In conversation with Peter Kneale, Group Strategy Director, STRAT7
Peter Kneale discusses how the rapid pace of change has highlighted the limitations of traditional agency structures, prompting STRAT7 to develop its own integrated ecosystem, combining big-company robustness with startup agility.
Peter Kneale
Strategy Director, STRAT7
What in a nutshell is the STRAT7 ecosystem?
The STRAT7 ecosystem is the terminology we use to describe the way that we are organised. Instead of a one-size-fits-all agency model, we operate as a connected network of specialist agencies, accessible through a single platform. For our clients, this means seamless access to the expertise, people and technology they need, when they need them.
What inspired the ecosystem approach?
Our clients, mainly! As the pace of change and disruption accelerates, brands increasingly need partners who combine best-in-class expertise with deep, consultative thinking. That’s not always easy to find. With traditional agency models there’s a trade-off. Generalist agencies provide breadth but often lack deep expertise, while specialist agencies offer depth but struggle with scale and integration. The STRAT7 ecosystem bridges this gap.
Why did STRAT7 maintain individual sub-brands?
There are two key reasons. First, agencies like STRAT7 Bonamy Finch (AI and Analytics) and STRAT7 Crowd DNA (Cultural Strategists) have very strong reputations in their respective fields. Keeping these brands allows us to maintain their credibility and recognition.
Second, we believe that specialists thrive in focused environments. By preserving distinct brands, we attract and retain top-tier talent—ensuring that specialist expertise remains a defining strength.
What advantages does the STRAT7 ecosystem offer clients?
While ecosystem-based models are common in sectors like technology or management consultancy, they’re less established in our industry. Many clients end-up piecing together their own networks by working with multiple agencies, but doing this well is challenging and time-consuming for clients.
STRAT7 offers an alternative. Unlike traditional agency models, our ecosystem provides a level of flexibility and customisation that’s hard to find elsewhere. We can build bespoke teams across the group, combining specialised expertise to address each client’s unique needs. This agility allows us to respond quickly to new client challenges and deliver very tailored solutions.
Other agencies may offer breadth or depth, but STRAT7 offers both—seamlessly integrated.
What challenges did you face in developing the STRAT7 ecosystem?
Building an integrated ecosystem isn’t easy. One of the biggest challenges was aligning diverse agency cultures and systems. Creating a shared vision and ensuring seamless collaboration takes time and effort.
We also had to integrate operations across the group – finance, HR, sales and marketing. That meant investing heavily in shared platforms to enable efficiency and scalability.
Another key challenge was maintaining consistent quality across the group. With different agencies bringing different approaches, we had to ensure that everything we delivered met the same high standards.
How have clients reacted?
We’ve had great feedback from our clients, which is really encouraging—it confirms we’re on the right track. Here are a couple of recent testimonials that back this up.
‘STRAT7 have the right people with the right expertise. It is a consistent experience whoever I work with. That is a completely different compared to some of the big research providers where it is very siloed and disconnected. I would definitely recommend STRAT7.’ Multinational company in the transportation sector.
‘I see STRAT7 as one smooth organisation. While I interact with different people from across their agencies, I see them as a cohesive team rather than different companies.’ Global Insurance company.
What other benefits does the ecosystem provide?
Beyond client impact, the STRAT7 ecosystem is driving our own growth. We’re really proud that four of our agencies ranked in the top 20 fastest growing companies in the latest Market Research Society (MRS) RESEARCH LIVE Industry Report!
It’s also accelerating innovation, creating an environment where ideas and expertise can be shared more easily across teams. This collaboration improves efficiency, strengthens the STRAT7 brand, and helps us attract and retain top talent.
How does the ecosystem support professional development?
By working across specialist teams, STRAT7 employees gain broader experience and develop into more well-rounded consultants. Over time, we expect to see more internal mobility—allowing talent to grow across disciplines and ultimately deliver stronger outcomes for clients.
What’s next for STRAT7?
Our ecosystem is designed to evolve, as client needs grow more complex, and change accelerates. We will continue to expand our capabilities through strategic acquisitions, strengthening our expertise and global reach. AI and platform innovation are also key priorities, ensuring we stay ahead of industry trends and meet the changing needs of our clients.
We will also carry on collaborating with selective partners such as data providers, tech platforms, and AI innovators—such as those specialising in synthetic respondents for B2B and pharma research.
