The BD100 2026 Awards: Growth Is Still a Human Game
On Tuesday 20th May, the BD100 2026 Awards took place at The Drum Labs in London. One hundred of the UK's best business development professionals were in the room and five awards were handed out to the people who stood out most this year.
This was DNA Recruit's eighth consecutive year as the Official Talent Partner to the BD100.
We have watched this community grow and we have seen the standard of what it takes to make this list get higher every single year.
The Evening
The event brought together some of the most compelling voices in agency growth and commercial performance.
Commonwealth Games England CEO Mark Osikoya joined Team GB boxer Ellis Trowbridge to explore the parallels between elite sport and commercial performance. Beyond the glamour of winning, the conversation was about what happens in the work that nobody sees.
As Trowbridge put it: "You only get those A-star performances once you've done the work." It was a simple line that landed hard in a room full of people who know exactly what that invisible grind looks like.
Former BD100 winners Francesca Brook, Steve Garside and Bianca M. then spoke openly about pressure, performance and the challenge of sustaining growth over the long term.
The strongest agencies, they argued, understand something that used to get overlooked: sustainable growth depends on sustainable teams. The culture of being always on is giving way to something more considered and more intelligent.
Emma Harris, founder of Glow London, delivered the keynote and Amanda Rosevear rounded out an evening that felt less like an awards ceremony and more like a profound reckoning with where the industry is going next.
The Winners
Business Developer of the Year, sponsored by DNA Recruit: Sam Jones, Joint The judges described Sam as a standout individual showcasing resilience, ambition, adaptability and commercial impact at the very highest level. A worthy winner of the award DNA Recruit is proud to sponsor. Highly Commended: Bianca May, PMG
Rising Star, sponsored by jfdi: Lucy Wilson, Buttermilk The judges called Lucy an absolute solo force who smashed it out of the park, delivering huge global wins and standout commercial growth in one of the toughest markets around. Highly Commended: Sam Connor, PHD
New Business Win of the Year, sponsored by ALF Insight: TMW and Steve Garside The judges praised TMW for exceptional persistence, strategic focus and flawless execution, turning a bold long-term pursuit into one of the industry's most impressive competitive wins.
BD Team of the Year, sponsored by HubSpot: PrettyGreen The judges highlighted PrettyGreen's strong growth trajectory, impressive pitch conversion rate and a submission that showed real love and care for the team behind the results.
Industry Impact Award, sponsored by Propeller Group: Julian Douglas, VCCP Through his work in agency new business and leadership, alongside his roles as IPA President and Chair of UKAEG, Julian has championed industry best practice and helped drive the international growth and reputation of UK agencies.
What BD100 2026 Said About the Industry
Human connection was this year's theme. The agencies growing right now are doing so because they have built relationships that last and cultures that can carry high performance over the long term. That is harder than it sounds and the people in that room understand that better than most.
Now in its eighth year, the BD100 spotlights the top business development professionals driving success in today's highly competitive marketing industry.
Jody Osman and Rich McHardy have spent eight years building something that matters to this industry. The BD100 gives business development professionals a platform and a reason to keep raising their game, and that is worth showing up for.
DNA Recruit has been the Official Talent Partner for all eight of those years. After placing BD talent into agencies across the UK for over two decades, we have a good sense of what great looks like in this community. The people on this list have it.
Thank You to Our Fellow Sponsors
None of this happens without the support of the people who back this community year after year.
Awards Partners: jfdi, Propeller Group, ALF Insight, HubSpot
Supporting Partners: Verity Relationship Intelligence, MAD//Masters by Rory Sutherland, Agency by Agency, BAM Karaoke Box, Tracksuit
Congratulations to every winner, every highly commended nominee and every single person who made the 2026 list. See you next year.
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