Founded by Freddie Laker, Chameleon Collective is not a traditional agency—and proudly so. It’s a collective of top-tier independent talent, built to drive transformation for investor-backed and growth-focused brands. Laker, with a career spanning entrepreneurship, agency leadership, SaaS innovation, and brand-side experience, created a model that challenges industry norms. With a “lead, deliver, recruit” framework, Chameleon plugs into businesses with fractional leaders, expert operators, and recruiting support, helping clients evolve from the inside out. “It’s the best company I’ve ever built,” said Laker, adding that the collective’s strength lies in its people, its structure, and its independence.
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What the Agency is Best Known For and Strengths
Laker started in early internet radio before founding his first agency, iChameleon, then transitioned to Sapient. After time brand-side and launching a SaaS company, he founded Chameleon Collective to help companies solve real problems with lasting transformation. “It was born around me,” he said.
Chameleon is known for driving long-term transformation. “We work ourselves out of a job by injecting DNA into companies,” Laker said. They’re also known for their unique “lead, deliver, recruit” model that combines interim leaders, tactical execution, and recruiting—“success that sticks,” as he put it.
Top strengths include: 1) transformational work for investor-backed companies, 2) a flexible three-tier model to drive results, and 3) a truly collective, owner-operated structure. “It’s not Freddie and friends on LinkedIn,” Laker said. “We’re all owners, and we make decisions together.”
Why Independence is Important
Laker said, “I care about controlling my own destiny.” That’s built into the collective’s culture, where each person chooses what projects they want to work on. “It attracts hyper-entrepreneurial people,” he said. “They can define their own future.”
Why Brands Should Work with the Agency
“Doing great work is table stakes,” Laker said. What sets them apart is their focus on creating durable change: “We leave you a fundamentally different company.” They look beyond short-term campaigns to build structures and teams that thrive long after their engagement ends.
Why Talent Should Consider the Agency
Laker described Chameleon as a hybrid between corporate stability and freelancer freedom. “We’ve created a model where you can have high earning potential, choice, and collaboration,” he said. “If you’re thinking of going independent, this is a great step between.”
Weirdos, Misfits, or Underdogs?
“I consider us a challenger brand,” said Laker. “When we started, we ran into nobody doing what we did.” He added, “People might’ve thought we were weirdos or misfits 10 years ago—but now, maybe not so much.”
The Marketer and/or CMO They Want to Say Hello To
Laker gave a shoutout to Jonathan Mildenhall at Goop. “I love him. This new rebrand is so cool.” He praised Mildenhall’s creative vision and said, “I hope to be catching up with him soon.”
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Contact
Email: clientservices@chameleon.co
Phone #: 1-800-914-0245
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Doug Zanger is the founder and editor-in-chief of Indie Agency News. He is also the founder of the Creative Bohemian consultancy, lives in the Pacific Northwest and is insufferable about it.
