origins
​​What's the story?
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Founded in 2002, the origins of Compass & Co were unorthodox for a strategy consultancy - but shaped the difference our clients rely on.
“A rare combination of creative and critical thinking”
Professor Marshall Van Alstyne
Boston U/MIT initiative on digital economy
Compass began life as a film production and distribution company. Content ranged from Sacha Baron Cohen’s feature film debut to documentaries for the BBC and avant-garde classics like “C’était un Rendezvous”.
But in 2007, “The Ministry of Truth” (for BBC’s Storyville) and the legal threats which followed were a memorable introduction to the world of politics, policy and public affairs.
"Never have so many politicians ducked and run for cover…utterly compelling!"
The Daily Telegraph
By 2013 legal letters were outnumbered by client briefs. Alongside NGOs, Compass was now working with politicians, governments, academics, and corporates - and its true value emerged: Production companies are wired to overcome limited budgets, resources and deadlines with creative solutions; it’s in their DNA - a habitual mindset.
“a pleasure to work with, and always in pursuit of the right side of history”
President Oscar Arias Sanchez
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Applying that mindset to strategy and outcomes instead of production came naturally - even shaping how teams are assembled. Where traditional agencies build teams of strategists and sector experts, Compass also draws on its network of leading creative talent. From authors to film directors and philosophers, combining creative freethinkers with disciplined experts produces strategy for the toughest challenges.
And outcomes beyond the reach of legacy thinking.
“Some of the fastest, most creative thinking on strategy and comms I’ve seen.”