LEWIS PR Buys European Independent Agency Leads United
Agency Adds 39th Office to Support Global Expansion
LONDON--(Marketwire - October 28, 2009) - LEWIS PR today
announced the acquisition of one of Europe's best-known communications
firms, Leads
United. LEWIS is acquiring a 100 percent stake. The company will
continue to operate under its brand name, but will be fully integrated into
the LEWIS Group and report into the LEWIS
Western European HQ operation, located in Eindhoven.
Leads United is a full-service agency, specializing in internal
communications, crisis communications and media relations, with a strong
high-tech and Internet portfolio. The agency works with major-league
clients in a wide range of sectors, government bodies and non-profit
organizations. Together, Leads United and LEWIS form one of the largest and
most experienced agencies in the region.
The new LEWIS Group company will continue to be run out of Antwerp by Dian Wahlen,
founding director of the agency. Yvonne van Bokhoven, VP
Western Europe at LEWIS, will coordinate the Benelux businesses to ensure
maximum synergy.
"This is a significant announcement for LEWIS in Europe, as Leads United
represents some great brands such as IBM, eBay, Samsung, Symantec and Rabobank, and has a leading edge approach to digital
media and creative services," said Yvonne van Bokhoven. "The agency has one
of the best reputations in the region, and a fantastic track record, so we
are delighted to have them as part of our Benelux proposition and network."
"With this step we have completed our strategic goal of internationalizing
the business. We are convinced that this will bring us added value for our
staff and our clients. Many of our clients are looking to expand across
borders, and the LEWIS global network provides a perfect infrastructure to
make this happen," said Dian Wahlen. "LEWIS and Leads United share a common
vision and the services we offer are complementary. We foresee that the
integration therefore will be both seamless and successful."
Under the terms of the deal, the Leads United brand will remain for the
foreseeable future.
About Leads United
Leads United is a communications consultancy with a clear goal in mind --
placing the brands, ideas and activities of our clients in the thoughts of
their target audience and keeping them there. Leads United was established
in 1993 and currently has 16 employees. Our core activities are (new) media
relations, internal communications and crisis communications in the most
divergent sectors.
Web site: http://www.leadsunited.com
About LEWIS PR
LEWIS specializes in global media relations, including creative services,
social media, new media services, analyst relations, European public
affairs, media training and event management for companies in Europe, Asia
Pacific and North America. It is headquartered in London with wholly-owned
subsidiaries in Antwerp, Bangalore, Barcelona, Boston, Bristol, Budapest,
Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Eindhoven, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Los
Angeles, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, Mumbai, New Delhi, New York,
Oslo, Paris, Prague, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Shanghai,
Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo, Warsaw and Washington DC. The company
has one of the fastest growth rates in its sector.
Contact Information: For further information about LEWIS PR, please contact
Andres Wittermann, EVP
Tel: +49 89 173019 0
Email: andresw@lewispr.com
Web site: http://www.lewispr.com