Transaction overview
We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our latest transaction, advising Connective3 on its growth investment from Foresight Group. This significant backing is a strong endorsement of Connective3’s market position, data and AI-led approach, and strong growth trajectory.
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Leeds, with over 140 specialists across its offices in Leeds, London and Manchester, Connective3 has grown into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent digital marketing groups, that helps leading brands such as HSBC, Adobe, and Wren Kitchens grow through performance-driven marketing, underpinned by data and insight.
At the core of its next phase of growth is C3X, Connective3’s proprietary AI platform, which connects data, insight and activation across every marketing channel. By combining human expertise with intelligent technology, C3X enables businesses to make faster, smarter marketing decisions, uncover new opportunities for growth and measure commercial impact with greater confidence.
Ciesco was chosen as exclusive sell-side advisor for its in-depth industry knowledge and extensive global network of senior investors across the media, marketing, and technology sectors.
The investment strengthens Connective3’s ability to deliver data-led, AI-enabled marketing solutions for leading global brands including HSBC, Adobe, and Wren Kitchens, while Connective3 will continue to operate under its existing brand and leadership team.
About Connective3
Connective3 is a Demand + Performance marketing group helping ambitious organisations accelerate sustainable growth through connected marketing. The group combines strategy, creative, SEO, paid media, digital PR, content, social, analytics and proprietary AI technology to connect every stage of the customer journey into one measurable growth system.
Its proprietary AI platform, C3X, enables brands to unify marketing intelligence, uncover new growth opportunities and make faster, more informed commercial decisions.
About Foresight Group
Founded in 1984, Foresight is a leading investment manager in real assets and capital for growth, operating across UK, Europe, and Australia.
With decades of experience, Foresight offers investors access to attractive investment opportunities at the forefront of change. Foresight actively builds and grows investment solutions to support the energy transition, decarbonise industry, enhance nature recovery and realise the economic potential of ambitious companies.
Ciesco’s role
Ciesco acted as the exclusive sell-side adviser for Connective3 and was selected for its in-depth industry knowledge and extensive global network of senior investors across the media, marketing, and technology sectors. The Ciesco team led the transaction from start to finish, generating an exceptionally strong level of interest and led the deal to completion with a UK-based investment firm, Foresight Group.
Testimonials
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“We chose Ciesco because of their extensive knowledge of our sector and the strength of their relationships across the private equity market. They were a trusted partner throughout the process, challenging us when needed, helping us tell the right story, and playing a huge part in securing a fantastic outcome. We couldn't have asked for a better team to have alongside us. Marketing is changing faster than ever. The traditional divide between demand generation and performance marketing is disappearing, and AI is creating an opportunity to connect every part of the customer journey like never before. Our ambition is to build the world's leading Demand + Performance marketing group, combining exceptional talent with proprietary technology to help ambitious businesses grow faster. Foresight shares that vision, and together we're excited about what comes next."
“We are delighted to have advised Connective3 and its leadership team on this transaction. The team has built an outstanding reputation in the digital marketing sector and is generating significant value for the brands it works with. Through its new partnership with Foresight, Connective3 will have the additional firepower to supercharge its already impressive growth. This is a great outcome for the management team, their employees and clients.”
“This investment marks the next chapter for Connective3. What Tim and the team have built – a genuinely connected approach to demand and performance, underpinned by proprietary AI – is rare in this market. Backed by Foresight, we now have the platform and the capital to take that globally."
“Having advised many of the leading names across the media, marketing and technology sectors, we know what a truly exceptional agency looks like - and Connective3 is exactly that. The strength and ambition of Tim, Vin and their management team, combined with a genuinely differentiated, AI-enabled proposition in C3X and an impressive track record of scale and growth, made this a hugely exciting business to work with. That quality came through strongly in the level of demand we saw from investors. In partnership with Foresight, we believe Connective3 has significant firepower to grow, and we look forward to following the next phase of their journey.”
"Connective3 is exactly the type of business we look to back at Foresight – a high-quality business led by an ambitious management team, with a strong track record and clear opportunities for growth. The team has developed a differentiated proposition that combines marketing expertise with proprietary technology, and we look forward to supporting the business as it continues to scale through investment in AI, international expansion and strategic acquisitions."