Expansion plans for Scottish 999 Group

The 999 Design Group is undergoing a period of rapid expansion and opening a Manchester office as it prepares to announce a raft of new business.

The Scottish design consultancy has three new staff joining its original Glasgow office this month. David Hepburn joins as production manager from his post as director of Cactus Creative Consultants. Claire Hendry joins to boost new-business development from her post as market analyst at Bauch & Lomb’s eyewear division. Chris Donaldson is to boost the design team, after four years as a senior designer in retail marketing with John Menzies in Edinburgh.

The appointments coincide with the opening of a new office in Manchester which will be headed by design director Keith Forbes. The new Manchester operation is intended to give a more local contact for 999’s clients such as Reebok.

The company is now mooting opening a London office as it prepares to announce two major wins, both of which are London-based household names. One is in the mobile phone sector, the other a home entertainment firm. However, the expansion-happy firm says it is also eyeing up San Diego and California as new regional bases after being asked to pitch for business there.