How technology executives make career decisions
Google doesn’t
know if a CTO role
is a setup for
failure.
We do.
Agency Three
Strategic intelligence for technology leadership
We understand the mandate behind the mandate.
The Agency Three Approach:
Leadership Assessment
Executive Coaching
Career Advisory
Agency Three: The problem we are solving
Strategic intelligence for technology leadership that determines organisational and individual success
You are successful. Respected. Delivering results.
But is this you?
On a credible path to becoming a Global CTO of a Fortune 500 company?
Genuinely ready for a NED or Advisory Board role?
Seen as a strategic disruptor who also delivers measurable impact?
Or are you still perceived primarily as a highly capable functional leader?
Few senior technology leaders have objective clarity on how they are seen by Boards, CEOs and investors — or what must change to move from strong operator to board‑ready leader.
Agency Three provides the clarity, evidence and perspective required to separate strong operators from board‑ready leaders.
You invest in strategy, transformation, and talent.
But can you answer this?
How do you define and recognise truly world‑class technology leadership?
Are your assessment frameworks built for technology executives — or borrowed from generic models?
Are you losing valuable leaders to competitors because you can't see what differentiates them?
Companies assess and develop technology executives using generic frameworks that miss what actually differentiates effective technology leadership.
The result? Losing valuable leaders to competitors and struggling to build the executive bench strength that drives strategic outcomes.
Agency Three provides the clarity, evidence and perspective required to separate strong operators from board‑ready leaders.
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Visit Leadership Resource LibraryBryan MacDonald
Founder & Principal, Agency Three
The Mission
I founded Agency Three to address a fundamental asymmetry: companies enter critical technology leadership decisions with boards, search firms, and advisory teams. Executives navigate these same decisions largely alone.
After 25 years placing 500+ technology executives and interviewing 7,000+ leaders, I've been in the rooms where advancement and hiring decisions get made. I understand what's actually being assessed, what signals readiness, and where most executives have blind spots they can't see.
Leadership Assessment: Understand how you're perceived at C‑suite level using our proprietary EQ/IQ framework for senior technology leaders.
Executive Coaching: Build the capabilities that drive progression: influence, organisational navigation, and executive presence.
Professional Overview
Bryan has dedicated over 25 years to understanding the role and leadership characteristics of successful technology executives. He launched The Digital Board in 2013 with a vision to change the way that business leaders and IT leaders co‑habit this changing world, connecting them through Executive introduction, Advisory Boards, PE and VC operators. Throughout the last 25 years, Bryan has developed an impressive network of thought leaders, connectors and contacts all of whom have helped shaped his understanding of the role and leadership characteristics of successful technology executives.
Prior to The Digital Board, Bryan was the Regional Managing Partner (Europe) of Heidrick & Struggles Chief Information Officer practice where he managed numerous high‑profile assignments. Prior to Heidrick & Struggles, Bryan worked under the Chief Information Officer of BP Plc helping to define a culture of leadership within their global technology function. This involved working with some of the world's most respected academic institutions, including Harvard, MIT and Kellogg.
He founded Agency Three to level the field to give senior technology executives the same strategic advantage companies have when they hire boards, advisors, and consultants. Agency Three provides confidential, one‑to‑one strategic counsel for CTOs, CIOs, and CDOs, helping them clarify decisions, sharpen positioning, and move through complex transitions with leverage and clarity.
He is also the Co‑Presenter of Beyond the Tech, a podcast exploring the bold decisions, inflection points, and leadership journeys of senior technology executives.
Advisory & Boards
Signifly | Board Member
Advising on strategy, leadership development, and growth, whilst leveraging a global technology network to drive new business opportunities.
Nodes (Monstar Lab) | Chair of Global Advisory Board
Working closely with the leadership team of this high‑growth digital product development agency on scaling strategy, talent, and international positioning. Built and structured global advisory boards across the US, Middle East, and Europe.
Insight Partners | Member of Insight Advisory Network
Advising portfolio companies on digital leadership, talent strategy, and organisational scaling.
iRise | Advisory Board Member
Expanded iRise's European business, built strategic partnerships with global enterprises, and advised on product strategy and market positioning across EMEA.