Management buyout at Edinburgh brand agency Tayburn

Tayburn, the Edinburgh-based brand and digital agency, today announced a management buyout and the retirement of long'standing finance director Bill Davidson.

Tayburn managing director Simon Farrell. Picture: Greg Macvean

With Davidson stepping down after almost three decades, managing director Simon Farrell, marketing director Richard Simpson and creative director Malcolm Stewart will become equal partners in the firm, which also has offices in Manchester and Istanbul, Turkey.

Stewart said: “This announcement marks the culmination of a carefully planned transition that has seen Tayburn now come under full ownership of the executive team that runs the business.

“We’ve refocused the business, building on our reputation for and ability to help brands tell their stories effectively, by continually strengthening our ability to do so digitally and by embracing the role technology plays.”

The change in its ownership structure comes as Tayburn said it was on track to exceed its first-quarter income target of £570,000, representing a 2.5 per cent uplift on last year.

The agency also said it has won nine of its last 13 pitches, picking up new accounts with the likes of Miller Developments, law firm Pagan Osborne, Pure Spa & Beauty, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Commercial Enterprises and Umega Lettings.

Other clients include brewing giant Heineken, food and drink group Princes, Toshiba and Glasgow-based engineer Weir Group.