Brand Learning, a leading global expert in transforming organisational marketing capabilities, has set up its first overseas office. Brand Learning Inc has opened in New York headed up by Ana Maria Santos, board partner and managing director, US & Latin America. Ana has recently relocated to the US after almost 10 years working with Brand Learning.

Ana is supported by an established and extensive team of US-based consultants led by Sandra Arkle, group client VP, and an international ‘expansion team’ currently working out of London, led by Harriet de Swiet, partner and group client director.

Brand Learning has already built a significant client base in the US, representing approximately 20 percent of its global business including: Armour-Eckrich, Bayer, Brown-Forman, Energizer, IHG, Kellogg’s, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pepsico, Pfizer, Sara Lee, Shell, Snapfish and UMB.

Since its inception twelve years ago, Brand Learning has worked with over 100 clients in 60 countries and over 60 percent of its business is already sourced outside the UK. 

Mhairi McEwan, CEO Brand Learning,  who co-founded the business with Andy Bird in 2000, comments: “At the end of 2011 we restructured The Brand Learning Group to better service our global clients.  The opening of Brand Learning Inc is a key part of our strategy and is a significant milestone for us. Ana Maria Santos is one of our most highly experienced executives and as a result of this investment we can now deliver an even more proactive, responsive and flexible service to our US-based clients - supporting the rapid growth of our business in the US and Latin America.

Ana Maria Santos, managing director, USA & LatAm comments: “In today’s tough economic conditions, we are pleased that our offer is proving highly relevant to US clients in helping them build the marketing capabilities they need to sustain competitive edge, create better customer value and drive growth. It’s rewarding to be heading up this new business unit and to see our carefully developed plans come to fruition.”

The Brand Learning Group continues to successfully build its business and is currently delivering growth of 15-20 percent year on year and in its last financial year, a turnover of $26 million. In the last year alone it has secured 20 new clients including Vodafone, GSK, Kellogg, Uralsib and Optus.

Brand Learning’s passion is to transform the marketing capabilities and commercial performance of people, teams and organisations across the world.