COGENT 2.0:
Consulting built for a world in transformation.


We’ve expanded our capabilities, expertise, and behavioural depth to deliver real-world change that sticks. Built for speed. Led by experts. Measured by outcomes.

COGENT 2.0

COGENT Expands to Meet the Demands of a World in Transformation

Geared for speed, focused on outcomes, and grounded in human potential – COGENT 2.0 is built for today’s businesses.

London, UK – 17th July 2025 – COGENT, the fast-rising consultancy founded to challenge the traditional model, has today launched COGENT 2.0 – a bold evolution of its offer, structure, and leadership, aimed at addressing a simple truth: Consulting, as most clients experience it, is broken.

The pace of change in business has accelerated beyond what most consultancies were built for. Clients are asking for smaller teams, faster starts, and partners who stay through execution. Traditional firms are struggling to deliver.

COGENT 2.0 is the answer to that shift.

A Model Built for Now

Founded in 2020 by CEO John McLaughlin, COGENT offered a different way of working from the beginning: Lean, senior-led teams. Commercial outcomes. No theatre. No bloat.

In just four years, the firm has delivered more than 200 business-critical projects, across industries and functions – always with a sharp focus on delivery and outcomes.

“COGENT 2.0 is not a rebrand. It’s a reset,” said McLaughlin. “Clients want more breadth, more behavioural depth, and more partners who take ownership all the way through. That’s what this next chapter delivers.”

Why It Matters for Clients

The world has changed. Business leaders are facing faster cycles, higher expectations, and more internal fatigue. The old consulting playbook – long diagnostics, bloated teams, slide-first culture – is no longer fit for the purposes of today’s transformative initiatives.

Clients want traction, not theory. They want fewer handoffs, and more skin in the game. They want teams that show up, stay involved, and actually make change happen.

COGENT 2.0 answers that call.

“We’re fusing strategic discipline with creative problem solving and behavioural insight,” said Paul English, newly appointed Managing Director, formerly of Ogilvy Consulting. “And it delivers that thinking through experienced people who care about the outcome. That’s rare. I knew I wanted to help build it.”

Five Practices. One Integrated Model.

COGENT now delivers transformation through five integrated practice areas, designed to take clients from strategy through to execution – with the commercial focus and human insight to make it stick:

Strengthening the Leadership Team

The COGENT 2.0 leadership team brings deep experience across strategy, transformation, technology, and change. Joining founder John McLaughlin are three new senior leaders:

  • Managing Director Paul English, formerly of Ogilvy Consulting, Sapient, and Prophet, brings decades of experience in business transformation and growth.
  • David McGregor, a seasoned technology and delivery executive, joins from IBM and Chiltern Technologies to lead digital and enterprise initiatives. 
  • Lisa Hills, former HR lead at ITV and Merlin Entertainments, brings a sharp focus on cultural alignment, employee engagement, and organisational change.

Bringing Behavioural Change to the Core

A key part of COGENT’s evolution is its new partnership with David Taylor, best-selling author and founder of Naked Leader – known for embedding belief-led behavioural change into organisations at pace.

“This isn’t soft consulting,” said Taylor. “It’s the fastest way to unlock performance from within.”

The partnership helps COGENT deliver not just strategy and systems, but belief, alignment, and action at every level of an organisation.

Why COGENT, Why Now

Three things have converged to make this the right time for COGENT 2.0:

1. The business landscape has accelerated. Organisations need partners who can keep up.

2. Client expectations have changed. They want less fluff and more action.

3. Traditional consulting has fallen behind. Slow, expensive, and siloed doesn’t work anymore.

“COGENT was built to respond to all of that,” said English. “It’s independent. It’s outcome-obsessed. It’s fast. And we’re willing to put our fees on the line.”

About COGENT

COGENT is a next-generation consultancy delivering business transformation with commercial precision and behavioural depth. With more than 200 successful projects and a 280-strong network of senior experts, COGENT is setting a new standard for how consulting gets done – with outcomes that are faster, stickier, and more human.

Media Enquiries: press@cogentexecutive.com

Your business moves at the speed of now.
Your consulting should too.

The greatest drag on pace isn’t a lack of process; it’s a lack of alignment. That’s why we created COGENT 2.0. Our approach creates momentum by connecting your strategy directly to the culture and behaviours that drive it.

Business Transformation​ & Innovation

When ‘Transformation’ feels like disruption and ‘Innovation’ feels like a distraction.

We provide the focus to take your best ideas to market, delivering new offerings and driving real growth.

Operational Excellence & Performance

Too much process, not enough progress?

We simplify how your business operates, focusing on what gets done to improve how everything connects and deliver faster, more reliable results.

Technology & Digital Transformation

The tech investment was signed off, but where’s the value?

We bridge the gap between implementation and adoption, turning your digital ambition into an operational reality.

Engagement & Change Management

A new org chart doesn’t create a new culture.

We focus on shifting mindsets, not just processes, aligning leadership behaviour and team belief to drive change that is embraced, not endured.

Applied Behavioural Science

Lasting change isn’t driven by new rules, but by new decisions.

We use behavioural science to shape the small, everyday choices that drive big results, making it easier for people to adopt new ways of working.

COGENT 2.0

Operations, technology, and culture don’t work in silos. Neither do we.

Our model connects every aspect of transformation, ensuring your ambition is matched by your ability to execute and bring your people with you.

A Model Built by Leaders, for Leaders.

Not Our Words — Theirs

The Company We Keep.

COGENT 2.0

“We didn’t decide the old consulting model was failing. Our clients did.
That’s why COGENT was founded.
COGENT 2.0 is the evolution of that principle, built for a world where outcomes are the only metric that counts.
But our model’s true strength isn’t just in our team; it’s in the partnership we build with yours. Together, we don’t just deliver a result. We build a lasting capability that strengthens your business long after we’ve gone.”

John McLaughlin​

CEO

Insights That Matter

Big decisions need the right partners.
Let’s talk.

If you need execution—not just advice—we’re ready when you are.