Green Square advises Given on its acquisition by Anthesis

28th March 2024

We are delighted to have advised the brilliant team at award winning strategic consultancy Given on their acquisition by Anthesis, the largest group of dedicated sustainability professionals globally.

The acquisition further reinforces Anthesis’ belief that purpose driven strategy combined with robust sustainability capability will help organisations and brands to build distinctive, impactful, high-performing businesses. With 1,400 strategists, innovators, and technical specialists, Anthesis is now recognised as the leading global specialist in guiding clients on their journey to the sustainable business models of the future.

Founded in 2009 by co-founder and CEO Becky Willan, Given’s London-based team of 50+ experts work with C-Suite decision makers to define, embed and activate purpose, to achieve sustainable, long-term growth. Recent industry accolades 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.

Aligned as B-Corps and uniting behind a common purpose of guiding clients to sustainable performance, Given joins other market-leading teams that have recently joined the group, including global purpose specialist Revolt, impact-led creative change agency Charles cannon, and prominent growth and innovation consultancy, Progressive.

On this announcement, Stuart McLachlan, CEO of Anthesis, said “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.”

Becky Willan, CEO & Founder and Ben Hayman, Executive Director of Given commented:

“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.

We had been approached by several potential acquirers and were uncertain how to establish suitability and whether we would benefit from a wider market process. Green Square quickly understood our business, people and culture, and worked with us to determine the best fit for Given and its team on a strategic and personal level. Working closely with our team, they negotiated an outcome that was great for all parties involved. Andrew and the Green Square team were a pleasure to work with and we always felt they were on our side, working openly with other advisors, and the buyer, to find solutions to the inevitable challenges that arise during this type of process.”

Ben Hayman, Executive director, Given added “Green Square’s clarity and direction made a real difference to how all of us experienced the process and, critically, their expertise enabled us to get a better deal.”

Andrew Moss, Partner at Green Square, commented:

“It was an absolute pleasure to work with Becky, Ben, Jason and the team at Given. It’s rare to come across such a well-developed business that has not only maintained its lead in its chosen field of expertise, but also retained its strong entrepreneurial culture. It was this and the unrivalled understanding of Purpose by the Team that made Given so attractive to Anthesis, itself now taking the global lead on the Purpose and Sustainability agenda. A meeting of minds, strategy and chemistry will greatly benefit Given’s clients’, provide growth opportunities for the Given team, and drive international expansion. We look forward to seeing the continued success of both parties during the next stage of their journey.”

Anthesis

Given

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