The agency, which is headquartered in Boston, has appointed Alex Apthorpe and Yvonne Hoffzimmer as joint managing directors, with the duo tasked with overseeing the development, growth and operations of Jack Morton in the Middle East. Both move from live communications agency, The Bridge, which they founded in 2008.
Although the agency has worked with clients in the Middle East for a number of years, the move marks the first time the agency has had a permanent regional presence.
Julian Pullan, Jack Morton’s EMEA president, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Jack Morton. Earlier this year we opened our office in Singapore, extending our strong Asia Pacific network. We are also well represented in the US and Europe, but the Middle East has been a glaring gap in our footprint. Whilst we have been working in the region with our global clients for many years, the opening of the Middle Eastern branch of our agency will massively improve our service; as well as allow us to develop new relationships with ME brands, many of whom have expressed an interest in the launch. Apthorpe and Hoffzimmer are a perfect fit to represent our brand in the region and will provide the very high level of service our clients have come to expect from Jack Morton.”
Jack Morton is at the cutting edge of its field, working with clients such as P&G, Nokia and GM. Part of the Interpublic Group (IPG), its regional operation will be based in the same building as IPG’s other agency brands, which fall under the MCN umbrella in the Middle East, although the agency is fully owned by IPG.
“We start with just the two of us, with support from the London office,” said Apthorpe. “But we’re recruiting and will be up to a full team by this time next year so we can service the majority of our clients without support from the UK.”