AVADO Learning, the digital learning specialist appoints Mark Creighton to position of CEO

Mark Creighton, the former Dentsu Aegis Network chief operating officer, will become CEO of AVADO Learning , on January 28.

He will take over from Mark O’Donoghue who will move into Blenheim Chalcot, AVADO Learning’s investors, following a handover period with him.

Creighton joins AVADO Learning as the company moves into a new growth phase, extending partnerships to include Tableau in its Data Literacy proposition to organisations, targeting the US market and expanding its digital transformation and digital standards work.

“AVADO Learning is a powerful partner for businesses and one that has the ability to truly transform organisations,” explains Mark Creighton. “As someone who has been a client of AVADO Learning for the past six years, I have experienced first‐hand the value that it delivers.

“I passionately believe developing talent in the context of a changing professional and technology landscape is critical to business success. AVADO Learning is an invaluable partner in both identifying and developing new and existing talent, to give business’ greater competitive advantage.  I am looking forward to building on the excellence of AVADO Learning’s proposition and evolving the business to make it even more valuable to our customers and learners.”

AVADO Learning has grown turnover four‐fold over the last four years, having established partnerships with Google, co-creating Squared Online the digital marketing thought leadership programme and Tableau to drive data literacy for organisations and individuals via a full Data Academy.

Elsewhere, AVADO has developed an exclusive partnership with the CIPD around digitally delivered HR and L&D qualifications, and through Arch Apprentices, developed the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising’s ground-breaking Creative Pioneers apprenticeship programme.

“I am delighted that Mark Creighton is joining AVADO Learning at this exciting time in its growth,” says Manoj Badale, Chairman of AVADO Learning & Co-Founder. “Mark’s proven track record in growing businesses will help AVADO continue to accelerate its growth, both in the UK and internationally. AVADO’s ability to produce scaled talent development programmes to help organisations seize the opportunities presented by digital and big data, has never been more important.

“I’d like to thank Mark O’Donoghue for his leadership of the business as it has grown four fold over the last four years and look forward to his forthcoming work in Blenheim Chalcot’s portfolio of disruptive start-ups and scale-ups.”

The company’s proposition of Learning that works is now a significant feature of digital capability building for major global corporates, including GSK, Vodafone and Estee Lauder through scaled online learning programmes. In 2018 it acquired OFSTED Grade 1 provider Arch Apprentices, creating the first truly digital apprenticeships which are used by a wide range of organisations from Microsoft to Worldpay to WPP.