Brand Strategy

Strategy that informs everything else.

Every strong brand starts with strategy. I work closely with founders, leadership teams, and growing ventures to define the thinking that shapes every creative, marketing, and business decision that follows. Whether you're launching something new or repositioning an existing brand, I help uncover your purpose, clarify your market position, and build a focused foundation for growth.

What Brand Strategy Covers

Every brand is different - but the foundations are always strategic. Depending on the depth of the engagement, the process may include:

  • Define your brand’s purpose, long-term ambition, and guiding beliefs - the principles that shape how you act, communicate, and grow.

  • Align your brand strategy with clear, measurable business goals - from short-term priorities to long-term growth ambitions - ensuring every brand decision supports where you're heading.

  • Gain a clear view of your competitive landscape - including key players, trends, and positioning gaps - to identify opportunities for differentiation, relevance, and growth, whether regionally or globally.

  • Define the key segments you're targeting - from their needs and behaviours to their mindset, motivations, and decision-making drivers - so your brand speaks with relevance, empathy, and impact.

  • Define your brand’s unique space in the market - and the compelling value you offer your audience - so you can communicate with focus, stand apart from competitors, and attract the right customers.

  • Define the 2–3 core themes that consistently guide your brand’s story, messaging, and decisions - creating a clear thread between your purpose, positioning, and how you show up in the world.

  • Define the consistent value your brand delivers - a clear commitment that builds trust, sets expectations, and reinforces why audiences choose you over others.

  • Establish how your brand sounds and behaves - bringing consistency, character, and credibility to every interaction, from internal comms to customer-facing content.

  • Create a clear, adaptable structure for your brand messages - ensuring consistency across platforms, audiences, and touchpoints, while making it easier for teams to communicate with confidence.

  • Craft a cohesive narrative that connects your brand’s purpose, positioning, and personality - helping people understand not just what you do, but why it matters.

  • Pinpoint the channels, messages, and actions that will bring your strategy to life - driving momentum in the short term while supporting sustainable growth over time.

  • Equip your team with the clarity, tools, and language to activate the brand consistently - from internal culture to client-facing communication.

LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT

LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT

Choose between two levels of engagement, based on the depth of strategy your brand needs:

1. Core Brand Positioning

A focused, high-impact engagement designed to define your brand’s strategic foundation quickly and clearly. Ideal for businesses on tight timelines, companies exploring repositioning, or teams seeking sharper internal clarity around brand direction.

This approach is rooted in insight drawn from stakeholder input and strategic questioning - not external research. It excludes competitor analysis, audience personas, and market data, focusing instead on capturing your brand’s essence: what it stands for, how it sounds, and where it’s headed.

Includes:
– Stakeholder discovery session
– Brand audit and internal review
– Mission, vision, values, market positioning and brand messaging
– 12-page PDF strategy document with key recommendations

2. Complete Brand Strategy

A comprehensive, research-led engagement designed to define your brand from the ground up with depth, clarity, and strategic focus. Ideal for businesses preparing for growth, entering new markets, or looking to build a fully articulated brand strategy that informs identity, communication, and long-term decision-making.

This approach combines internal discovery with market insight - including competitor analysis, audience research, and industry trends - to shape a clear, differentiated market positioning rooted in both purpose and proof.

Includes:
– Stakeholder discovery session(s)
– Market, audience, and competitor analysis
– Mission, vision, values, market positioning and brand messaging
– Tone of voice, brand personality, and storytelling
– 30 page PDF strategy document with final recommendations

Not sure which approach is right for your brand? I’m happy to provide a tailored recommendation and quote based on your goals.


FAQs

I’m always happy to answer questions during an introductory call - but in the meantime, here are answers to some of the most common ones.

  • Collaboration is integral to creating a brand that truly resonates. You will be engaged at every stage, providing valuable feedback and insights, ensuring the final outcome is a true reflection of your vision and objectives.

  • I ensure consistent communication throughout the project. We will have regular check-ins, and I’m always available to provide updates, address feedback, or discuss any concerns you may have.

  • Yes - once I present your brand strategy, there will be time for feedback and discussion. This collaborative stage allows us to refine key elements together and ensure the final direction aligns with your vision and goals.

