Magnetic has returned to independent ownership after completing a management buy-out, with the B Corp-certified innovation and design company saying the move gives it greater focus and freedom as it enters its next phase.
The London-based business said it is best placed to thrive independently, preserving the pace and working style it sees as central to its offer. Magnetic described that model as working hands-on, moving quickly, and using design to solve complex problems for clients across multiple sectors.
Its client list includes Mars Wrigley, PepsiCo, Bupa, HSBC, Legal & General, Kingfisher Group, Innovate UK, the National Physical Laboratory, and Google. Those organisations span consumer goods, healthcare, financial services, research, and technology, reflecting the breadth of work Magnetic has built around innovation and design challenges.
As part of the buy-out, CEO Jenny Burns will lead the business alongside Managing Director Jason DaPonte, Impact Director Conor McNicholas, and Marketing Director Amelia Shepherd. Magnetic said the leadership team combines long-standing experience inside the company with broader expertise across innovation, culture, brand, and commercial growth.
“Magnetic has never tried to be a traditional consultancy. We’ve always believed the best work happens close to the problem. Independence gives us the clarity and pace to operate that way – experienced people bringing energy to complex challenges, helping organisations get unstuck and building a consultancy that’s human, collaborative and focused on positive impact,” said Jenny Burns, CEO of Magnetic.
The transaction keeps control of the business with the executives already leading it. Magnetic is presenting the change as a way to sharpen decision-making and maintain the delivery model it has developed with clients. The company’s B Corp certification remains a central part of that position, linking its commercial work with a stated focus on positive impact.
The new ownership structure also gives the wider leadership team a clearer role in shaping the company’s next stage. Burns, DaPonte, McNicholas, and Shepherd now form the core group steering the business as it builds on existing client relationships and looks to sustain momentum in innovation and design work.
Magnetic said the buy-out marks the start of its next chapter and that it will continue helping organisations move through complex change. The announcement did not set out new financial targets or expansion plans, but it made the company’s direction clear: independent ownership, continuity in leadership, and a consulting model built around pace, collaboration, and practical problem-solving.
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