Simon Biltcliffe, who founded the marketing agency on Marxist-capitalist principles in 1996 to benefit both people and the planet, will remain with the business, moving into the advisory position of executive chairman.

Kelly O’Sullivan, who joined Webmart from Sainsbury’s in 2021, has been promoted to chief operating officer, and Tom Oldershaw has moved up into the role of customer services director.

The business, which has offices in Oxfordshire, Yorkshire, and London, employs 44 people and provides climate-positive marketing to clients including Interflora, Nintendo, Cook Foods, East of England Co-op, and Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH).

“A new CEO appointment is historic for us and a first in our 27-year history and it is amazing to get there after starting with Webmart as a trainee,” said Boon, who has started in the role this month.

“The organisational changes signal a huge shift for the business as we scale our sustainable integrated marketing offering to more sectors and clients both in the UK and internationally.

“I’m thrilled to be leading Webmart into the future that we’re building based on a business model to thrive and give back, not just grow at all costs. My mission as CEO is to transition marketing to a more sustainable future, and pioneer new ways to balance marketing with a smaller impact to our planet.”

Biltcliffe added: “Despite the uphill battle throughout the pandemic, Richard’s achieved everything he set out to do, and he’s done it ahead of schedule. Our staff engagement and customer satisfaction levels have increased, and his appointment to CEO is a reflection of the success he has delivered to the business.”

Boon joined Webmart aged 18 as a management trainee and, after rising through the ranks, was appointed managing director in 2020, a week before the first UK Covid lockdown.

Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the three years since have seen company turnover increase by 34% under his management.

During this time, Webmart has also become a B Corp, donated over £60,000 to charity (£720,000 to date), been awarded a People Insight Outstanding Workplace Award for a second year running, and started to offer carbon-neutral services to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of its clients’ marketing campaigns.

As a carbon-neutral business with its own 164-acre Oxygen Farm in Scotland, Webmart is also on target to be Net Zero by 2026.