DIA US hook-up offers clients ‘global service’

SOUTH LONDON consultancy DIA is to establish a presence in the US through an alliance with 60-strong Minneapolis consultancy Yamamoto Moss.

The groups have agreed a long-term plan to work together on complementary ventures and hope to announce their first joint project in April.

“DIA has been looking for the right US consultancy to work with for some time, since many of our clients require a global service.” says DIA chairman Barry Salter.

“This new association will enable DIA London, Yamamoto Moss and DIA Singapore to work across three time zones for international clients,” he adds.

The London and US groups will benefit from each other’s design capabilities and client lists. Yamamoto Moss specialises in brand strategy, corporate identity and new media, and its clients include 3M and American Express.

The 50-strong DIA group brings new media, corporate communication, brand development and exhibition design to the table. Its client list includes Cereal Partners and Chrysler.

Under the arrangement, both companies will continue to operate as individual entities. However, each will include work from the other in its portfolio.The two groups will bill the client seperately for the work they have done.

It is also likely that the group winning the new business will be paid an introductory fee.

Salter says the groups will look to move the relationship on through staff exchanges to examine how best they can complement one another. If it works well the alliance may become more formal, he says.

The move is part of an ongoing expansion and restructuring at DIA, which has seen a new office open in Singapore and a high fallout of top creatives in the group.