The evolution sees its creative, digital and media divisions become one fully integrated agency, and the transfer of a majority shareholding into an employee ownership trust (EOT).

Lane was founded by Ali Findlay in 2008 as a fully integrated agency. Over the years, the group has expanded into specialist divisions spanning creative, digital, brand, content, media, and performance marketing.

Lane Media was founded in 2015 when co-founder Barry Fearn joined the business. Already under one-roof physically, Lane joins a small cohort of Scottish creative businesses to adopt an employee-ownership model.

The EOT model secures the agency’s long-term independence, gives employees a formal voice at board level, and continues its collaborative culture of shared success.

The agency will continue to be run by its group board of directors, ensuring continuity for clients. For employees, the changes bring new opportunities for growth, collaboration and reward.

Under the new structure, the existing leadership team remains in place, with Mr Fearn as CEO of Lane Group, and other directors Chris Bruce, MD of Lane, Ian Duncan, group innovation director and Paul Borthwick, MD of Lane Media, continuing to lead the business on a day-to-day basis. Mr Findlay continues as chair working with the board to implement the new EOT structure and support the on-going growth of the organisation.

Mr Findlay, chair and founder, said: “For me, this is about creating a legacy for Lane. By bringing creative, digital, content and media back together – and by moving into employee ownership - we’re ensuring the agency can stay independent, protect our culture of creative collaboration, and stay focused on clients and performance for the long term.”

Mr Fearn, CEO, added: “Lane’s independence has always been one of our greatest strengths. This move gives us the best of both worlds – long-term stability with the same leadership and focus, and a renewed sense of shared purpose. It’s a structure that reflects who we are: collaborative, forward-thinking and ambitious for each other and for our clients.”

The EOT board will include founder trustees, two employee trustees, and an independent trustee, industry specialist Mark Probert, ensuring transparency and accountability in decision-making.

The shift to employee ownership aligns with Lane’s B-Corp commitment to people, planet, and performance, embedding its values into the foundation of its governance.