One of the founders of a Derby-based digital marketing agency has been named one of the 50 most important leaders in the industry.

Kieran Flynn (pictured above) is operations director at Alphageek Digital, in Friar Gate, which counts firms including Casio, Do Not Age, Tamatanga and Project D among its clients.

He has been named in the Agency Hackers Operations Index top 50 List after Judge Ryan McNamara recognised his talent for leadership and ability to improve, overhaul and rethink the way the agency operates.

Ryan is head of operations at Rise at Seven, a content marketing agency with offices in Sheffield, Manchester, London and New York. He has worked with clients including the NHS, ITV and Public Health England and early in his career co-founded sports branding agency 5or6, working with Usain Bolt, Puma and Nike.

Kieran, who founded Alphageek Digital with friends Art Lindop and Alex Mills, said: “It is always great to have your hard work recognised, but the fact that someone as successful as Ryan McNamara has noticed us is particularly pleasing.

Alphageek has gone through a period of extraordinary growth in the last couple of years and there are no signs of this stopping – we have lots of brilliant new clients to announce very soon.”

He added: “I’m delighted to have been named in the Top 50 list, but it is a reflection of our team’s hard work, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence. It also underscores our continuous efforts to optimise our operations and deliver superior value to our customers.”

The firm has doubled its turnover in the last 12 months, surpassing one million pounds for the first time. In the last financial annual turnover passed £1.2m – more than a 50% growth on the previous year.

One of its most notable campaigns has been for HUUB, a world leader in wetsuits and triathlon and cycle clothing, which drove a record-breaking £1m of Google ads revenue for the firm. This followed a spend of £75,500 – giving a 1,200% return on the investment.

The previous year sales were £160,000 less – against a higher spend of £96,000 – making 2023 a record year in direct-to-consumer sales for HUUB.

The Operations Index is a comprehensive benchmark that evaluates individuals based on a range of criteria including efficiency, productivity, sustainability, and technological integration.

Being named in the Top 50 is a testament to Alphageek Digital’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards in its operations and consistently driving improvements across its processes.