Zac Evans

I co-founded 21 Degrees and I run the commercial side, landing somewhere between sales director and MD on any given day. Before anyone signs anything, I want to get under the skin of a business and work out what actually grows it. Marketing only counts when it shows up in the numbers the client cares about, not the ones that look good in a report.

I started out promoting events and running Facebook ads at university, where I learned that sales and creativity are the same muscle. I've since gone from a 23-year-old in rose-tinted glasses to a business owner and MD of 10+ years who's a lot more at home with a spreadsheet, and a healthy bit of cynicism.

Away from the day job, I back the causes I care about. I'm a Business Ally for Trust Leeds, and a regular guest speaker and advocate for black businesses across the region. I'm also the one who sent a rival agency 1,000 lemons with a note reading 'don't be bitter', and once apologised for a catastrophic fantasy football season on Europe's biggest digital billboard.