Global boost for Coleman Group

The Coleman Group Worldwide is fulfilling its plans to build a global design business with new acquisitions in Italy and Chile.

The Coleman Group, which is part of the Interpublic Group – owner of Diefenbach Elkins and Davies Baron – bought London structural packaging design consultancy Planet last summer (DW 4 July 1997).

At the time The Coleman Group claimed the acquisition made it the third biggest design group in the world in terms of staff size, after Landor and Interbrand. In March 1997 the group purchased Swiss packaging and identity group Schmidlin & Partner, which has an office in Barcelona.

The latest purchases come as Interpublic posted strong results and a gross income of more than 1.7bn for 1997, making it the world’s biggest communications and advertising network, according to chairman of the board and CEO Philip Geier.

Its latest partnerships, with Gio’ Rossi Associati in Milan, and DIL in Santiago, Chile, will be effective from next month. They bring the group’s offices up to eight, with a total of 180 staff.

“We have a strategy for developing business penetration… to be better able to service the needs of our international clients,” says European managing director Stephen Merry. He cites Unilever, Nestlé and Reckitt & Colman among the group’s clients.

Following the acquisitions in Italy and Chile, Coleman plans to buy next in France. “We are also in discussions for acquisitions in Australia and Japan,” says Merry. The group wants to grow in graphic and structural design, with some corporate identity.

The Coleman Group in New York, founded by Owen Coleman, is 45-strong.

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