Champions Speakers Agency has announced its acquisition of SpeakOut, an award-winning entertainment and keynote speakers agency with a distinguished history in the industry.
Established in 1985, SpeakOut is widely regarded as one of the UK’s most trusted speaker agencies, with offices in London and Edinburgh and over 40 years of sector experience. Under the new arrangement, the agency will operate as part of Champions Speakers Agency, consolidating Champions’ status as Europe’s largest keynote speaker bureau.
As part of the agreement, SpeakOut’s founder, Kenny Donaldson, has been appointed Head of Entertainment and will oversee operations across Champions’ London, Loughborough, and Dubai offices.
The acquisition highlights Champions Speakers Agency’s continued growth ambitions and underlines its dedication to maintaining a leading role in the sector.
Despite external market pressures, Champions Speakers Agency has delivered robust financial performance and is currently pursuing a large-scale recruitment programme to further strengthen its workforce.
Donaldson, a well-respected figure within the industry, brings a wealth of experience gained through four decades of working with an array of clients and entertainment professionals.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mr Donaldson said: “I am delighted to announce SpeakOut has taken a substantial leap forward and will now be run under the umbrella of the UK’s largest speaker bureau.
“This will provide a massive increase to the talent SpeakOut has access to. I’m very excited and energised by the opportunities this will present for the clients, some of whom I’ve had the pleasure to work with across four decades. I’m looking forward to taking on a new role as Head of Entertainment as part of a brilliant, innovative and forward-thinking team at Champions.”
Jack Hayes, Director at Champions Speakers Agency, added: “This is a key chapter in our growth story, and we’re delighted to welcome SpeakOut into the Champions family. Kenny is one of the most knowledgeable and respected professionals in our sector, his own story of how he’s grown SpeakOut is truly inspirational. He’s a legend in the industry and his arrival at the Champions Speakers Agency will be a huge benefit to both our clients and our team, and will help to make us even bigger and better.”
