Last week, Free Focus brought together more than 40 staff and clients to celebrate a remarkable milestone – 10 years in business. The anniversary dinner was both a reflection on the past decade and a chance to look ahead at the agency’s exciting future.
Founded by Mark Walker and James Hancock in 2015, Free Focus emerged at a time when the creator space looked very different. YouTube was the main hub for digital talent, Instagram was still focused on photo sharing, and TikTok didn’t yet exist. Both founders came from traditional entertainment – Mark as a promoter putting on the UK’s first YouTuber tours, and James at Triple A Media (now Alta Loma Management) managing broadcast and early digital talent. Spotting a gap in the market, they launched Free Focus to provide creators with pathways into the wider entertainment industry.
A decade on, the agency has much to celebrate.
Fast forward ten years and we couldn’t be prouder of what the team and talent have achieved. Some highlights include releasing over 25 books, multiple UK, Europe and US tours, TV shows on every major broadcaster in the UK, a UK Top 10 album, multiple successful businesses, fashion lines, podcasts, and product launches. Even a UK Christmas No.1 single!
– Mark Walker and James Hancock, Co-Founders of Free Focus
The agency has also grown internally. Elle Skinner, who has been with Free Focus for seven years, now leads as Head of Talent, while Harry Young has stepped up as a manager. This month also sees the arrival of new team members, with Daria Tuca (Talent Coordinator) already settling in and Iris Boreman (Talent Manager) set to start shortly.
“The space has changed enormously over the last decade, in many ways for the better with incredible life-changing opportunities not just for the talent but the managers behind the scenes. The culture and community side of the industry has also changed, long gone are the days of the Brits heading over the pond to attend conventions like Vidcon and Playlist and discuss how this emerging industry was to be shaped in the years to come.
– Mark Walker and James Hancock, Co-Founders of Free Focus
Looking ahead, the anniversary wasn’t just a chance to reflect, but a statement of intent.
Our hope for the future of the industry and certainly the management sector is that it remembers what got it here. Creators making great content and managers earning the trust and respect of talent through experience and relationships.
– Mark Walker and James Hancock, Co-Founders of Free Focus
Free Focus is now focused on building its next decade with the new generation of managers and talent – growing, innovating, and shaping the future of the creator economy for years to come.
