Smarts Communicate opens London office following Johnnie Walker win
Belfast-based global PR and content agency Smarts Communicate has opened a London office following its appointment by Diageo as Johnnie Walker's communications agency in Europe.
The MSQ Partners-owned consultancy recently oversaw the global PR launch of the brand's ‘Joy Will Take You Further’ campaign, the biggest in Johnnie Walker’s 200-year history.
The London office will be headed up by managing partner Helen Rainford, previously consumer creative director at Good Relations and formerly associate board director at Cake.
Speaking about the opening of the new office, Pippa Arlow, joint managing director of the agency said: “With 20 years of in-market experience and a decade of global PR experience behind us, we believe the time is right to extend our operational footprint into London.
"This is the first in a number of exciting steps for us. We are proud of our record of forging strong, innovative partnerships with key brands – and our hard-earned reputation as an agency that constantly challenges itself to deliver more," she added.
The agency, which currently works with clients across more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, counts British Airways, BT, Lidl and Guinness among its client roster.
The London announcement coincides with Smarts’ offices in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh) rebranding as Smarts Communicate in a move designed to provide greater opportunities for businesses seeking a UK networked service. The new office operation will be based at Tottenham Court Road.