We're delighted to announces the appointment of Jeremy Summerfield as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Julia Dell as Chief People Officer (CPO).
Jeremy joins Croud with extensive experience across agency, technology and private-equity-backed businesses. Most recently he was CFO at data platform Dynata, where he helped scale the business and double the company's revenue. This followed senior finance roles at WPP and Ogilvy. He will work closely with Founder and Global CEO Luke Smith, the Board and ECI Partners to strengthen financial foundations and support disciplined, scalable growth.
Julia brings more than 25 years’ experience leading people and transformation across international, data-driven and creative businesses. She has consulted and held senior roles at several media organisations, including Channel 4, Channel 5, Deluxe Entertainment, Viacom and Yahoo. As CPO, she will partner with the leadership team to foster a transparent, supportive culture, create clear career pathways, and ensure employees feel valued and empowered to unlock their potential.
Luke Smith commented, “As we enter our next phase of growth, strengthening our functional leadership is critical to our continued success. Croud is, at its core, a people and technology business; while our technology drives innovation, it’s our people who make the difference every day. Jeremy brings outstanding experience across agency, data and private-equity-backed business, while Julia’s deep expertise in people strategy and talent development will be instrumental in ensuring our teams continue to thrive.”
“I am excited to welcome Jeremy, following a rigorous process to find the right leader for our finance organisation as we embark on our next chapter. Julia has been working with us in an interim capacity for the past few months, during which she has made a significant impact on our business. It was clear to all of us that she should join us on this journey permanently. Both Jeremy and Julia share a collaborative leadership style that aligns strongly with our culture.”
Commenting on his appointment, Jeremy said: “Croud is a genuine disruptor and a true first mover in technology and AI, with a market-leading proposition. Its highly differentiated Croudie Network, proprietary CroudOS platform and advanced AI capabilities together create a proposition that is truly unique in the industry. I’m excited to partner with Luke, the ECI team and senior leaders across Croud as we scale with confidence and deliver sustainable, long-term growth for both the business and our clients.”
Julia commented, “I’m excited to be joining Croud at such a pivotal time. What drew me here quite simply are the people. There’s a genuine sense of ambition, collaboration and kindness, and I’m passionate about creating an environment where everyone feels supported, valued and able to perform at their best. I’m looking forward to working closely with the leadership team to build clear career pathways, recognise the brilliant work happening every day, and help enable the next phase of growth.”
Their appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Croud. Following investment from ECI Partners in late 2024, we've strengthened the agency's leadership team and launched Agentic Croudies and CroudOS, its proprietary AI-driven operating system powering media and creative intelligence. With recent client wins including Buyagift, ChapStick and ITV, Croud enters 2026 with strong momentum.
