July 10, 2025

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Wonderful

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The Wonderful Creative Agency enters new era as an employee-owned business

Award-winning creative agency transitions to employee ownership with Dan and Claire Maudhub selling majority stake

Executive Summary

  • The Wonderful Creative Agency (Wonderful) has transitioned to employee ownership via the creation of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), marking a significant milestone in its 16-year journey.
  • Shareholders Dan and Claire Maudhub have transferred a majority shareholding to the staff, securing the agency’s long-term independence and rewarding its people.
  • Creative Director Philip Hansen will lead the business forward as Managing Director, backed by a structure that empowers employees and protects Wonderful’s purpose-driven culture.

The Wonderful Creative Agency, a leading UK digital creative agency, has officially become employee-owned, under the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT model).

Founded in 2009, Wonderful has earned a reputation for combining strategic creativity with digital excellence. Its client portfolio spans major national and global brands, including Hyundai, Tesco, GE Healthcare, and the NHS.

Over the years, Wonderful has delivered award-winning branding and UX campaigns – from the digital overhaul of global logistics giant Menzies Distribution, to a global activation for Quandoo, the world’s fastest-growing restaurant booking platform, and the immersive experience design for Festival Manchester, which drew over 65,000 attendees. The agency has been recognised with numerous industry accolades, including Digital Transformation of the Year at the Computing Digital Technology Leaders Awards, and UX Agency of the Year at the UK Agency Awards.

At the heart of Wonderful’s culture are values of empowerment, creativity, and impact, celebrated annually at the Wonderful Summit, a flagship event designed to align forward-thinking entrepreneurs and investors around purpose and innovation. The move to employee ownership reflects and reinforces those principles. The transaction was supported by Initium Corporate Finance and BBS Law, who both provided end-to-end guidance and support to ensure the structure, valuation, and legal model aligned with the long-term goals of the business, and legal structures.

Dan Maudhub, Founder of Wonderful said:

This transaction is about legacy; not just ours as shareholders, but the legacy of the culture we’ve built. Wonderful has always been about people: their ideas, their energy, their purpose. Transitioning to employee ownership is the best way to protect and grow that. It gives the team ownership in every sense, and we can’t wait to see the agency enter a new era of growth and flourishing.

Philip Hansen, Creative Director, who will lead the business going forward added:

This is an exciting new era for Wonderful. Becoming employee-owned puts our values into action. It empowers everyone who contributes to our success and strengthens the bond between what we do and how we do it. For me, personally, it’s a privilege to take the reins at such a meaningful time.

The new EOT board will be chaired by Robert Craven, Managing Partner at GYDA, with Dan moving to a part-time board position, supporting the business with the next phase of growth.

What is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)?

An Employee Ownership Trust enables a company to be owned by its employees via a trust structure. Rather than individuals buying shares directly, the EOT holds them collectively on behalf of the workforce. This model allows founders to exit while preserving the company’s culture, independence, and long-term focus, and it gives staff a meaningful stake in the business they help to build.