About Us

Connected are an ideas-driven Internet technology company that helps clients to become market-leaders through the design and deployment of super-charged web strategies.

By employing leading-edge thinking, best practices, A/B testing, personalisation & journey management, dynamic content, business intelligence and a relentless drive to improve conversion rates.

Founded in 1997

The idea of a commercially-focused web-company appeared to Martin Dower and Jerry Pank over a beer and a bad game of snooker. Jerry had 20+ years in the computer industry, ending his career as the National Engineering Manager for Commodore and Martin was stuck in big-network sales, box-shifting 3Com and Cisco kit. Both were bored, both were broke. They raised £2,500 between themselves to buy a domain, hosting-space, some computer kit and a pair of mobiles.

At the time the pair had known each other for 10 years and despite living 250 miles apart it seemed an ideal partnership and Connected was born. Working in tight partnership for the first 10 years saw the business blossom. Jerry elected to take a back seat in 2007 and stepped down from the main board. He remains a key member of staff and adviser to the board…and he’s still no better at snooker after all these years.

What do we believe in?

Fairness, openness, passion and a will to change the world. This approach has not changed a jot since day one.

The first few years

Slow, slow…quick, quick, slow nicely sums up the growth from 1997. The business started off slowly as no-one had heard of the web, never mind wanting to spend money on this mysterious, invisible thing. 1998 was similar with just Jerry, Martin and the first employee, Conrad Edkins. 1999 arrived with a bang as the Internet started to take off and prior to the dotcom crash in early 2000, Connected doubled in size.

As 2001 dawned the landscape was changed forever, over 75% of Connected’s competitors had gone to the wall in the previous year and Connected had seen it’s revenue and profitability slashed but it was still standing and even more committed to making a serious go of the business and running the business in a sustainable, ethical and fair manner.

2010

As the business grew Jerry took more of a back seat leaving the day-to-day running and growth of the business to Martin & Liam. Connected have chosen to stay agile, independent and in control with no outside funding, shareholders or debt. Still with just two partners, Connected are supplemented by Andrew Stubberfield on the financial side of the business.

Click here to see a list of the key members of our team