Marc Cross Brands™ — London & Global
Building brands people care about — in hospitality, F&B, and lifestyle.
Strategy. Identity. Experience.
Every brand has a story worth telling. I help uncover it, define it, and bring it to life — creating brands people feel, remember, and connect with.
I partner with ambitious, lifestyle-led businesses to transform great ideas into standout brands — earning loyalty, sparking growth, and making a lasting impact.
Agency Expertise. Personal Partnership.
I spent 15+ years as Creative Director of a London branding agency, leading projects across the UK, Middle East and beyond. It taught me how to build brands that last — and showed me how slow and costly big agencies can be.
Now I bring that expertise directly to founders. As both a seasoned brand strategist and a multidisciplinary designer, I shape brands from every angle — defining the big idea, crafting the story, and bringing it to life with clarity and creativity. You get senior-level expertise with the speed, focus and personal involvement that only comes from working one-to-one.
Photo: With Melody (founder of Skin Cupid) and Joe from my creative team, at the launch of Skin Cupid’s first flagship store, Tottenham Court Road — September 2025.
Recent Branding Projects
Town Hall Hotel - Brand Positioning & Visual Identity of a Luxury London Landmark
We repositioned Town Hall Hotel from a quiet business hotel into a culturally connected East London destination — blending civic heritage storytelling, refined visual identity and a lifestyle‑led guest experience designed to attract modern leisure travellers.
The Result: Boosted leisure bookings and broadened appeal beyond business travel.
Brand Strategy & Positioning / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Brand Experience
Burro Blanco — Brand Positioning & Visual Identity Refresh for QSR Franchise in Dubai & Abu Dhabi
A bold brand repositioning and visual identity refresh for this fast‑growing QSR brand in the UAE — crafted to scale with story, style and franchise‑ready clarity for rapid regional growth.
The Result: Supported GCC expansion with new franchise openings across the region.
Brand Strategy & Positioning / Visual Identity / Brand Messaging & Voice / Global Franchise Expansion
HOSPITALITY. F&B. LIFESTYLE.
HOSPITALITY. F&B. LIFESTYLE.
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Branding Services
Brand Strategy & Positioning
I help uncover the essence of your brand — what it stands for, how it’s positioned, and why it matters. From mission and values to audience and competition, I define a clear foundation to guide your brand’s identity. Every strategy includes practical rollout planning — turning insight into action through launch ideas and long-term brand initiatives.
Brand Naming
Naming is one of the most defining decisions a brand can make. I work closely with founders and marketing leads to create names that are relevant, memorable, and rooted in strategy — whether for a new brand, product, or sub-brand.
Visual Identity Design
Whether I’ve already defined your strategy or you're starting fresh, I create distinctive visual identities that reflect who you are and where you're going — from custom logo design and visual language to full identity systems. Every detail is grounded in insight and designed to help your brand connect and grow.
Strategic Brand Partnerships
Long-term, expert support to help your brand evolve with clarity and confidence. I work as an embedded partner — offering strategic insight, creative guidance, and direction as your business grows, expands, or enters new markets.
My Approach
How I take you from big idea to brand impact.
1. Discover
Immerse myself in your world — exploring your vision, audience, culture, competitors, and ambition. Together we uncover the truths, tensions, and opportunities that will shape your brand and set the direction forward.
2. Define
Turn discovery into strategy — clarifying positioning, narrative, values, and tone of voice. This is where your big idea takes form, creating a clear framework that gives your brand focus, purpose, and room to grow.
3. Design
Bring the strategy to life — shaping the identity, storytelling, and brand experience that connect with audiences in meaningful ways. This is where the creative expression takes shape, establishing the tone, personality, and foundations for everything to follow.
4. Deliver
Equip you with the tools to activate your brand — from guidelines and toolkits to creative direction and rollout support. This ensures consistency, confidence, and impact across every touchpoint as your brand enters the world.
Choose a time and book instantly.
Client Testimonials
I’ve worked with Marc on multiple branding projects in both Dubai and London, often supporting clients as they prepare for expansion or move into franchising. What really sets him apart is his ability to turn complex business goals into clear, confident brand positioning. He combines strategic insight with creative thinking, shaping brand narratives that feel both commercially sound and visually engaging. Every project has gone above and beyond, and I always look forward to the next collaboration.
Charlie Mander - Co-Founder / Presman & Colard
Marc has been a key branding partner for me over the past six years, helping to develop hospitality brands like KOA, Myra, and most recently HAZAL. His approach is thoughtful and strategic, ensuring each brand is grounded in strong positioning and brought to life with clarity and creativity. From naming to identity design, he knows how to make a brand resonate in the Saudi market. His work has been instrumental in creating concepts that feel both authentic and commercially strong.
Amro Bagedo - Founder & CEO / KRAIV & KAB Holding
Working with Marc on the rebrand for Global Academy International - a group of successful schools with a rich history, founded by my father - was a brilliant experience. He brought clarity to our thinking, helping reposition the brand with confidence while respecting its legacy. From our founding schools in Qatar to our expansion into Saudi Arabia via franchising, Marc’s insight, strategic focus, and collaborative approach made a lasting impact on the outcome.
Omar Al Sheikh - Vice Chairman / OWMNYA Holding
Branding Blog & Insights
Is Your Restaurant Brand Ready to Franchise?
Before expanding into new markets, your brand identity needs to be clear, consistent and franchise-ready. In this article, I share lessons from real F&B projects across the GCC — including Burro Blanco and Bread Ahead — and explain how strategy, storytelling and visual identity can help set your brand up for successful growth.
Launching a Restaurant in Dubai? Start With a Brand That Stands Out.
Dubai’s F&B scene is dynamic, competitive, and full of opportunity — but to succeed, your concept needs more than great food. This article breaks down the essential steps to building a standout restaurant brand, from defining your positioning and name to creating a compelling identity and tone of voice that connects with the right audience.
Brand Storytelling: The Secret to Customer Loyalty
In a world of endless choice, customers connect with stories — not just products. This article explores how thoughtful brand storytelling builds emotional loyalty, using real-world examples like Jebena Co. to show how a clear narrative can elevate your brand and inspire long-term customer engagement.