Croud signals next chapter of growth with advertising leader Steve King named as Chair

04/06/2025
Read Time: 1 Min

Croud, the digital-first marketing company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve King as its new Chair 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 the successful investment by 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 platform, 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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 objective over the last 12-18 months to bring in strategic leaders from across the industry. 

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.”

Steve King

Chair at Croud

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 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.”

Luke Smith

Founder & Group CEO of Croud

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.

Rory Nath

Partner at ECI

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