Yellow Fish founder Maria Valentine has sold the marketing and events agency to newly-appointed managing director Laura Pace after 18 years at the helm.

Launched in 2003, Yellow Fish quickly garnered a reputation for delivering innovative event and marketing solutions, grabbing the attention of big-name clients including Dixons, Samsung, EE and PTC Therapeutics and achieving the accolade of one of the fastest growing female-owned small businesses in 2015.

Whilst the pandemic has brought huge challenges for many businesses, with events and experiential agencies particularly hit hard - Yellow Fish has successfully pivoted, adapting its offer to deliver a number of brand and content-driven projects as well as large scale virtual events for clients including AXA, SITA and PTC.

Valentine said: “Handing over the reins to a business you have built and nurtured, and in an industry I adore, was never going to be easy. But I know the time is right - and more importantly, I know that Laura is the right person to move the business forward, to write the next chapter of Yellow Fish.

“And whilst I will be taking some time to assess some exciting new opportunities - I will remain a part of Yellow Fish, in an advisory capacity, and will continue to be active within the industry I love and I’m excited to have more time to contribute in other areas.”

New owner, Laura Pace, joined Yellow Fish in March last year from London-based experiential agency, Hot Pickle, where she held the role of Business Director.

In the eight years with the agency, she worked across a broad portfolio of household brands including: Magnum, Hovis, Hello Fresh and Campari.

“When I joined as MD, I was bowled over by the extraordinary talent in the agency and the quality of the work. It is hard not to fall in love with a business like Yellow Fish and when the opportunity came up to take over the business, I instinctively knew it was the right decision,” said Pace.

“Maria has built a happy, vibrant creative culture that extends to the long-term relationships we enjoy with our clients. And whilst Maria is leaving some big shoes to fill - I’m excited to continue to grow Yellow Fish, to explore new waters and consolidate its reputation as a leading independent full-service creative agency.”