Naked Communications plans for global offices as part of expansion

Naked Communications is planning to open up to three new offices in markets across the world over the next 12 months. The news comes as Australian marketing services company, Photon Group, acquires the agency for an initial offer of £16.5m.

Nigel Long, group chief executive of Naked, told Marketing Week that its priority is to launch in Shanghai in China and Mumbai in India.

He says it is also seriously looking at Stockholm in Sweden and plans to expand in the US. It already has an office in New York, but it is looking at opportunities along the West Coast and in Chicago. He adds: “In the longer term we’re also looking into Latin America and the Middle East – Dubai.”

Long will also be working with the management in Naked’s Sydney office to continue its expansion into Asia, where it already has an office in Japan.

Long adds that Naked’s sale to Photon will give it the backing it needs for further overseas expansion and continued investment in areas such as brand activation (experiential marketing), digital and branded content.

Naked employs about 200 people in ten offices in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Its clients include the COI, Sony, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Johnson & Johnson and Kimberly-Clark.

The communications planning agency was launched in 2000 by founders Jon Wilkins, John Harlow and Will Collin.

The Naked group also includes digital strategy agency Hyper, and brand activation business, Lunch.

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