The LEWIS Group has added twelve offices to its global network, just half way into its two-year global expansion plan. Last year the agency set out to double the number of LEWIS offices from 21 to 42 within 24 months, to support client growth in the regions.

The expansion has created significant opportunities within the management structure. Rafael Rahn, previously GM Munich, has become VP Central and Eastern Europe. He will be responsible for the offices in Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic, as well as planned regional development. Jorge Lopez, previously GM, LEWIS Spain, is now VP Southern Europe. He will be overseeing LEWIS offices in Spain and Italy, and expansion in Southern Europe.

In the UK, Katy Lyons, associate director, has been promoted to GM Regions. Her new role will be to drive growth in regional presence and develop new offices in Dublin, Glasgow and other regional locations. Anna Longstaff, formerly associate director, has been promoted to GM London.

“It is great to be able to apply the success of our current network into previously untapped markets. The expansion will allow us to develop our services and reputation, and find strong talent further afield,” said Kath Pooley, SVP UK.

The latest LEWIS office opened in Budapest in late 2007. It is the agency’s first Eastern European office, to be followed shortly by a presence in Prague. This will make a total of 15 LEWIS offices in Europe, with over 100 members of staff in that region.

With significant growth over 2007, LEWIS Europe is almost at 8m EU in annual retainer revenues. Andres Wittermann, SVP Europe and head of the Six Continents Plan (6CP), stated: “2007 has been a significant year for growth, to support our international client base. We are on track to have over 40 offices by the end of 2008, and so far, this has all been done organically.”

In 2007, LEWIS also opened offices in Bangalore and Delhi, Barcelona, Brussels, Frankfurt, Oslo, San Jose and Seattle. In addition to this, OCTANE, a division of LEWIS, opened offices in Munich and Paris and moved to new headquarters in Victoria, London.

The agency is not only expanding, it is also developing its skills and investing in its 270+ employees. In April 2007, The LEDA (LEWIS Employee Development Academy) training programme successfully launched in Munich. This is a six-month programme especially designed for trainees from developing markets to learn about all aspects of PR and agency business. LEWIS is now working on launching LEDAs in other regions, starting with Manchester, to fast track graduates.

New client additions to the LEWIS international network in the last six months include Northgate HR, SEGA and EMB.