Econify has been shaping the industry since 2001, building a stellar reputation with major names like Bloomberg, NBC, Hearst and The Economist. With rapid growth underway, Econify needed a high-performing UK team that blended permanent and contract hires for maximum flexibility.
Econify
Expanding into the UK with Propel's Support
Econify, a leading media-specialised software engineering consultancy, turned to Propel to power its UK expansion. Propel guided them through critical hires, including a Commercial Director and contract engineers, with a meticulous, human-centred approach that ensured the right fit and a seamless process.
The Challenge
Expanding into a new market is no small feat, and moving into the UK meant Econify faced a couple of hurdles they needed to overcome:
Building Connections in the UK:
Unlike their well-established network in the US, Econify didn’t have a strong client base in the UK media space. They needed someone exceptional to bridge that gap.
Critical Hires:
The team needed a Commercial Director to lead their UK growth strategy and skilled Engineers to deliver on a growing project pipeline.
Defining Roles:
The Commercial Director position was brand-new, so defining the role became part of the challenge.
That’s where Propel came in, ready to turn these challenges into exciting opportunities.
The Solution
Hiring a Commercial Director:
After a blended ‘meet and greet,’ Propel kicked things off with a collaborative workshop to get to the heart of Econify’s goals, needs, and challenges.
The Econify team were candid about the fact they weren’t entirely sure what they needed for this role, so Propel stepped in to guide them through the process of defining it, helping them shape the role into something that aligned with both their immediate needs and long-term goals.
Aaron Williams, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), said it best:
"Propel helped us package our search into actual people rather than just a job description."
Samantha, Managing Consultant here at Propel, led the search with a laser-focused approach. Instead of overwhelming Aaron with options, she carefully curated a selection of profiles, gathering feedback along the way to refine her process.
Propel also helped design a three-stage interview process, ensuring it was efficient and valuable for everyone involved, ultimately leading to the perfect match.
Aaron shared:
"I really loved how careful and considered everything was. The whole team understood our goals, our pain points, and helped us problem-solve at every step.
Samantha was a dream to work with – she did such an amazing job! The entire process felt very human."
Finding Contractors for Key Roles:
When it came to sourcing Engineers and Quality Assurance Specialists on a contract basis, Amy, Associate Director, was on hand to manage the process.
With her meticulous approach, Amy kept everything running like clockwork. She pre-vetted candidates and provided detailed summaries to streamline the hiring process, saving Econify valuable time and presenting only the most suitable profiles.
For these hires, in particular, budget constraints were a key consideration. Amy worked diligently to align all candidates with Econify’s financial expectations, maintaining transparency and balance throughout.
In fact, even when unforeseen delays cropped up, Amy went above and beyond. She kept communication lines clear, making sure both the candidates and Econify’s team felt informed and supported every step of the way.
This proactive approach made what could have been a challenging situation remarkably smooth.
Aaron commented:
"Amy was fantastic. She acted like a Project Manager, keeping everyone aligned and ensuring nothing fell through the cracks. She made the entire process seamless."
The Results
Commercial Director:
Econify made a brilliant hire who starts in January 2025. Even before officially stepping into the role, they’re already making a big impact, such as expanding Econify’s client base to include even more major media players like Time Out magazine.
Contract Roles:
Propel delivered top-tier talent for Econify’s growing UK team, including two Engineers and a Quality Assurance Specialist, all ready to hit the ground running.
Reflecting on Propel’s approach, Aaron shared:
"Propel’s process was so thoughtful. They took the time to really understand our needs and find the right people.
What I love most about the team at Propel is that whenever there’s anything to talk about, everyone’s really happy to just jump on a call and actually chat things through. Again, it comes back to that really human nature of everything they do."
The partnership between Econify and Propel is only getting stronger. With more projects in the pipeline and a growing client base, Econify plans to continue working with Propel for their future hiring needs.
TESTIMONIALS
"We’ve had such a positive experience with Propel, they’ve become a trusted recruitment partner of ours, and we highly recommend their services to anyone looking to grow their team."