Brandfuel has announced the death of its co-founder and chairman, David Ball.
Ball, aged 64, passed away on Saturday 22 November 2025, following several months of treatment for cancer, which he undertook with quiet and steely determination.
Ball established the agency, which was then known as Sprout, in 2004 and has since grown it into one of the UK’s leading experiential agencies. Throughout the agency’s 20-year history, Ball was supported by his co-founder and CEO, Sue Sawyer, and finance director, Michael Mitchell, growing the business to now have over 75 staff members.
As a respected figure in the industry, Ball judged many awards schemes and moderated many industry panels. He also offered expertise and guidance to charities and organisations that tackle the world’s problems head-on, working with clients such as One Young World, the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, BGC and STORM.
Outside of work, he also supported a large number of charities in a personal capacity and encouraged his colleagues to do the same. He also was the only athlete to ever represent both Great Britain and Jamaica in the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Distance Championships.
Brandfuel has been focusing on the next phase of its development, with a growing majority of its work undertaken overseas. Sawyer and Mitchell have confirmed that they are keen to fulfil the goals they mapped out alongside Ball, as well as other projects that are in progress.
Sawyer said: “It has been an absolute privilege to work with David creating the impressive agency that Brandfuel has become over the past 20 years. We are devastated by his loss and will do our utmost to continue to build on his huge acheivements in the months ahead.”
