Cohere was founded in 2017 when founders Simon and Daniel decided to start a strategic communications consultancy integrating their distinct backgrounds and perspectives to create something new and unusual.

Combining Simon’s background running one of the UK’s most influential communications agencies, and Daniel’s working on mobilisation and movement building for international NGOs, we operate at the intersection where corporate communications and brand strategy meet values-led campaigns and social impact.

It is at this juncture where our shared aims and interests overlap, as well as those of our clients. Among them you’ll find progressive leaders wanting to change the digital world for the better, reinvent our high streets, build a movement for ethical finance or uncover the evidence and insight needed to reboot our economic and social systems.

Our focus is on strategic communications that helps these organisations build their impact and influence, from core narrative and communications strategy, to creative campaigns and content.

We aim to innovate also in how we work, with a small core team drawing on the expertise and skills of a range of specialist associates, allowing us to form flexible and fluid project partnerships, with complementary experience, networks and perspectives.

We also invest our time and resources in a range of side projects, including our non-profit spin off, the Future Narratives Lab.

Our Team

Simon Matthews
Strategy Director

Simon Matthews

An advocate of the growing need to rethink business contribution to society, Simon has spent his career advising organisations on corporate reputation, brand and sustainability communications, working alongside well-known global brands, as well as non-profit organisations, mission-driven businesses and start-ups. Before starting Cohere, he spent most his career at Omnicom-owned Fishburn Hedges, where he was variously Managing Director, CEO and Chairman, leading integrated communications agencies and campaigns across multiple sectors. He studied at business schools in France and the UK, is a visiting lecturer at the University of Westminster, on the advisory board of diversity business Rare and has been a start-up mentor and judge.
Communications Executive

Oluchukwu Ezeofor

Olu is currently finishing her BA in Digital Marketing at the University of Portsmouth, having garnered two years of informal industry experience during her studies. Previously, she has volunteered for NCS London as Communications Manager, freelanced as a Content Creator for The Montana Racial Equity Project, and acted as Campaign Manager for a self-directed fundraiser. Olu hopes to run more projects in the future in order to educate the public about social issues such as equality and racial bias.
Creative Strategist

Katie Arthur

Katie is a doctoral researcher in her final year at King’s College London. She has worked in research and communications roles at the MIT Centre for Civic Media, UK Parliament, UNFCCC, Royal Society of Arts, and BBC. Katie’s PhD research explores how queer artists navigated obscenity law in mid-twentieth century USA. Previously, Katie was awarded a SM in Comparative Media Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a MA in English Literature and Politics, Joint Honours, from the University of Glasgow.
Creative Director

Daniel Stanley

Daniel is a specialist in strategic communications for values-driven organisations. He writes and lectures on Narrative & Framing, has a background in grassroots community organising, and an MSc in Social and Public Communication from the Institute of Social Psychology at the London School of Economics. He founded and led movement-building digital agency Small Axe, working for seven years with many of the world’s biggest NGOs, Social Enterprises and campaigning organisations. He leads Cohere’s work on Narrative Change, and is Founder & CEO of the non-profit Future Narratives Lab.
Corporate Communications

Dan Thomas

Dan Thomas is a corporate communications expert who has more than 20 years experience working in the technology, media and telecoms sectors. Until recently, Dan was Director of Media Relations for BT, the UK’s largest internet service, mobile phone and TV provider. He is also a NCTJ trained journalist who has written for a number of International and UK media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Dow Jones Newswires, Computing and v3.co.uk
Senior Associate

Anna Fielding

Anna is a specialist in economic systems change, and an advocate for social and environmental justice. She was CEO at the Finance Innovation Lab, a pioneering project building a financial system that serves people and planet, is a trustee of the New Economics Foundation, and Chair of the Economic Change Unit.  Anna has been a judge for the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards, Skoll Venture Awards, and Chartered Banker Institute Young Banker of the Year, written for a wide range of publications including the Guardian, Pioneers Post and the New Statesman, and featured in the Women in Social Enterprise 100, Women in Fintech Powerlist, and Brummel Magazine’s Inspirational Women in the City.
Social Innovator

CJ Tayeh

CJ is an awarded innovator and communicator. Her career has been marked by her ability to apply cross-disciplinary expertise to achieve social transformation and behaviour change. She launched her career in human rights law and policy, and then went on to help top-tier companies bring new propositions to market, through both brand and product innovation, spanning a broad range of industries and clients including Deliveroo, eBay, St Mungo’s, NHS England, G15 Housing Associations. Her inquiry areas are financial innovation, inclusive systems design and scalable social impact.