• Matt Geer promoted to new role as Head of London Office from January 2026 

• Luke Cross to move into a new role at Ocean Media Group from January 2026 

• Integrated comms agency Social, includes team of 25 colleagues across Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and London. 

Matt Geer will be stepping into a new role as Head of London Office at Social from January 2026. Matt joined Social as the London office’s first Associate Director in October 2025 and since joining has worked closely with Luke Cross, Director of London on agency strategy, senior client liaison, and team development. 

Matt brings a wealth of experience, having previously held communications and engagement leadership roles across the public and charity sectors, including West Kent Housing Association, Sutton Council and Turn2us across an almost 15-year career. 

Matt Geer, Head of London Office said; “I am excited to step into this new role with Social. Luke and the team have built a strong foundation over the past five years, grounded in rich sectoral knowledge, a passion for delivering excellent services for clients and the ability to navigate an ever-changing communications sector. I am looking forward to building on this, bringing my own knowledge, skills and experience from communications and engagement leadership roles inside local authorities, housing associations and charities. Having started my career at a communications agency, it is wonderful to step into a new calendar year in a role and agency committed to delivering excellence services and impactful communications for clients.” 

Social’s London business launched in 2020 to provide impact-driven strategic communications and consultancy, and a dedicated ESG and sustainability specialism in housing and the wider built environment. The London team provides strategic communications support to a range of clients, including JLL, Westminster City Council, Sustainability for Housing and the New Homes Quality Board. It’s worked on some of the most significant movements in UK housing, including the roll out of the ESG standard and the new Shared Ownership Code, alongside The Good Economy’s place-based impact investing initiative, and key sector milestones such as the UK’s biggest private pension fund, USS, entering the shared ownership sector. 

Luke Cross has led Social’s London office since its inception five years ago and has directed the team to deliver strategic communications counsel across a wide range of clients, from housing associations, local authorities, developers, financial services and ESG.  

Luke will be moving onto a new role with Ocean Media Group as Group Director, Living from January 2026. This role will have a particular focus on investment in housing and the wider ‘Living’ market. 

He will also remain as an associate at Social, providing advisory and project support in 2026. 

Luke said: “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with Social London – starting a new ‘business within a business’ from scratch and building it into what it is today. We’ve provided advisory and comms support to a whole array of big-name clients – and worked across some of the most important projects, and movements, in the UK housing sector in recent years. I’m also really pleased that we’ve been able to make a positive contribution to ESG and sustainability, helping businesses on their journey. 

“But most of all, I’m proud of the team we have built, based out of our Liverpool Street office – and I know that Matt is the ideal person to lead the business into its next phase, where I have every confidence it’ll flourish, grow and continue to do great work for clients up and down the country and across the place-based sectors.” 

John Quinton Barber, Founder and Executive Chairman of Social said; “This is an important and exciting moment for Social. Matt’s appointment reflects both the strength of the leadership we’ve built in London and our confidence in the next phase of growth for the business. He brings deep sector understanding, excellent judgement and a values-led approach that aligns perfectly with Social’s purpose.” 

“Luke has played a defining role in building the London office from the ground up, and his contribution to Social’s success cannot be overstated. We thank him for everything he’s achieved and wish him every success with his next chapter at Ocean Media.” 

The office has specialisms in strategic comms and C-level counsel; crisis and issues management; ESG, sustainability and impact comms and strategy; brand, design, and digital marketing; social media; and consultation, planning and community engagement.