Business Matters caught up with Steven George-Hilley, founder of technology and fintech specialist PR agency Centropy, as the company celebrates seven years of trading.
Steven discusses the challenges of scaling up a global PR agency global comms consultancy with offices in London and California, and managing international campaigns for challenger brands.
What do you currently do?
I am co-founder of Centropy PR, a global B2B tech and fintech specialist agency. We work with a diverse portfolio of clients, covering areas such as international payments, FX, cyber security, analytics, and cloud.
Our HQ is based at The News Building opposite The Shard, and we have a fast-growing US office in San Diego, California. We work with challenger brands, scale-ups and FTSE-listed businesses.
What was the inspiration behind your business?
I’ve always been fascinated by the role technology can play in transforming businesses and public services. Once upon a time, B2B technology was considered ‘niche’ – something confined to the back office. Now technologies like AI and analytics are at the very top of the boardroom agenda and impact all of our daily lives.
Our mission is to work with ambitious companies to elevate their profile in across the media, developing their messaging and helping them engage prospective and existing customers. Many of the clients we work with are delivering fantastic solutions for customers, our job is to help them get that message out there!
What defines your way of doing business?
Client service is our USP – we pride ourselves on delivering eye-catching and energetic campaigns that impress clients and their stakeholders. Many new clients approach us because their existing PR team isn’t delivering results and taking their relationship for granted.
Our team has extensive media connections and the ability to develop compelling stories that drive real results for our clients.
What do you admire?
I admire people who stick to their principles and to the facts. There is a lot of hot air in the PR industry, but our business is built on dedicated client service and tangible results.
We never promise something that we cannot deliver, and each and every team member is 100% committed to delivering amazing work.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
We’re now a global team with a booming portfolio of international clients. For the first few years, due to having young children and the shock of the Covid pandemic, I was far too cautious.
Our agency has seen double-figure growth year on year, and we intend to ramp things up massively over the next five years.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in PR?
Relish every aspect of the job, from flagging the press coverage to researching the messaging, in PR you have the world at your feet. Develop your skills every day, if you spot a weak area, improve it. Believe in yourself and go the extra mile!
