Westbourne has boosted its European credentials with the hiring of two EU experts and the opening of an office in Brussels. The announcement comes at a time of rapid growth for the communications agency which increased its revenue by 46% in 2014, and earlier this year announced the hire of Rt Hon Jacqui Smith.
Christiaan Weiland has been appointed Associate Partner to provide Westbourne’s clients with help on European issues. Dutch-born Weiland joins the organisation after four years in a senior management role in FleishmanHillard’s Brussels office. He brings with him over a decade of experience working at the European Commission and the European offices of Philips Electronics and Time Warner.
Weiland will focus on public affairs activity for both US and European clients, including the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform. He will be supported by Finnish Account Executive Johannes Pelkonen who joins Westbourne from DG Energy of the European Commission.
Pelkonen holds an MSc from the London School of Economics and a BA from Royal Holloway, University of London. He has extensive experience of European regulation from the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency. His focus at Westbourne will be on European and UK public affairs, as well as contributing to international expansion.
James Bethell, Managing Director at Westbourne, said: “There’s not a major issue facing British business that does not have a Brussels dimension to it and we are tooling up to meet our clients’ needs and helping to increase their European Union influence.
“Christiaan is a citizen of Europe who lives and breathes European affairs with Johannes working alongside him we are able to offer our clients additional EU firepower.”
Christiaan Weiland added: “I am thrilled to be part of this new chapter in Westbourne’s stellar growth and the spreading of its wings across Europe. I am looking forward to support existing and new clients on EU policy and regulatory developments, which impact their bottom-line, reputation as well as ability to invest and grow”.