Ali Newton-Temperley, COO and Founding Partner at Unusual Group, recently published Agency Exits, a new book offering unique and practical insights for business leaders who want to scale successfully, protect their wellbeing and, ultimately, create an exit-ready organisation.
Drawing on the stories, journeys, and experiences of seven real founders, Agency Exits explores what it takes to build a business with inherent and self-sustaining value, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that derail growth momentum.
Learning from Real Founder Journeys
In Agency Exits, Newton-Temperley recounts strategy conversations with seven founders who successfully navigated the path from growth to value. Within these stories and lessons, business leaders gain rare insights in how to:
- Spot opportunities and recognise early market shifts
- Create exit-ready options, from deal structures to timing
- Build systems, culture, and positioning that attract premium multiples
- Safeguard energy, preserve identity, and avoid burnout
“Many agency leaders invest years of blood, sweat, and late nights only to realise their business was never built to give them options, or that exiting could compromise everything they’ve worked so hard for,” says Newton-Temperley. “I didn’t write Agency Exits just to help owners sell their business. Yes, those lessons are there, but there’s another layer. It’s about creating a business that works for you, gives you meaningful options, and supports the people who made it possible. I wrote this book to show what’s actually possible when you plan carefully, act strategically, and scale with intention.”
Unusual Group: Supporting Agencies from Scale to Sale
Newton-Temperley brings this insight to her role as COO and Founding Partner at Unusual Group, a high-level strategic partner for creative and consulting agencies. Unusual Group helps ambitious agencies grow fast, scale smart, and secure the exits they deserve.
Tellingly, less than 4% of agencies ever achieve a successful exit, and even fewer do it on their own terms. Through a combination of funding, systems, and exclusive peer-level support, Unusual Group helps business owners achieve profitable growth and exit-readiness without sacrificing control or wellbeing.
“Here at Unusual, we believe building a business worth buying shouldn’t be out of the ordinary,” said Newton-Temperley. “Our goal is simple: to help leaders scale with control, protect their teams, and create businesses primed to thrive, whether or not intend to sell. The lessons in Agency Exits mirror what we do at Unusual: strategic leadership, culture enhancements, operational readiness, and sustainable growth that doesn’t cost your sanity.”
A Practical Guide for Agency Leaders
Whether an owner is hitting repeated growth roadblocks, too involved in daily delivery, or struggling with cash flow and over-reliance on key stakeholders, Agency Exits provides clarity on what it means to be exit-ready. Its pages contain hard-won strategies for scaling, systems for sales and operations, and actionable advice to protect culture and mental wellbeing.
For Newton-Temperley, the vision is clear: helping business leaders grow organisations that are more profitable, more valuable, and far less stressful to run.
Agency Exits is available now on Kindle and in print, while Newton-Temperley’s LinkedIn page shares regular insights on leadership, business growth, and culture.
About Ali Newton-Temperley
Ali Newton-Temperley is COO and Founding Partner of Unusual Group, a dynamic firm dedicated to helping agencies and consultancies scale profitably and exit successfully. She has experienced every side of the agency lifecycle: scaling businesses globally, building sales engines, expanding teams, and freeing founders from operational dependence. Award-winning author of Agency Exits, Newton-Temperley now guides leaders toward businesses that grow with control and thrive long-term.
For media enquiries, speaking engagements, or press-related opportunities, contact: ali@agencyexits.co.uk
