Haygarth plans growth after deal

Haygarth Design is primed for European expansion following the acquisition of its parent Haygarth Group by French marketing services consultancy High Co last week.

There have been no job losses at either Haygarth’s design unit, which employs 30 staff, or at the parent company, which employs 152 people in London, Dubai and Australia.

The acquisition, which is subject to approval by High Co shareholders in December, gives Haygarth Design a foothold in France, Belgium and Spain. High Co, which bought French consultancy Lonsdale in July, is also expected to buy a marketing communications group in Germany by the first half of next year.

‘[High Co’s acquisition] allows us to expand into Europe at a higher level,’ says Haygarth Group group director Bernice Lovell.

High Co is 30 per cent owned by WPP Group. It has identified the UK as a key sector for marketing and communications and its increased presence on the Continent means it is in a position to pitch for WPP clients, says the High Co spokesman.

Lovell maintains that Haygarth Design will not sit within any division of WPP, such as The Brand Union, which plays host to Enterprise IG, Lambie-Nairn and The Partners, among others.

‘We needed to build up a marketing services network in the UK because our clients wanted us to have more a European presence. Haygarth Group is one of the last big remaining independents and it was crucial to get a foothold in the UK,’ says a High Co spokesman.

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