Grandfield and McBride’s merge

Grandfield Corporate Design has split from city PR firm Grandfield to merge with graphics group McBride’s Design.

McBride’s & Grandfield is owned by Gus Coulton, Richard Hammerton and Bryan Wilsher, who are all former McBride’s directors, and former Grandfield Corporate Design managing director Julie Giddens.

The four partners joined forces and financed the deal to buy Grandfield Corporate Design out from its holding company.

The merger gives McBride’s & Grandfield “like-minded partners and the critical mass to be able to help take everything to the next stage, and really grow the business”, says Giddens.

The new group has also brought in the two-man team of Radar Design, taking the numbers up to 25. It is still on the acquisition trail and is looking to bring in a couple more designers.

McBride’s & Grandfield is now working on the naming and branding of a new resort in Dubai, and of a major property development around the St Paul’s area of London – both of which it jointly pitched for.

McBride’s Design completed a management buy-out from the Oakley Press Group two years ago (DW 10 February 1995).