QHL and Holland ‘marriage’ dissolved

Product design group Queensberry Hunt Levien has ended its high profile link with designer Nick Holland, after failing to achieve sufficient levels of growth.

QHL had a high profile ‘marriage’ in 1994 with Nick Holland Company, with QHL hoping the union would help it grow beyond its niche in ceramics. However, Holland came laden with a dowry of disgruntled creditors, following the liquidation of his Nick Holland Design Company (DW 24 February 1995).

According to David Queensberry the pre-nuptial promises have failed to be realised. Holland, he says, had grown the business and achieved some success in changing company direction, but not enough to justify his costs.

Holland remains at QHL until the end of September, working on client projects. He is free, should he wish, to chase QHL clients after his contract ends.

Holland is now considering running his own design consultancy once more and says all financial matters from his last firm have now been settled.

QHL, which will retain former Nick Holland Company staff brought in as part of the merger, is now considering hiring a replacement. Queensberry says the episode had not put him off considering other merger offers.