Veterinary PR and marketing agency Companion Consultancy has become employee-owned, 22 years after the agency was set up by founder and vet Susan McKay. 

The agency will now be owned by an Employee Ownership Trust on behalf of all its employees. 

The agency has also appointed two veterinary surgeons and currently Senior Account Managers at the agency, Fi Farmer and Katy Ellison to the Board of Directors from July. Senior Account Manager Jenny Langridge becomes a Trustee Director, representing the interests of employees on the Trust Board. 

As this transition unfolds, Susan will gradually reduce her involvement in day-to-day operations but remains a Director on the Board and a Trustee Director for the Trust. 

She said: “I’m delighted that this change rewards our hard-working team, delivering long term stability and continuity, while also enabling them to help steer our future. Our new Directors ensure that leadership of the agency remains in the hands of the veterinary profession and I know that both will hold true to our values, respecting the many long standing relationships we have within veterinary and pet communities.”

Complementing its core services across PR, marketing and digital, Companion Consultancy has expanded its reach over the last decade through sister brands Veterinary Woman and Companion Design Studio which blends graphic and multimedia design and veterinary expertise. Veterinary Woman continues to work to champion female leadership and to raise awareness of issues such as menopause and equal opportunity within the veterinary profession with a following in excess of 17,000.

Employee Ownership Trusts have proved to be an increasingly popular model with veterinary practices according to Baxendale Employee Ownership, the consultancy who supported the agency through the transition.  

Katy Ellison said: “Employee ownership gives everyone a stake in the future of the company. We have a fantastic team at Companion Consultancy and it is exciting to know that everyone can share in our collective success, while also ensuring our high standards and commitment to our clients stay strong well into the future.”

Fi Farmer commented: “We are all extremely proud of the work we do at Companion Consultancy and share our thanks to Susan, not only for the way she has led the company over the past 22 years, but for her decision to hand the reins over in this way. Moving forward as an employee ownership is a perfect fit for our dedicated team, and we are all looking forward to the future.”

Susan McKay added: “I am so very proud of the business I’ve been able to create with the dedicated and talented individuals I work with every day. Knowing that our clients can also continue to work with Companion Consultancy decades from now is really exciting.”