• Matthew Lacey moves into Managing Partner role
  • Strengthened leadership team reflects multi-year strategic plan
  • Life sciences practice established and delivering significant deal activity
  • Impressive deal momentum across marketing, consulting, content and technology sectors

Waypoint today announces a new leadership structure, the result of a carefully planned evolution of the firm, positioning it for its next phase of growth as one of the UK’s leading M&A advisors to aspirational businesses in the “innovation economy”.

Matthew Lacey assumes the role of Managing Partner, with Anthony Harrington and Gary Whyte completing the leadership team, and Waypoint founder Otto Stevens continuing to support across the business.

The transition reflects the acceleration of a plan that has been in motion for several years, bringing together a leadership team with deep, complementary expertise across the innovation economy to deliver market-leading M&A.

The news comes as Waypoint completes a number of deals in rapid succession across the firm’s core client sectors of marketing, consulting, content, life sciences, and technology – with three awaiting announcement. Matt and his team have also led headline-making deals in recent months including the sale of OK COOL to Residence and MENA based Create to Stagwell – both cross-border deals that demonstrate Waypoint’s growing global footprint. The new leadership team has played a key role in building a strong pipeline of live mandates with transactions due to complete later this year.

As part of the transition, Jim Houghton will leave the firm to join long-standing Waypoint client Headland, as Chief Financial Officer, leading Headland’s financial strategy as the business continues to scale its client offer and international capabilities. He will continue to collaborate closely with Waypoint in that role, reflecting the strength of the Headland/Waypoint client relationship built over many years.

Matthew Lacey said: “This is a hugely exciting moment for us, one that we’ve been building towards for several years. We now have a team that’s fully aligned on what Waypoint is and what it exists to do. Our mission is to support ambitious leaders who are building innovative, aspirational, high-growth businesses operating at the intersection of creativity, technology and intellectual capital, and who are seeking a partner to help them navigate critical strategic moments. The pace of activity we’re seeing, both in the UK and internationally, shows just how strong the market is for our offer.”

Otto Stevens added: “When we first brought Matt into the business over 11 years ago, it was clear he had the instinct and energy to be a leading dealmaker, someone who could combine creativity with commercial rigour. Moreover, Matt came to us with a global track record, built delivering deals out of London and LA in the TV production industry. Today that experience is delivering real value given the growing number of US mandates we’re handling as well as giving us a head start as we witness the convergence of marketing and content.

“Over the years, Matt has consistently delivered on that early promise, leading some of Waypoint’s most notable transactions. What we’re seeing is the coming together of our game plan, with a leadership team that reflects where the market is heading and a business that’s well positioned to continue building influence across the innovation economy.”