Fishawack appoints John Handley as new chairman

UK-based Fishawack has appointed John Handley as its new chairman in a move the communications agency group said will support its acquisition plans.

Handley has extensive experience of chairing companies backed by private equity investors and also lectures on behalf of the British Venture Capital Association.

He joins a group that has already struck a number of deals this year, acquiring Swiss medical communications agency Archimed and the US-based shop JK Associates.

“I have been impressed by the rate of growth that the Fishawack team has achieved over the past few years,” Handley said. “This has been both through acquisition and organically within the individual companies, but with effective consolidation and without losing the Group's specialist focus.

“I can see the further potential that the management team has identified in their strategic growth plan and anticipate a productive relationship creating further value in the business.”

Fishawack currently has a team of over 220, based at offices in the UK, the US and Switzerland.