21six Group launches, bringing a number of strategic, creative, production and productivity companies under one group

21six Group has launched as a new global holding company, bringing together a collective of strategic, creative, production and productivity businesses under one structure. Each company can work independently or as part of a unified offer, depending on client needs.

21six Group will be led by CEO Rick Ankers, who also co-founded 21six Agency. Rick is an experienced entrepreneur who has scaled and exited a number of businesses, most notably Platform Media, which was acquired by PodXGroup in 2024. The Group brings together a portfolio of specialist companies that currently includes 21six Agency, Format, House of Creative, Rare Content, Something About Us and Velvet Badger, with further expansion planned. The businesses span multiple sectors, from sport, entertainment and media to fashion, healthcare and logistics, and cover everything from brand strategy and content creation through to production and workflow systems.

21six has been built on a simple idea: good work doesn’t happen in silos. Instead of layering agencies, the Group brings together the right people, tools and disciplines in a way that actually works in practice, whether that’s a single specialist team or something more integrated.

The launch comes as the limitations of traditional agency models become more apparent. As AI reshapes how work gets done and the demand for content continues to scale, fragmented structures can slow things down rather than move them forward. 21six Group has been built to address this, creating a more connected, flexible model designed for how modern brands need to operate.

Collectively, the Group has delivered work for some of the world’s most recognised brands, including Aston Martin, Red Bull, Volvo, Gucci, the NBA, Puma and Samsung, spanning global campaigns, branded entertainment, digital platforms and large-scale content ecosystems. 

Rick Ankers, CEO of 21six Group, said: “We’ve built 21six Group around a simple idea, that businesses don’t need more agencies - they need better alignment. Too many holding groups have become cumbersome over time, creating complexity instead of clarity for clients. By bringing together best-in-class companies across different specialisms, we’re able to deliver work that is not only more joined-up, but more commercially effective. This is about creating a partner that can genuinely support growth at every stage.”

The launch also marks the arrival of a strengthened leadership team, including Will Gilgrass, who joins as Managing Director. He brings experience across content, strategy and platform growth, including his previous role as Global Head of Audio Content at Red Bull.

Will Gilgrass, Managing Director, added: “There’s often a disconnect between strategy and execution, especially at scale. What 21six does well is join that up properly. You’ve got strong teams, proven ways of working and the ability to move quickly — which is what most businesses actually need right now.”

Operating as an independent network, 21six combines experienced human expertise with the technology, tools and systems developed across the Group, giving clients access to flexible teams that can scale up or down depending on the brief.

The Group operates internationally, with a footprint across London, Stockholm, Dubai,, South Africa, Los Angeles and Singapore, supporting clients across Europe, MENA, Asia and North America.

Looking ahead, a complementary business, Volando, will also launch as part of the wider 21six ecosystem, focused on supporting company growth across similar fields to 21six Group, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks.