Farner International pushes ahead into UK market: Lansons joins Team Farner

Team Farner enters one of the most important communication markets in Europe. Reputation management firm Lansons joins the rapidly growing European agency alliance Team Farner as flagship UK consultancy.

Team Farner, already present in the UK through VIM Group, underpins its ambition to further internationalize its business by welcoming Lansons as flagship UK agency. Over the last three decades, Lansons has built out its consultancy offer across corporate and financial, public affairs, campaigns and creative, crisis and issues, and sustainability advisory. Its clients range from global brands to leaders in professional services, tech, fintech and financial services. With scaled investment for material growth, the partnership aims to accelerate Lansons through organic growth and by acquisition.

Ambition to become top player in UK

In January 2022, Gordon Tempest-Hay was appointed new CEO followed by a series of other strategic hires over the last 18 months, including its first executive creative director, a head of research and insight and appointments to boost its social and digital capabilities. “Our partnership with Team Farner will give us the investment firepower to push to be in the top league of the UK market. It’s an exciting time for anyone working at Lansons or looking to join with us”, says Gordon Tempest-Hay.

Roman Geiser, Executive Chairman of Team Farner said: “Entering the UK market is a very important step for Team Farner. It allows us to further internationalize our business and to partner with one of the most reputable firms in the UK. We are looking forward to partnering with our new colleagues at Lansons and are happy to welcome the new Partners to our agency alliance.”

Co-founder and Executive Chair Tony Langham: “It’s all about our people and our clients, and we loved the Team Farner concept because it delivers for both. I’m looking forward to working with our new international colleagues on a host of major reputational briefs, both here in the UK and across Europe.”

Lansons current senior leadership team of Executive chair, Tony Langham; CEO Gordon Tempest-Hay; and joint managing directors Laura Hastings, Rebecca Mayo and Stuart Graham will continue to lead the business. They will all remain equity partners in Team Farner along with 6 senior colleagues. Co-founder Clare Parsons, who is currently a non- executive director, will continue in her current role.

Currently, Team Farner already combines a fee volume of around 120 million Euros, with 17 partner agencies and over 700 employees across Europe. Further expansion steps are in the pipeline.

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Contact

Roman Geiser, Executive Chairman Farner International, +41 79 421 43 62

About Lansons

Founded in 1989 by Clare Parsons and Tony Langham, Lansons is a communications and reputation management consultancy, centred in London and New York, with 90+ consultants specialising in media, investor, political, regulatory, employee, marketing, and change communications. We partner with organisations, senior leaders and governments to transform reputations and change behaviours for the benefit of individuals and society. Lansons is owned by 35 partners (20 women and 15 men). In its 34 year history Lansons has been named Agency of the Year 32 times winning the title from PR Week, PRovoke, CIPR among others. It has a low Gender Pay Gap, commitments to racial equity and has been carbon neutral since 2009. For the last 19 years Lansons has been named as one of the best SMEs to work for across all sectors in the UK by Great Places to Work Institute. For more information: www.lansons.com

About Farner International AG/Team Farner

Farner International is an alliance of leading consultancies that see communication as a key factor in the success of an organisation. The international agency alliance carries the “Team Farner” brand. The group is led by successful communications entrepreneurs and partners who are themselves active in the consulting business. As an international team of the best minds, Farner combines all disciplines of communication such as strategy, reputation management, sustainability communication, branding, brand management, corporate communication, public affairs, marketing communication, behavioural science, advertising, digital and CommTech. Farner is present in the most important markets and cities. Farner International has its roots in Switzerland, where Farner is the market leader in integrated communications. Founded in 1951, Farner is one of the most established and oldest communication brands in Europe.

For more information: www.teamfarner.com

About Waterland

Waterland is an independent private equity investment firm that helps entrepreneurs achieve their growth objectives. With substantial financial support and industry expertise, Waterland enables its portfolio companies to achieve accelerated growth, both organically and through acquisitions.

Waterland has offices in the Netherlands (Bussum), Belgium (Antwerp), France (Paris), Germany (Hamburg, Munich), Poland (Warsaw), the United Kingdom (London, Manchester), Ireland (Dublin), Denmark (Copenhagen), Spain (Barcelona) and Switzerland (Zurich). Currently, approximately fourteen billion euros in equity funds are under management. Waterland has extensive experience in professional services, communications and technology through related investments in several European countries, including iO, Dept and Sideshow (digital agencies), Horn & Company (top management consulting), mrge (advertising technology), Moore Belgium (accounting and consulting services provider) and Valcon (data analytics & process consulting). Waterland has consistently achieved above-average performance with its investments since its founding in 1999. The firm is ranked fifth globally in the HEC/Dow Jones Private Equity Performance Ranking 2020 and eighth among global private equity firms in the Preqin Consistent Performers in Global Private Equity & Venture Capital Report 2020. In addition, Real Deals awarded Waterland the title “Pan-European House of the Year 2020” at the PE Awards.