Meet Tech Trailblazer - Warren Jacobs
Meet ActiveWin co-founder Warren Jacobs
Brief background\early life.
Although I’m a native Glaswegian, I joined the IDF Special Forces unit in 1997. After being honourably discharged in 2000, I went on to work for General Motors because of my love for fast cars whilst simultaneously earning my degree in Business Management from Manchester University in the evening.
How did you get into digital marketing?
In 2003, I moved to an agency called The Nation Traffic as Head of Media to lead the PPC, media buying and affiliate teams. Within ten years, we built the business up from a start-up to selling it for £280m to Playtech Plc. After that, I was ready to start my own business.
How was ActiveWin started?
We launched in 2013, with a team of three after Fred Done invested in me. Within six months, I was able to fully return the investment, and Fred and I have worked closely on multiple businesses as partners since then. He’s a trusted advisor, investor and friend.
What makes ActiveWin different from other digital marketing agencies?
I don’t know of any other agency launching their own brands, which is where our extensive knowledge comes from. We know what works in digital because we test theories for in-house brands, and then use those learnings to design killer campaigns for clients.
What has ActiveWin achieved so far?
We have over 140 staff now, with further hires planned for 2020. Over the years, we have meticulously honed our skills, and that hard work had paid off because in the past few months we have won awards and shortlisted for even more.
What else are you working on at the moment?
There are several joint ventures launching where I serve as a director, investor and board member, while also juggling the development of new technology, which should be game-changers for us.
Near future plans for the business?
Since 2014, we have leveraged ActiveWin’s expertise to successfully incubate 14 different businesses across several verticals. In 2020, we will re-focus our energies on the ActiveWin business. We are already off to a blinding start, after adding new mega-brands in sports and e-commerce. It should be our best year yet!