Kinesso UK&I, the IPG Mediabrands technology-driven performance marketing agency within Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), has selected Leeds to locate its EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence. Boasting a dedicated team of 150 experts, the Centre of Excellence will deliver international digital experience solutions for clients across a minimum of 28 different languages. The Centre of Excellence expects to transact £8m from international work this year.
Focused on key service offerings including digital experience analytics and strategy, SEO, UX, web design and development, copywriting, performance content, Conversion Rate Optimisation, and marketing automation, the EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence has been developed to drive maximum flexibility. The Centre of Excellence enables clients to choose a centralised model for their European marketing based in Leeds or a hybrid model with multiple in-market teams. Clients who have worked with the EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence include Adobe, Etihad Airways and Western Union.
Following the launch of Kinesso in September last year off the back of integrating IPG Mediabrands’ legacy agencies Reprise, Matterkind and Kinesso, the selection of Leeds as the location of the EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence represents a significant milestone in its mission to unlock the full potential of brands whilst capitalising on the international excellence and expertise of the Leeds-based team.
With an extensive integrated service offering, the EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence supports in-market teams to deliver a full suite of digital experience solutions to clients without the need for multiple partners for a more seamless and streamlined approach. Providing the most powerful delivery engine in the industry to the biggest and best known brands.
Kinesso UK&I plans to further grow its presence in Leeds and the talent pool offered in one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, with an economy forecasted to grow an additional 21% over the next 10 years. Kinesso UK&I was recently announced as the top ranked digital agency in the Prolific North agency rankings, reflecting the strength of their Northern England presence.
The EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence is one of the first moves from Kinesso UK&I CEO Chloe Hawking since taking on the role of Kinesso President EMEA, where she is leading the growth of the performance marketing agency and transformation through tech-enabled work. The practice will be led by Jonny Artis, Global Head of Experience at Kinesso and Danny Blackburn, Chief Strategy Officer, Kinesso UK&I – both based in Leeds.
Artis commented: “At Kinesso we’ve been championing the fact that there is world-class talent outside of London since 2016. Our Leeds-based team has bucked every trend and busted every myth or assumption in this regard, growing its international portfolio year on year, to become a European centre of excellence in performance marketing. Our talented and dedicated team in Leeds will continue to innovate and develop new strategies in order to better service our clients not just in the UK, but throughout Europe.”
Chloe Hawking added: “Digital experience is core to the success of so many businesses today. Our Leeds team has grown over the years to be the recognised industry leaders in this space, and we are thrilled to broaden their impact. Connecting our brilliant local experience talent across EMEA, with one of the largest digital experience teams in the industry in Leeds, ultimately offering clients more flexibility and scaled expertise to get digital experience delivering business results.”
The EMEA Experience Centre of Excellence’s craft teams have generated national recognition from leading organisations and publishers, including scores of Content and Experience awards won over the years, including several European Search Awards and the International Content Marketing Awards in 2023.
