapidly grew engagement and supported EBITDA growth.

Chief Executive Officer - Click Consult

(2003-01 - 2021-12)

Click Consult is a multi-award-winning search and digital marketing agency that specialises in digital strategy, organic search, paid media, social media, content marketing, and analytics.

• ExCo Chair | Strategic, Sustainable Growth: launched Click Consult (2003) and grew business from start-up, exiting to private equity-owned Ceuta Group (2018), and completing three-year earnout (2020), achieving £5M turnover and £1.4M EBITDA in final year as CEO. Chaired Executive Committee, including private equity investors.
• Brand Development: established Click Consult as thought-leader and pioneer, winning >100 awards https://www.click.co.uk/about-us/awards/. Created industry-leading conference http://benchmarkconference.click.co.uk with >350 selected attendees and high-profile speakers from the world's biggest brands. Appointed as judge for the DMA.
• Business Development: won a client roster of leading UK and international organisations across sectors, including Tesco, UEFA, Kwik Fit, Oxfam, Age UK, Zurich, Manchester United, LloydsPharmacy, Regatta, ABTA and more, alongside numerous SMEs, as a driving force of their digital growth and transformation.
• Business Transformation | Cost Excellence: doubled EBIDTA to £1.4M in three years, driving strong business growth and cost control pre- and during COVID-19. Pivoted service units to best reflect areas of market growth, and instituted new workflows and processes that enabled streamlining of FTE.
• People | Remuneration | Nomination: built award-winning workplace with strong employee retention and engagement (70 FTE / 35 freelance). Created robust succession plans that enabled seamless leadership transition at Director and Managing Director level, and ran twice-yearly remuneration process, reporting to Group from 2018.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance: implemented Group corporate governance across Click Consult following acquisition by Ceuta Group, including 100-day integration plan that assimilated core functions whilst retaining Click Consult's brand presence. Ran three external audits with Big Four consultant.
• CSR: embedded strong corporate social responsibility values throughout Click Consult, and latterly worked to align mission and output with Ceuta Group's CSR Charter, with particular focus on sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and employee wellbeing.

Buying Manager, Consumer Electronics & Telecoms - Safeway

(2000-01 - 2003-01)

Led buying activity for >£160M of stock annually, building complex product ranges for stores and negotiating market-leading offers through brands such as Sony, Philips, Samsung, Panasonic, Toshiba and more.

• Project managed implementation of E Top Up across entire portfolio of stores, moving mobile phone vouchers to electronic top ups, coordinating brands including Vodafone, O2, Orange, T Mobile and Virgin.

Regional Space & Range Manager - Safeway

(1997-01 - 2000-01)

Maximised space allocation in >80 Safeway stores in South West region portfolio, analysing sales per square foot by category and ensuring sales footprint was optimised, working with regional, area and store managers.