Optima Partners launches Bristol hub and expands team in London

Optima Partners is opening a hub in Bristol and expanding its London base. The move comes as the consultancy looks to better support major clients across the country.   

Founded in 2013, Optima Partners is a management consultancy headquartered in Edinburgh. Working for many of the UK’s best-known businesses, the firm helps clients to drive data-led customer-centric transformation.

As the firm looks to meet the needs of such clients in the South West, Optima has launched a new wing in Bristol.

The new hub is headed by Senior Millie Peacock, who as well as being an expert in business change, has a background in psychology and neuropsychology, alongside a professional diploma in data-driven marketing.

Speaking on the firm’s growing presence in the South West, Optima CEO Alan Crawley commented, “Optima has three major clients with a significant presence in Bristol – Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest, and OVO Energy. For the first time, we have opened a Bristol hub where our consultants can host customer and team meetings as well as working from home or on site.”

Meanwhile, the firm is also growing its hub in the UK capital. Ramping up its headcount, and expertise, Optima has installed Steve Appleton as Director of Customer Strategy and Engagement, advising business leaders on the strategic use of data, analytics and marketing technology.

The Customer Experience and Innovation team is now led by Ross Robinson, who has worked with clients such as RBS/Natwest, Lloyds Banking Group and Standard Life on using technology to drive better customer experience. 

Crawley said, “In London, where we also work with several of the UK’s best known businesses, we have appointed two new practice leads and expanded our office base, to support our consultants and our customers, as people return to more face to face working.”

Earlier in the year, Optima Partners welcomed Chris Foley to lead its data science team in Edinburgh. Foley joined Optima after spending several years at Cambridge University where he worked in AI and advanced data science techniques to help unravel the origin of many diseases.