Lighthouse acquires Leonhardt

Fitch parent Lighthouse Holdings has acquired Seattle design group The Leonhardt Group – its tenth company and third design group – as Design Week anticipated (DW 5 November).

This week the group has renamed itself Lighthouse Global Network and appointed Julian Hanson-Smith, managing director of newly acquired UK public relations group Financial Dynamics, as chief operating officer.

Leonhardt is a brand strategy and corporate identity group with more than 50 staff. US clients include Charles Schwab & Co, Bechtel Enterprises, Microsoft, and Federated Department Stores. It joins the LGN Design and Development Group, one of three of LGN’s business strands.

The design consultancy lists annual reports, packaging, marketing materials, on-line media and branded environments among its strengths.

“The Leonhardt Group brings a nationally recognised expertise in branding and strategic design for blue chip companies and premier brands to Lighthouse,” says LGN president Martin Beck.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to leverage Leonhardt’s strategic creativity for clients throughout our network of companies, in both the US and internationally,” he adds.

Lighthouse, which was formed in September 1998, acquired Fitch in March and San Francisco branding and identity group Primo Angeli in June. Further acquisitions are expected.