Trouble Maker

What Trouble Maker does

Trouble Maker Inc. Limited is a London-based, privately held creative and media agency that delivers integrated marketing services to challenger brands and established global enterprises. Founded in 2019 by Simon Hankin (CEO) and Jonny Grum (CMO), the firm operates with 11-50 employees from its headquarters at Old Sessions House, 22 Clerkenwell Green, London. The agency's service offering spans strategy and creative development, content production (from social-first shoots through TVC and cinema), social media management, paid media planning and buying, and PR, unified under an 'Outsmart not Outspend™' methodology. Customers include Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Scuderia Ferrari, iD Mobile, lastminute.com, Sports Direct, Asahi, ghd, The Perfume Shop, nulo, ZYN, Divine Chocolate, and John Frieda, spanning beverage, automotive, telecom, travel, retail, beauty, and food verticals.

The business generates revenue through project-based engagements and retainer arrangements, with pricing not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise field sales targeting marketing directors and brand leaders, with new business acquired via intro call booking or direct email outreach. The firm produces proprietary content IP such as the COACHED sport content series and the TM 100 challenger brand research report, the latter gated as a thought-leadership lead-generation asset. Notable commercial outcomes include the 2024 Peroni x Ferrari global partnership launch (2.15 billion reach, 20.6 million views, 1 million bottle sales), Peroni Stile Capri launch (84% incremental shoppers, 16% cannibalization), iD Mobile 'See The Light' platform (+6% consideration, +10% awareness), lastminute.com campaign (1 billion impressions, 30% 6-sec VTR on TikTok), and Sports Direct 'Coached' series (£1:£20 ROAS, over £200k contributed sales). In December 2024, Trouble Maker acquired The Outfit UK for an undisclosed amount, signaling inorganic expansion. The agency has been shortlisted for the Marketing Week Awards 2025.

Name

Trouble Maker

Legal name

Trouble Maker Inc. Limited

Website

https://troublemaker.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trouble Maker is a London-based creative and media agency serving challenger brands and global enterprises with integrated strategy, creative, content, social, media buying, and PR services under an 'Outsmart not Outspend' methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative & Media Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital PR & Social Media Communications (MPAAADAJ)

Keywords

• Creative agency services
• Brand marketing campaigns
• Media planning buying
• Content production services
• Public relations services

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Creative Agency Services: Project-based and retainer arrangements for strategy, creative development, content production, social media management, media planning and buying, and PR services for brand clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trouble Maker is a London-based creative and media agency that delivers end-to-end brand marketing services for challenger and enterprise brands. The agency combines strategy, creative, content production (social-first through TVC and cinema), social media strategy, paid media planning and buying, and PR into integrated campaigns designed to drive fame, talkability, and measurable business results. It also develops proprietary content IP (e.g., COACHED) and publishes the TM 100 challenger brand research report.

Product overview

Trouble Maker is a creative and media marketing agency that ignites challenger brands through a combination of strategic insight, stunning creative, and owned/earned/paid media services. Their core offerings include Creative Services (strategy and creative), Content Production (TVC and social content), Social Media Services, Media Planning & Buying, and PR Services. They also produce proprietary content IPs like COACHED and publish the TM 100 research report. Their work spans brand launches, partnership campaigns, and advertising platforms, consistently emphasising an 'Outsmart not Outspend' philosophy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Services Strategy and creative development services shaped around cut-through and captivation, targeting challenger brands seeking distinctive positioning and category-disrupting ideas.
• Content Production Full production services spanning social-first shoots to full-scale location work for TVC and cinema, serving brand clients that need content production across multiple formats.
• Social Media Services Fast-paced, trend-savvy social strategies that prioritise engagement over advertising, designed for brand clients seeking organic social growth and cultural relevance.
• Media Planning & Buying Paid media planning and buying built on customer journeys, delivered with an 'Outsmart not Outspend™' approach for brand clients seeking efficient media investment.
• PR Services PR ideas designed to achieve broad coverage and create cultural relevance without forcing it, serving brand clients that need earned media impact alongside paid activity.
• Partnership Campaign Development
• New Product Launch Campaigns
• Advertising Platforms
• TM 100 Challenger Brand Report
• COACHED Content IP

Quantifiable outcome

• Peroni x Ferrari achieved 2.15 billion reach and #1 share of voice across F1 partners
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• E4 / Channel 4coreGTM or Marketing PartneriD Mobile 'See The Light' campaign included E4 partnership. Channel 4 renamed their partnership package from 'Everyday Entertainment' to 'Bright Entertainment' to accommodate the campaign theme, demonstrating the strength of Trouble Maker's creative platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BBH (Bartle Bogle Hegarty): Iconic London creative agency with global network offering integrated brand-building services. Comparable on creative heritage and challenger brand pedigree, though larger and more established.
• The&Partnership: London-headquartered integrated agency combining creative, media, and technology services. Comparable on integrated creative+media offering and challenger brand work for major UK and global clients.
• Mother: London-based independent creative agency of similar scale with an integrated creative, content, and media offering for challenger and enterprise brands. Closest direct comparable on positioning, scale, and integrated service model.
• Anomaly: Independently-owned creative agency with integrated brand strategy, creative, content, and media planning capabilities for ambitious brands. Comparable on integrated service model and challenger brand orientation.
• Droga5: Independent creative agency with integrated creative, media, and production capabilities serving challenger and established brands globally. Comparable on integrated model and bold creative reputation.
• Uncommon Creative Studio: London-born independent creative agency focused on challenger brands with integrated creative and brand-building capabilities. Highly comparable in size, philosophy, and target client segment.
• Wieden+Kennedy: Independent creative agency known for iconic challenger brand campaigns and integrated creative/media services. Comparable on independent integrated agency model and brand-building reputation.
• Lucky Generals: Independent London creative agency with a challenger brand heritage and integrated campaign capabilities spanning creative, content, and media. Closely comparable on positioning and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Adam & Eve/DDB: Major London-headquartered creative agency within the DDB Worldwide network offering full-service creative and integrated campaign work. Comparable on UK creative agency positioning but broader scale and network backing.
• Havas London: London arm of Havas Creative Network offering integrated creative, media, and content services. Comparable on integrated offering for challenger and enterprise brands but operating within a larger global holding company.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/troublemakeruk
• Instagraminstagram.com/troublemaker

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trouble Maker