Diony signals next-level ambitions with landmark leadership appointment

Fast-growing performance marketing agency, Diony, has underlined its next-level ambitions with the appointment of a high profile director who brings nearly two decades of experience in the sector.

Laura Hustwit has made the move from industry leaders Journey Further to join Diony, where founder and managing director Alistair O’ Sullivan recently led a management buy-out and invested £400,000 into the agency as part of a modernisation drive and new proposition in an industry undergoing rapid change.

As operations director, Laura will lead the Diony team in looking beyond delivery of services and towards strengthening a new approach to partnerships which has already brought significant results.

Laura has spent more than 18 years building her career across production, digital delivery and operations. Her experience spans digital transformation, client delivery, workflow optimisation and multi-channel project management, with a strong focus on building high-performing teams, improving agency operations and delivering exceptional client outcomes.

Throughout her career, Laura has held senior leadership roles within top agencies, helping to drive operational growth, improve client delivery and support significant commercial success. Having played a key role in scaling departments, implementing transformational operational processes and delivering major client projects, she now joins Diony ready to help lead the agency through its next stage of growth.

Laura said: “Journey Further is a great agency which definitely looks after its people and you can see why it’s known as one of the best agencies. I learned a huge amount during my time there, but ultimately I wanted a new challenge and the opportunity to help shape and grow something in a different environment.”

“Diony has really solid foundations to build on and that’s purely from the hard work that Alistair and the team have put in. He’s built one of the best agencies in the region but in order to go to the next level we have to sustain our new proposition, and continue evolving in what is a rapidly changing environment in the market. Being at the forefront of that is critical to us and our clients, and being brighter, bolder, and braver in everything we do.”

Alistair, who is still only 28, launched Diony in 2017 and now leads a team which supports regional, national and international clients from its offices at the WORX business centre in Hull.

Laura said: “Clients today want far more than just delivery from an agency relationship. They want genuine partnerships, strategic value, transparency and expertise that can support long-term business growth. Across the industry, agencies are being asked to become more integrated, commercially aware and accountable, and that’s exactly where I believe my experience can add real value for Diony and its clients.”

“Alistair and I complement each other really well. We bring different strengths and perspectives, which creates a strong partnership for the agency. My background is heavily focused on operations, delivery and client experience, while Alistair brings the commercial drive and vision, and together that gives us a really strong platform for growth.”

Alistair added: “The idea behind the changes to the business is about driving commercial excellence to clients in a market evolving at pace. Laura is very well known and hugely respected in our sector and brings the next-level knowledge and experience we need as we work with higher calibre clients, and brands pushing for an agency built for tomorrow.”