  • You don’t need to prepare a detailed brief - I’ll guide the process through structured questioning. I usually start by asking clients to answer key questions during our discovery call, so we capture clear, instinctive responses that reflect the brand honestly. If you have any existing brand materials or background context, feel free to share them in advance - but they’re not essential to get started.

  • Most brand strategy projects take between 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the depth of engagement and how quickly feedback and information are provided. I’ll always set out a clear timeline and milestones upfront to keep everything moving smoothly.

  • I typically structure payments in two equal instalments of 50%. An initial percentage is required to commence the work, with the remaining balance due upon project completion. We can discuss and agree on a payment plan that best suits the scope of your project.

  • I specialise in premium lifestyle, luxury, hospitality, real estate, and F&B brands, with extensive experience across the UK, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Over the past 15 years, I’ve also worked across a broad range of sectors and global markets - and my approach is always adaptable, ensuring each brand receives a strategy tailored to its unique context and goals.

  • I focus on crafting unique and differentiated brand strategies that resonate with your target audience. By combining market research, competitor analysis, and a deep understanding of cultural trends, I ensure your brand has a distinctive voice that not only stands out but also positions you for long-term success.

  • Yes - I work with businesses looking to refresh or rebrand their positioning and visual identity. Whether you're adapting to market shifts, evolving your brand values, or planning a complete transformation, I develop brand strategies that bring renewed clarity and direction while preserving the essence of what makes your brand distinct. Any visual identity work is delivered through my design agency, Klinical, where I continue to lead the project alongside my branding team.

  • Absolutely - in fact, startups often get the most value from brand strategy. It helps lay a clear foundation, so key decisions are made with insight, not instinct. Many early-stage clients find that defining their positioning early on not only sharpens their direction but also opens the door to new opportunities, partners, and investment conversations.

  • Yes - I’ve worked with clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, US, Asia, Africa, and Australia. While much of my focus is on the UK and the Gulf region, I’m open to collaborating with brands anywhere in the world. I’m experienced in managing remote strategy projects and ensure seamless communication and delivery, wherever you're based.

  • Once the project is complete, you’ll receive a clearly presented brand strategy document - designed to act as your internal brand foundation moving forward. It’s built to guide your team confidently, whether or not you choose to continue working together.

    If you’d like ongoing support, I also offer brand consultancy on a retained or ad hoc basis - helping clients refine their positioning, evolve their messaging, or guide internal implementation over time.

  • Yes - I offer ongoing brand consultancy to help ensure your strategy is applied consistently and evolves with your business. Whether you need support adapting your messaging, refining your positioning, or aligning internal teams, I’m on hand to provide continued strategic guidance as your brand grows.

Client Testimonials

"I’ve worked with Marc on multiple branding projects in both Dubai and London, often supporting clients as they prepare for expansion or move into franchising. What really sets him apart is his ability to turn complex business goals into clear, confident brand positioning. He combines strategic insight with creative thinking, shaping brand narratives that feel both commercially sound and visually engaging. Every project has gone above and beyond, and I always look forward to the next collaboration.”

Charlie Mander - Co-Founder / Presman & Colard

“Marc has been a key branding partner for me over the past six years, helping to develop hospitality brands like KOA, Myra, and most recently HAZAL. His approach is thoughtful and strategic, ensuring each brand is grounded in strong positioning and brought to life with clarity and creativity. From naming to identity design, he knows how to make a brand resonate in the Saudi market. His work has been instrumental in creating concepts that feel both authentic and commercially strong.”

Amro Bagedo – Founder & CEO / KRAIV & KAB Holding

“Working with Marc on the rebrand for Global Academy International - a group of successful schools with a rich history, founded by my father - was a brilliant experience. He brought clarity to our thinking, helping reposition the brand with confidence while respecting its legacy. From our founding schools in Qatar to our expansion into Saudi Arabia via franchising, Marc’s insight, strategic focus, and collaborative approach made a lasting impact on the outcome.”

Omar Al Sheikh – Vice Chairman / OWMNYA Holding

Let’s Build a Strategic Foundation That Lasts