Strategic consultancy Given merges with sustainability group Anthesis

Sustainability consultancy Given has merged with international firm Anthesis. The news comes as global businesses are increasingly coming under scrutiny for gaps in their purpose-driven strategies.

Founded in 2009 by a group of friends that wanted to inject new thinking into ESG topics at major businesses, Given is a professional services firm that focuses exclusively on purpose-led brands. With a team of around 50 staff, the consultancy works with businesses to develop their environmental and social ‘purpose’ strategies.

In recent years, this has seen the London-based firm rack up a number of industry accolades. These include the Corporate Content Awards' Best Purpose-Driven Content Gold Medal, for Given’s work with IKEA; and the Corporate Comms Award for ‘Best Embodiment of Corporate Purpose’ in acknowledgement of its collaboration with Lloyds Banking Group. This growing profile has attracted Anthesis – which like Given, boasts B Corp status – as it seeks to bolster its offering to clients in meeting sustainability goals.

Anthesis has offices in Andorra, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Middle East, the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the US. And in recent years, it has been expanding that offering by way of a sustained M&A campaign. In 2023 alone, the firm welcomed sustainability firms Progressive, Revolt and Buzzword into its ranks.

Speaking on the firm’s latest acquisition, Stuart McLachlan, CEO of Anthesis, commented, "Given is recognised as one of the pioneers of purpose as a business strategy, helping to unite organisational stakeholders to harness greater meaning through mission, and to drive better outcomes and performance. With our growth in purpose-led strategy and transformation, backed by our science-based expertise, we can help more clients move purpose from a ‘nice to have’ to an essential creator of business value. Given has demonstrated the power of purpose for many years with some of the world’s biggest brands. We are very excited to bring this experience and expertise into Anthesis and our broader client relationships."

A release from Anthesis further noted the deal “reinforces Anthesis' belief that purpose driven strategy combined with robust sustainability capability will help organisations and brands to build distinctive, impactful, high-performing businesses”. The combined firm now hosts more than 1,400 strategists, innovators, and technical specialists, making it a leading global specialist in guiding clients on their journey to the sustainable business models of the future. At the same time, by joining Anthesis, Given opens up new opportunities to reach clients around the world – and to help them as part of a more holistic sustainability journey.

Becky Willan, co-founder and CEO of Given, added, “Purpose is the foundation of sustainable performance - purpose-driven companies attract and retain the best talent, are more innovative and build more trusted and distinctive brands. But unlocking the benefits of purpose requires business-wide transformation. That’s why we’re so delighted to be joining Anthesis, to offer unparalleled expertise and scale to support clients at every stage of the journey – from defining a true North Star to guide their business, to delivering real change and impact with the urgency the world needs.”