Joining forces: The story behind the merger of MCI UK and Meet & Potato

Contact < Back to Insights and News

When two agencies merge, the headlines are often dominated by strategy, growth ambitions and leadership soundbites. But what happens once the fanfare fades? In this update, we hear directly from Charlee Gough, Managing Director of MCI UK, and Jon Kelly, Founder and CEO of Meet & Potato, about how things have taken shape since the merger—sharing their experience of integrating teams, nurturing culture, and looking ahead with a renewed sense of purpose.

The road to the right fit

While the merger may be new on paper, the relationship behind it has been years in the making. Jon and Charlee had been in dialogue for over two years, exploring whether a partnership could—and should—work. What began as early conversations evolved into a thoughtful process of strategic alignment.

“There’s quite a lot of run-up to a merger,” Jon explains. “We spent a long time getting to know each other—understanding our values, ways of working, and whether our cultures could genuinely blend. I knew what I was doing was right. Every step felt considered, and every touchpoint since has just reinforced that belief.”

For Charlee, it was about timing and transformation. “I was very resistant to mergers initially. I wanted to grow the UK office organically. But then I met Jon—and it just clicked. The more we talked, the more I understood what the right fit could look like. It came down to culture. Finding people who shared our values and would do the best for the business.”

Their mutual trust and patience paid off—what began as cautious exploration evolved into strategic clarity, and eventually, a merger built not on necessity, but on shared ambition.

Settling in and looking ahead

Since coming together, MCI UK and Meet & Potato are already seeing signs of positive progress—from alignment at the leadership level to emerging collaboration across teams.

“There’s a real sense of shared mindset,” says Charlee. “We’ve taken that first important step—bringing together two teams that are driven by similar values and motivations. Now it’s about building on that foundation and enabling our people to grow and succeed within a bigger, more connected team.”

Jon adds: “What’s stood out to me is how naturally the teams are starting to connect. There’s curiosity, respect, and a willingness to collaborate that you can feel. That kind of energy this early on gives me real confidence that we’re heading in the right direction.”

The focus now is on sustaining this momentum—ensuring the combined team has the space and support to do great work, while keeping the culture and client experience at the centre.

Culture in practice: merging the day-to-day

With three UK offices and two distinct agency cultures coming together, thoughtful integration is key—and it’s already underway. A phased approach is helping teams build familiarity and trust without rushing the process.

“We’re not forcing it,” Charlee explains. “We’re creating space for people to connect naturally—whether through shared meetings, joint planning, or upcoming social touchpoints.”

One such milestone is the summer team get-together — a deliberately informal day designed to spark connection. “Events people are social people,” Jon says. “Give them a moment to come together, and the bonds will form. That get-together moment is huge—it’s when I think we’ll really start to see the magic happen.”

The intent is clear: foster a joined-up, values-led culture where collaboration happens easily, and teams feel part of something bigger—while staying true to what’s made each agency successful.

Learning as leaders

The merger has also been a valuable learning experience for both leaders—offering new perspectives on leadership styles, strengths and the benefits of complementary approaches.

“Jon’s industry knowledge is incredible,” says Charlee. “He’s helped me see how to let go more. I’ve always found that hard—but he gets it. He’s someone I can trust completely.”

For Jon, much of his leadership approach has been shaped by working closely with long-time colleague Karen Clarkson, Managing Director at Meet & Potato. “Karen and I have worked together for 17 years—we’ve built a really strong, intuitive working relationship,” he explains. “And what’s been amazing is that I’ve felt that same dynamic beginning to form with Charlee. She’s sharp, focused, commercially minded and knows exactly what needs to be done. I feel supported—and that gives me the headspace to focus on where I add most value.”

More talent, more possibility
Bringing the two teams together has expanded the talent base in meaningful ways—adding new skills, fresh creative perspectives and deeper operational experience.

“We’ve strengthened what we already had,” says Charlee. “It’s not just about growth—it’s about rounding out our team with even more expertise. The added creative firepower and on-the-ground experience have already made a difference internally.”

Jon adds, “We’ve got a broader mix of voices in the room now. That brings more challenge, more creativity—and a better way of thinking through the work. It’s already changing how we approach things day to day.”

The client response and what’s next
The feedback so far from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. For many, the merger signals not just growth, but greater value, fresh thinking and enhanced delivery.

“Clients are excited,” says Charlee. “They’re seeing new faces, new energy, and new ideas. That’s already making an impact—particularly for some long-standing clients who are welcoming the chance to refresh their programmes and bring in different perspectives.”

Jon adds, “We’ve only just begun to tap into what’s possible. There’s huge opportunity within our existing client relationships to deliver even more—whether through expanded capabilities, broader experience, or just extra headspace to be more strategic. That’s a real shift.”

The teams are already identifying new ways to unlock value—revitalising lapsed accounts, introducing clients to previously untapped services, and shaping bigger-picture strategies that benefit from the combined agency strengths. For clients, the message is clear: this isn’t just a bigger team—it’s a smarter, stronger partner with more to offer.

What success looks like
Looking ahead, what does success mean one year from now?

“For me,” says Charlee, “it’s about full integration. People working across offices, on a variety of projects. Feeling fulfilled. Being the agency our clients don’t want to leave. Because why would they? We want our teams to feel stretched in the right way, with more opportunity, and our clients to feel there’s no better partner.”

Jon echoes the sentiment, adding a powerful global dimension: “Success means confidently being able to say ‘yes’ to any brief. We’ve got a bigger team, a broader set of capabilities, and the backing of a global network. That’s huge. The little black book just got a whole lot bigger.”

With mci group’s international reach, the combined team now has access to a suite of specialist expertise—from strategy, experience design and digital innovation to association management and sustainability. This means clients—whether local, national, or global—benefit from both boutique-style service and enterprise-level delivery.

“We can tailor for any sector, any scale,” Jon continues. “And more importantly, we can do it with heart, creativity, and precision. That kind of global-local blend is rare—and it’s our unique strength moving forward.”

Words of advice for others on the journey
Both leaders are candid about what they’ve learned and what they’d share with others.

“Don’t underestimate the work,” says Charlee. “Have a team around you that supports you. And make culture your number one priority.”

Jon agrees: “Be honest. Don’t pretend. You’ll get found out. Culture fit is everything—and I feel lucky that ours is spot on. The process might be hard, but once you get the keys, it’s worth it.”

Capturing the spirit of the merger
We asked Charlee and Jon to summarise the essence of this merger—what it truly represents at its core.

For Charlee, it’s simple but powerful: “Shared values, friendship, and shared goals. It’s about doing better—for our clients, our people, and ourselves. This merger is rooted in a genuine desire to grow with purpose and to build something stronger together.”

For Jon, it’s about the integrity of a promise. “I made a commitment to our people that this was going to be great. And I only made that promise because I genuinely believed it. I knew it was the right path forward—not just for me, but for everyone involved. And that belief has been absolutely validated. It’s worth it, and we’re just getting started.”

If you’re curious about the benefits of collaboration, or interested in how bringing together different teams and perspectives can unlock new possibilities—Jon and Charlee are always happy to share their experience. Whether it’s about navigating change, exploring creative partnerships, or simply learning from their journey, they’re open to a conversation.

Charlee’s LinkedIn
Jon’s LinkedIn

MCI UK

Charlee Gough ~ Managing Director, MCI UK

Jon Kelly ~ Founder & CEO, Meet & Potato

Great ideas start as conversations

Get in touch