Ollie Chapman is one of the owners of Plug Media, a digital marketing company with four partners and approximately a dozen staff members. They specialise in programmatic digital advertising — using technology and data to plan, buy and optimise advertising campaigns efficiently.
Ollie and I discussed some of the nuances of the digital marketing landscape, how they collect their data, and how they help clients get a return on their investment.
Looking for a digital marketing partner? Get in touch with Ollie!
LINKS
PLUG MEDIA – https://plug.media/
Oliver Chapman on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-chapman-4b96961a/
WARM UP
My Old Colfeians journey goes back pretty much as far as I can remember. I started going down to the club when I was about three years old. My dad played and captained the 3rd XV, and my uncle played as well, so I was around the club constantly as a child — watching games, sitting in the old changing rooms, and soaking it all up.
There wasn’t a junior section back then, so I played a lot of my mini rugby at Old Elthamians, but I made my debut for the Old Colfeians 1st XV in 1994, when I was just 15 years old, in a Kent Cup match against the Isle of Sheppey. I was absolutely terrified — suddenly playing fly-half alongside proper seasoned men — but I think I scored more points in that one game than I did in most of my career put together.
After that I played whenever I wasn’t tied up with school rugby, and later went to Leeds University, playing both for the university and various clubs up north.
When I returned to London, I played another 15 years at Colfeians across all the teams — including the vets in later years, as time inevitably catches up with you.
One of my last games even ended up going viral when Alan Knuckey back-heeled the ball over my head and ran the length of the pitch.
Old Colfeians gave me so much — friendships, memories, and some of the best years of my life. It was without doubt my favourite rugby era.
THE GAME
What’s your business?
Interestingly, it was actually the Colfeian connection itself that got me into the industry I’m in today.
After university, I spoke with Andy Smith, who was coaching the 1st XV at the time. He encouraged me to come back to London and said the club could help me get into employment. Through Colfeians I landed two interviews on the same day — one in media, arranged by Nick Evans, and another at Lehman Brothers in trading.
I was offered the media job first and accepted it — and half an hour later got offered the trading role. I’ve often wondered how life would have looked if those offers had come in the opposite order.
I ended up staying in media, and I’ve worked in the industry ever since.
Today, I’m one of the owners of Plug Media, a digital marketing business with four partners and around a dozen staff. We specialise in programmatic digital advertising — using technology and data to plan, buy and optimise advertising campaigns efficiently.
A major part of our expertise sits within the Amazon ecosystem, using Amazon’s vast data across shopping behaviour, streaming services, music, and content consumption to target advertising far more intelligently.
Who do you help?
We work in two main ways:
- With independent media agencies, where we either run all of their programmatic advertising or act as their Amazon specialist partner
- Directly with brands that want more control over their digital advertising
Our clients span multiple sectors — property, entertainment, and more — and our largest client is NBC Universal, where we work on major film releases and campaigns.
Because everything is now becoming digital — streaming TV, podcasts, online media, even outdoor screens — programmatic advertising is where the industry is heading, and that puts us in a strong position.
Who could help or partner with you?
The people we tend to work with are:
- Media agency owners and digital directors
- Marketing directors and CMOs at brands
- Heads of digital and performance marketing teams
Particularly within independent agencies and mid-sized brands (tier two and tier three businesses rather than huge global corporations).
Anyone in those spaces who wants smarter, more targeted digital advertising is a great fit for us.
HALF TIME
There are so many — tours to Australia, incredible trips to Cornwall, and special moments like playing alongside my cousin Tom at scrum-half and fly-half.
But the moment that stands out most is when we won London One in the 2000–2001 season.
We had an incredibly tight squad that year, worked unbelievably hard, and finally secured promotion into the national leagues. But my favourite part wasn’t even the match — it was what happened afterwards.
We got back to the clubhouse and one by one everyone walked into the bar, dumping their bags, singing songs, celebrating together.
There were no kids yet, no rushing home — just a group of teammates who had achieved something massive together.
It was the first senior trophy I’d ever won — and, looking back, the last. You don’t get many moments like that as an adult, and that night will always stay with me.
2nd HALF – Case Studies
Success Stories:
One of the things I’m proudest of in my career isn’t just business performance — it’s helping people grow.
I’ve seen graduates I interviewed go on to become senior leaders, and even set up their own companies. Knowing you’ve played even a small role in someone’s journey is incredibly rewarding.
That belief in progression is also why Plug Media sponsors the Roebucks Academy, founded by my cousin Tom and his wife. It supports 16–18 year olds through rugby while helping them into education and employment.
We meet the players, help with interview prep, offer internships, and support their wider development. There’s huge talent there — kids who simply haven’t always had opportunity — and rugby gives them a pathway forward.
From a business point of view, I’m also incredibly proud of Plug Media itself. It started with one person taking a huge leap of faith — setting up the company just as his first child was about to be born.
Despite COVID, cost of living pressures, and tough market conditions, the company has grown, doubled in size, retained clients, and built a brilliant team culture.
We work hard, but we respect life outside work — and that environment is a big part of why people stay and why clients rarely leave.
TO THE BAR
People you’re looking for:
The best place to find me is LinkedIn – Oliver Chapman.
You can also check out our new website at Plug Media.
