Magenta Associates, the B Corp-certified, employee-owned PR, communications and brand consultancy, has appointed Katie White as managing director. White will run and grow the business, while Jo Sutherland steps up from managing director to a newly created role as executive chair and AI communications strategist, setting the consultancy’s direction and leading its AI work.
White joins with agency and client-side leadership and a network across real estate, the built environment and beyond, bringing more than two decades of brand, growth and communications experience across leading PR agencies, in-house marketing leadership and businesses of her own. She led the new business function and grew the property team at The Wriglesworth Consultancy, and most recently looked after major developers and architects at Caro Communications.
Client-side, as a director-level marketing leader at Heylo Housing, the UK’s largest for-profit shared ownership provider, she led marketing and communications for two consumer brands with major House Builder partners. She shares Magenta’s commitment to the people-first culture.
“Magenta has built a values-led consultancy that is genuinely ahead on AI and trusted across the B2B sectors it serves. Most firms are working out how to add AI to what they do. Magenta has organised its leadership around it, and that gives us something different to offer. My first priority is reviewing Magenta’s positioning and service offering and undertaking a full rebrand. It’s definitely an exciting time to be joining.” said White.
In her new role as executive chair and AI communications strategist, Sutherland will set Magenta’s strategic direction and lead its work helping clients navigate the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, from AI visibility and generative engine optimisation (GEO) to responsible adoption.
“Appointing a managing director of Katie’s calibre lets us do two things at once: put an experienced growth leader in charge of the business, and allow me to lead on the area our clients need us most. AI is changing what audiences see, cite and trust. We’ve organised Magenta’s leadership around that, to help our clients navigate growth and change. We’re here to grow good business, not just bigger, but ready for what comes next,” said Sutherland.
“When I founded Magenta in 2011, it was to prove communications could be done differently, and better. Katie’s appointment, and Jo’s step up to executive chair and lead on AI, are its boldest chapter yet,” said founder Cathy Hayward.
Magenta is ranked among the UK’s leading B2B communications agencies and is recognised for its work at the intersection of communications and AI, with original research cited in AI for Public Relations (Kogan Page, 2026) and an academic partnership with the University of Sussex. The consultancy works across the built environment, energy, manufacturing, technology, hospitality and purpose-led sectors.
