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Leeds agency appoints new managing director to drive growth. Leeds-based brand and communications agency, Ponderosa, part of Audience Collective, has appointed Stuart Pond as Manging Director, to support the agency's growth goals for 2026 and beyond. Stuart brings over 20 years' experience in advertising agencies, having worked at a number of award-winning firms in both London and Sydney. He joins from Indica Worldwide where he was Managing Partner. Prior to this, he spent six years at Publicis in a senior role, leading on accounts including Renault, Heineken, Nestle, and UBS. Stuart's breadth of experience has given him a deep understanding of how to build brands and drive sales across a wide range of industries, channels, and audiences. CEO of Audience Collective, Rob Wescott, said: "To outperform their markets, its clients need a strategic partner that can apply creativity across the entire 4Ps of marketing, not just great advertising. "Stuart brings a rare breadth of experience that ensures we continue to deliver on that promise. And besides, with 'Pond' as a surname, becoming MD of Ponderosa was surely meant to be!" Stuart's appointment speaks to a broader shift within the marketing industry. As AI continues to reshape how campaigns are planned and delivered, the real challenge is no longer efficiency alone, but differentiation. In crowded categories increasingly affected by the so-called "wallpaper effect", brands risk blending into a sea of sameness. Manging director at Ponderosa, Stuart Pond said, "I am excited to be joining the agency at a time of strong momentum and growth. I am looking forward to working closely with the team to build on this success, supporting continued growth by delivering highly effective, creative work that drives meaningful commercial results for clients. "Being part of Audience Collective means I will get the opportunity to work closely with the specialist agencies within the group, so that together we can deliver robust and insight driven, creative campaigns for clients." This appointment comes during a period of growth for Audience Collective, with recent client wins including Burgess Yachts, Snap Finance and Leasing.com. This strategic change comes as the group, now a £28m turnover agency, forecasts ambitious growth over the next three years, with plans to reach £40m in revenue by 2029.

Simba and Snap launch flexible finance option. Simba Sleep has launched a new flexible finance option for customers, helping more people access its award-winning sleep products as the brand continues its rapid growth across the UK. The new instalment options, which are expected to drive higher conversions, increase sales volume and improve customer loyalty, allow customers to spread the cost of Simba products through manageable monthly payments. Available online, it integrates with Simba's existing checkout, minimising friction and basket abandonment, while giving customers more choice and control over how they pay. Simba has partnered with Snap Finance to deliver the new payment option, which utilises its inclusive, quick-to-launch PoS technology. The partnership enables customers who cannot access or are declined by prime lenders to access affordable finance, says the bed brand, helping Simba boost approval rates and recover sales that might otherwise be lost at the checkout: "Snap's decisioning capabilities enable approval for over 35% of applications that first-line lenders decline," says Simba. "The partnership reflects a shared belief that everyone deserves a great night's sleep, regardless of their financial background. By triangulating multiple data sources, and incorporating open banking and other income verification methods, Snap's proprietary credit decisioning delivers personalised, risk-based pricing that promotes fair value and financial inclusion, ensuring Simba customers benefit from accessible and sustainable finance options. "Snap's easy-to-install Shopify plugin has enabled Simba to launch with Snap in just three weeks, adding Snap Finance as a new payment option at checkout on Simba's website. Customers who apply for finance from a first line lender and are declined will be offered a second chance to secure finance via a seamless onward journey that introduces Snap. This keeps customers engaged, with a clear route to purchase, enabling them to select Snap at checkout to continue. "Simba will also use Snap's virtual card solution within its CRM channels, including email, SMS and follow-up calls, to re-engage declined customers and offer an alternative route to complete their purchase. The combined approach delivers a smooth and inclusive customer journey from start to finish." Jon Moore, marketing and ecommerce director at Simba Sleep, says: "At Simba, we want to make better sleep accessible to everyone. Offering flexible finance is one of the most impactful ways to give our customers more choice and confidence when shopping. Partnering with Snap Finance means we can reach more people and make it easier for them to invest in quality sleep products, without compromise. "Snap's ability to turn the partnership around and go live in just three weeks was hugely appealing to us, as it meant we could bring this wider accessibility to more customers faster than ever before." Andy Smith, CEO of Snap Finance UK (pictured), comments: "Simba's growth and commitment to accessibility is exactly what our solutions are designed to support. Our technology allows retailers to approve more customers responsibly while improving conversion and average order value. We're proud to play a part in helping people invest in better sleep and a better quality of life. Together, we're helping more people get the sleep they deserve."