Croud, the digital-first marketing company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve King as its new Chairman of the Board. King will play a key role in guiding Croud through its next phase of growth — helping to lead with innovation, scale the business, deepen client partnerships, and strengthen Croud’s position as a leader in delivering data-driven marketing.
Steve King brings over two decades of global leadership experience, having founded Zenith in the UK and the US, establishing its presence on both sides of the Atlantic. He served on the Board of Publicis Groupe for more than 20 years, where he led the global launch of Publicis Media and later served as Global Chief Operating Officer.
King takes over from advertising veteran Jerry Buhlman, who steps down after five transformative years. He played a key role in the business as it expanded its reach geographically with several US acquisitions, and across capabilities, acquiring Born Social, Vert Digital and MetaGeni. He oversaw Croud’s growth trajectory which resulted in a successful private equity transition from LDC to ECI in October last year. Jerry will continue to be involved in the business as a special advisor to the Board.
This new leadership appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Croud as it launches its market-leading AI powered product suite powering the new proposition to ‘Deliver a Return on Intelligence’. The proposition fuses its people, technology and AI capabilities organised to deliver incremental and commercial returns. The company has invested heavily in key leadership and new technologies, integrating these into its brand and performance media, as well as creative offering.
He joins Croud, as the company leads with:
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Market-leading tools and technology: Croud OS, a proprietary operating system that’s fully embedded into client delivery and designed to drive measurable marketing effectiveness, with key tools like Brand AI and SEO.Max.
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The Croudie Network: A standout model offering a globally distributed, flexible, scalable resource aligned to marketing plans – a level of sophistication unique in the industry.
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Top-Tier leadership: The recent appointment of Debbie Ellison, as EMEA CEO, Char Hamill as new EMEA COO and Kris Tait stepping up into the new role of Chief Business Officer, having built a strong base for the US business to grow. The appointments follow an effort over the last 12-18 months to bring in strategic leaders from across the industry.
Steve King, Chairman, Croud commented:
“In today’s market, clients are looking for sharper insight, smarter use of technology, and faster outcomes — and Croud is built to deliver exactly that. I’ve worked with global brands through times of significant change, and I know the value of a model that truly flexes to client needs. The proposition to ‘Deliver A Return on Intelligence’ really resonated with me. It’s not just a positioning; it’s reflected in the Croud OS, the agility of the Croudie network, and the calibre of talent across the business. What Luke and Ben have built is both innovative and grounded, and I’m excited to support them and the wider team as we take Croud into its next phase of growth.”
Luke Smith, Founder & Group CEO of Croud, commented:
“I’m delighted to welcome Steve to Croud’s board, he is one of the most respected and forward-thinking senior leaders in our industry. His decision to join us reflects his strong belief in the business, our people, and our ambition. He shares our vision to make Croud the defining marketing partner of the AI-powered era - combining intelligence, creativity and performance at scale to deliver returns for our clients.”
“I want to thank Jerry for his guidance, belief, and leadership over the last five years – he’s been instrumental in getting us to where we are today. His focus on growth and what next for the industry has steered us into an exciting next phase. “
"I couldn’t be more excited to build the next phase of Croud with such a powerhouse of a Chairman. His deep understanding of the market and client challenges will help drive bold decisions and fuel smart growth.”
Rory Nath, Partner ECI, commented: “We partnered with Croud because of its differentiated model, bold ambition, and exceptional leadership — and the appointment of Steve King only strengthens that foundation. He’s one of the most respected leaders in global marketing, with a proven ability to scale businesses and deliver results. We’re excited to support Luke, Ben, and the wider team as they continue to push the industry forwards.”
Founded in 2011 by Luke Smith and Ben Knight, Croud has tripled in size over the past five years. With an ambitious roadmap ahead, the business is entering a new chapter – one focused on becoming the independent category leader across brand, performance, and creative, expanding its footprint in both the US and EMEA. Croud boasts an impressive client roster including AllSaints, Amazon Prime, IWG, Frasers Group, Nespresso, and Prime Video, alongside Born Social’s impressive client list which includes Ford, Barclays and Diageo (Guinness).
