Gate One expands into France with first international presence

Eight years after its founding, business consultancy Gate One has gone international with its launch in France. The firm’s new office will see its transformation offering reach clients in mainland Europe.

Following the culmination of Brexit, many EU businesses are planning to open offices in the UK to continue serving British clients. The process goes both ways, however, and 40% of mid-tier businesses in the UK also believe one of their key challenges in 2021 was the launch of a new international office.

Gate One is the latest company to cross the Channel to the mainland, with the news that it is set to launch a new hub in France. The extension of its geographical reach is Gate One’s first outside of the UK in its eight-year history. Having been founded in 2013, the firm is headquartered in Pancras Square, London – but its new office will see it expand its service offering of designing and delivering transformation programmes to a new market.

The move comes just after French professional services firm Havas purchased Gate One in late 2019. The deal was expected to furnish Havas with new capabilities and a significantly expanded presence, at a time when it is having to keep pace with competitors at home and abroad engaging in aggressive expansion projects of their own. However, it has also opened up major opportunities for Gate One, as evidenced by its plans for expansion.

Tim Phillips, Managing Partner at Gate One, stated, “A key factor in our decision to join Havas was the opportunity to leverage the group’s geographical reach to provide greater value and service to clients. It quickly became evident that there was wider demand for Gate One’s services beyond the UK – particularly as a result of the pandemic and a subsequent need for organisations to transform and accelerate their digital capabilities.”

By extending its services to France, where Havas is headquartered, Gate One now hopes to unlock a number of opportunities which Brexit may not have otherwise allowed. According to a release from the consultancy, Gate One has tailored its offering to the French market, and the specific needs of French organisations.

Gate One Partner Laurent Fauroux added, “Our extensive understanding of the French market means we are well placed to deliver meaningful and lasting change for our clients, working closely with them to deliver the big ideas that will transform their business. We have already provided business transformation services to several clients in France, with financial services, life sciences, consumer business and manufacturing being among our specialist industries.”