Johnny Hornby is a British advertising executive and entrepreneur, born in 1967 in Leamington Spa, England. He started his career at leading agencies like Ogilvy & Mather, CDP, and TBWA, gaining experience in both creative and strategic roles. In 2001, he co-founded CHI & Partners, which evolved into The&Partnership in 2013 with backing from WPP. Hornby now serves as Founder & CEO of T&P and a member of the WPP Global Executive Committee, overseeing global marketing strategies, client partnerships, and innovative agency models that have influenced the advertising industry worldwide.
Early Life and Education
Johnny Hornby was born in 1967 in Leamington Spa, England. Growing up, he experienced life in different countries due to his family’s background, including time in France and the United States. At age 14, he attended Marlborough College, a prestigious boarding school in Wiltshire, which played a pivotal role in shaping his ambitions and work ethic.
Hornby went on to study History and Politics at the University of Edinburgh, where he developed a sharp analytical mind and a curiosity about social dynamics — skills that would later help him craft effective advertising strategies. During his university years, he also gained early exposure to the advertising world, interning at a London agency, which gave him a foundational understanding of creative and client-focused work.
Early Career: From Trainee to Industry Leader
After graduating, Hornby began his professional career at Ogilvy & Mather, one of the most respected global advertising agencies. Here, he learned the intricacies of client management, strategic thinking, and creative execution. He then moved to CDP (Collett Dickenson Pearce), further developing his expertise in account management and advertising strategy.
Hornby’s big breakthrough came at TBWA, where he rose to Managing Director. During his tenure, he managed high-profile campaigns and honed his skills in integrating creative concepts with measurable business outcomes. Notably, he worked on the UK Labour Party’s 2001 general election campaign, demonstrating his ability to combine strategy, messaging, and public engagement at a national scale.
Entrepreneurial Leap: Founding CHI & Partners
In 2001, Johnny Hornby co-founded Clemmow Hornby Inge (CHI & Partners) alongside Simon Clemmow and Charles Inge. Starting as a small agency, CHI quickly gained a reputation for innovation and collaboration. Hornby’s vision was to create an agency where creativity, strategy, and media worked seamlessly together — a concept that was relatively new at the time.
CHI’s early success was fueled by its ability to deliver integrated marketing solutions that broke the traditional agency silos. By offering a combination of creative services, media planning, and strategic consultation under one roof, CHI differentiated itself from competitors and attracted major clients looking for cohesive campaigns.
Evolution to The&Partnership
In 2013, CHI & Partners evolved into The&Partnership with the backing of WPP, one of the world’s largest advertising holding companies. The agency adopted a collaborative network model, combining creative, digital, media, and PR services to serve clients in a unified, agile manner.
Under Hornby’s leadership, The&Partnership expanded globally, opening offices in multiple continents and attracting high-profile clients including Toyota, News Corp, Mars, NatWest Group, TELUS, Centrica, and Aon. This approach allowed the agency to deliver fully integrated solutions, streamlining communication, strategy, and execution for international brands.
T&P: The Modern Global Communications Powerhouse
The&Partnership has since been rebranded and evolved into T&P, a modern communications agency that embraces technological innovation, data-driven insights, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Today, Johnny Hornby serves as Founder & CEO of T&P, where he continues to pioneer new approaches to advertising, integrating AI, data analytics, and client-partner models into everyday agency operations.
Hornby also holds a key position on the WPP Global Executive Committee, where he influences the strategic direction of the holding company and oversees the performance of specialist agencies under the WPP umbrella. His leadership has made T&P a model for how integrated communications can drive brand growth in a digital, globalized economy.
Leadership Philosophy and Industry Influence
Johnny Hornby is widely regarded as an innovative leader who values collaboration, adaptability, and ownership. Unlike traditional agency executives, Hornby promotes embedded agency teams within client organizations, ensuring seamless communication and faster decision-making.
His vision has influenced the advertising industry by encouraging agencies to break down traditional silos, integrate creative and strategic functions, and embrace new technologies. Hornby emphasizes long-term client partnerships, creativity-driven strategies, and results-oriented campaigns — principles that have shaped the modern advertising landscape.
Johnny Hornby Age
Born in 1967, Johnny Hornby is currently 58 years old. His age reflects decades of hands-on experience, from working at top advertising agencies to leading a global communications network. Despite being in his late 50s, Hornby continues to innovate and adapt in an industry defined by rapid change and technological advancement.
Johnny Hornby Family
Johnny Hornby comes from a family with a strong professional and cultural background:
-
His father, Sir Derek Hornby, was a respected business executive and chairman of London and Continental Railways.
-
His half-brother is the acclaimed author Nick Hornby, known for novels like High Fidelity and About a Boy.
-
Johnny Hornby is married to Clare Hornby, a successful entrepreneur and founder of the fashion brand ME+EM. Together, they have a blended family of five children.
Hornby’s family life reflects his ability to balance high-level professional responsibilities with personal commitments, a trait often admired in business circles.
Johnny Hornby Net Worth
While Johnny Hornby has not publicly disclosed his exact net worth, his position as Founder & CEO of T&P, coupled with equity in a WPP-backed network, suggests that he has a substantial personal fortune. Agency founders and executives of global advertising networks typically accumulate wealth through ownership stakes, performance bonuses, and dividends from successful campaigns, placing Hornby among the financially successful figures in his industry.
Johnny Hornby Wikipedia Overview
According to his Wikipedia profile, Johnny Hornby is a British marketing executive known for founding CHI & Partners, which evolved into The&Partnership, now T&P. The page highlights his early career at Ogilvy & Mather, CDP, and TBWA, his political campaign involvement, and his rise to the top of the global communications industry. It also provides details about his education, family, and contributions to modern advertising practices.
Major Campaigns and Notable Clients
Johnny Hornby’s agencies have worked with a wide array of global brands. Some of the notable clients include:
-
Toyota – integrated marketing campaigns across multiple regions.
-
News Corp – communications and creative solutions for media platforms.
-
Mars – global campaigns for confectionery and pet products.
-
NatWest Group – branding and customer engagement strategies.
-
TELUS – media, PR, and integrated campaign solutions.
Hornby’s focus on integrated solutions ensures that creative, media, and strategy work together seamlessly, delivering measurable results and strengthening client relationships.
Charity Work and Public Contributions
Beyond advertising, Johnny Hornby has contributed to charitable causes. He has served in leadership roles for Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry to support vulnerable children in Southern Africa. His involvement reflects a commitment to social responsibility and giving back to the community, adding another dimension to his professional profile.
Legacy and Impact on Advertising
Johnny Hornby’s influence on advertising is far-reaching. By advocating for integrated, client-centric agency models, he has helped shape the way global brands approach marketing. His pioneering approach to combining creative, media, PR, and digital expertise under one umbrella has inspired agencies worldwide.
Hornby’s work demonstrates that effective advertising requires not only creativity but also strategic insight, collaboration, and the ability to embrace change — lessons that future leaders in the industry continue to study and emulate.
Conclusion
Johnny Hornby’s career is a blueprint for success in modern advertising. From his early days at top agencies to founding CHI & Partners, evolving it into The&Partnership, and leading T&P, Hornby has consistently pushed boundaries, embraced innovation, and built a global communications empire.
At 58 years old, with a strong family foundation, substantial influence in the industry, and a commitment to innovation, Hornby’s journey illustrates the power of vision, strategic thinking, and leadership. His story continues to inspire aspiring marketers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders around the world.
