Greatest team

Our culture is one of inclusivity, creativity, and positivity, and we believe that happy employees lead to happy clients. With a supportive team and a focus on work-life balance, we have a fulfilling and enjoyable work environment.

3 Peaks walk for Zarach
Happy Team.jpg
Team 1.jpg
Team 2.jpg
Team 3.jpg
Sofa .JPG
Working 2.JPG
Working 3.JPG
Working 4.JPG
Working.JPG

Senior Leadership Team

  • Adam Smith: Product and Product Director at GIG Retail.

    Adam Smith

    ADAM SMITH

    PRODUCT & PROPOSITION DIRECTOR

    Adam leads GIG Retail’s product & proposition offering, providing media, platform and tech solutions for our clients. Adam gained strong experience and depth of knowledge in all areas of media from a career in some of the world’s best media agency networks as well as time at dunnhumby where he led the Media Strategy team and developed new media products and solutions to bring to market for clients.

  • Katharine Stead: People Director at GIG Retail.

    Katharine Stead

    KATHARINE STEAD

    PEOPLE DIRECTOR

    Katharine shapes and drives GIG’s People & Culture to create an environment that is professional and focused whilst maintaining strong people-first values that allow employees to thrive. Katharine has been with GIG since 2015, working in operations roles across a wide range of clients, and continues to provide operational support on key projects. Prior to GIG, Katharine worked for Reed Recruitment managing the Reed Training School.

  • Deborah Davies: Commercial Strategy and Insights Director at GIG Retail.

    Deborah Davies

    DEBS DAVIES

    COMMERCIAL STRATEGY & INSIGHT DIR.

    Debs leads our commercial function and is responsible for partnering with our clients to develop & grow their retail media businesses. Debs joined GIG in 2023 from Co-op, where she held several roles including Head of Marketing & Brand Strategy, and Head of Marketing Insight. Her career started in data science and location strategy; working with global retailers to better understand their customers and develop their portfolio strategies.

  • Erinne Boyes: Operations Director at GIG Retail.

    Erinne Boyes

    ERINNE BOYES

    OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

    Erinne leads the operations department to drive efficiencies through organisation, process and technology for GIG Retail and our clients.  Erinne joined GIG in 2020 and has headed up our sales, media planning and proposition teams. Prior to joining GIG, Erinne spent 15 years working for global media agency networks in client service and media planning and buying, primarily focused on large retail clients.

  • Tom Danks: Finance Director at GIG Retail.

    Tom Danks

    TOM DANKS

    FINANCE DIRECTOR

    Tom is GIG’s Finance Director. As well as ensuring we have robust financial governance, he business partners with our management team to help grow our P&L and to drive GIG’s EBITDA and gross profit. Tom joined GIG Retail in 2015 as one of the first employees, and has held the financial reigns as GIG grew from a start-up to a company with over 100 employees. He has prior experience working at WPP Australia and Key Payroll Glasgow.

  • Tahir Taj: Head of Retailer Development at GIG Retail.

    Tahir Taj

    TAHIR TAJ

    HEAD OF RETAILER DEVLOPMENT

    Tahir leads GIG Retail’s new business development, both in the UK and internationally. His remit extends beyond GIG, unlocking partnership opportunities across the Advantage Smollan Group. Tahir has been working with GIG since 2023, but with the Group and sister-agency Damon since 2005, in which time he has built up a valuable ‘black book’ of C-suite retailer and brand relationships.

Advantage Smollan IMPACT Values - guiding the behaviours of our people.

Our IMPACT values are an intrinsic part of who we are.

Integrity We take our work and our clients very seriously. We believe that honesty and openness are important to a healthy and productive relationship. We are results-driven and always make what we believe to be the best recommendation for the desired objective.

Mindset for growth We have a long track record of delivering growth for our clients, whether they’re an established retail media network or in the early stages of their journey. We never stand still, always striving for efficiency, innovation and excellence.

People at the heart The beating heart of our culture and our expertise. We’re well aware that every business says this, but it couldn’t be more true at GIG - we’re a close-knit team and it’s vital that we have the right people, both professionally and culturally.

Accountability We take pride in holding ourselves and, where necessary, our clients to account. This means challenging viewpoints, claimed facts and figures, behaviour and performance - all with good will and all with the very best of intentions.

Customer centric Everything we do is with the best possible outcome for our clients in mind. We live and breathe our clients’ brands. Only by gaining a deep understanding of our clients, can we make the best decisions on their behalf.

Teamwork We win and lose as a team, but it’s important to recognise outstanding individual contributions. Each week we nominate one another for IMPACT Awards and try to reward our team for going the extra mile for our clients and our business.

  • We've raised over £5,000 for Zarach to help children in Leeds out of bed poverty.

    Read More

  • We're proud to win the Ecovadis bronze award for sustainability, but continue to strive for gold!

    Read More

Corporate Social Responsibility

Culture Club

Running a business comes with a responsibility to create an environment that allows our people to thrive. It is fundamental to the success of GIG Retail that employees feel safe and respected, have their needs and beliefs (and that of their family) taken into account, and have the professional and personal support they need to feel happy and productive.

Our ‘Culture Club’ shines a light on 5 key areas that we believe make GIG Retail a standout place to work, with the benefits reflected in the work we do for our clients and the support we give to our community.

Ecovadis Bronze Award for Sustainability - awarded to GIG Retail.
Great Place To Work Certification awarded to GIG Retail in 2023.
Zarach - Helping children out of bed poverty - supported by GIG Retail.

The GIG story so far…

  • 2009

    Great Ideas Group started in Melbourne, Australia a a strategic retail consultancy.

  • 2011

    With a fast-growing customer-base in the EU, GIG opened its first UK office in Leeds.

  • 2012

    GIG began consultancy work with ASDA Media Centre on opportunities for growth.

  • 2014

    After 2 years consulting for ASDA Media Centre, GIG took on responsibility for core media sales.

  • 2016

    GIG’s remit with the newly named ASDA Media Partnerships expands to include sampling.

  • 2017

    GIG begins supporting Walmart Canada on their next phase of growth.

  • 2018

    GIG’s partnership with Walmart expands to include Walmart US and Walmart Mexico.

  • 2020

    GIG supported brands in their transition to online retail media during the pandemic.

  • 2021

    GIG launched the Poundland Media Centre, and became part of the Advantage Smollan Group.

  • 2022

    GIG launched an end-to-end retail media booking and reporting platform with Walmart Canada.

  • 2023

    Our biggest year so far in delivery for ASDA, Poundland, and for new GIG business wins.

  • 2024

    We’re still writing this chapter. Watch this space…

Let’s collaborate