Gate One expands to Ireland and the US

Consulting firm Gate One has expanded to Ireland and the US. The company now operates in four countries, including France and the UK, where it is headquartered.

Following the culmination of Brexit, 40% of mid-tier businesses in the UK suggested that one of their key challenges in 2021 was the launch of a new international office. As the consultancy looked to meet the needs of clients inside and out of the EU, Gate One became the latest company to expand beyond Britain this year.

Earlier in 2021, Gate One crossed the Channel to continental Europe, with the news that it is set to launch a new hub in France. The extension of its geographical reach was Gate One’s first outside of the UK in its eight-year history. Months later, however, the Pancras Square headquartered consultancy has further expanded its service offering to two new international markets.

The firm has extended its geographical footprint to Ireland and the US – taking its international footprint into four different countries. The US wing will launch later in New York with its leader still to be appointed, while in Dublin, Anthony Gaffney heads up Gate One in Ireland. He will now work to build independent client relationships, as well as working closely with the Havas villages within their regions to provide a complementary portfolio of services to Havas clients.

Tim Phillips, Managing Partner at Gate One, said, “We are delighted to announce the latest chapter in Gate One’s extraordinary growth story. Our distinctive approach to consulting combined with the experience and know-how of consultants with a deep understanding of their respective markets means greater choice and opportunity for those organisations looking for a compelling alternative to traditional consultancy services on national and international assignments.”

Gate One joined the Havas group in 2019, combining its transformation expertise with Havas’ strategic marketing, creative and communications know-how, to provide integrated digital, marketing and business transformation services to its clients. According to Phillips, Havas’ international reach – and its capacity to help Gate One launch in new markets – was a key factor in the deal.

“With 316 offices in 75 countries… their established presence in our chosen countries provides us with a strong platform for growth and, in the case of France and Ireland, allows us continued access to mainland Europe following Brexit,” he explained.

So far, the US and Ireland teams have hit the ground running. According to a release from Gate One, the firm is already providing business transformation services to organisations across a range of industries in both geographies.

Dublin recruitment

With Gate One’s official office launch scheduled in Dublin in late September, the consultancy is planning on rapid growth in Ireland. Around 50 hires are projected within the next five years, and recruitment is already underway for experienced management consultants and senior industry specialists.

Country lead Gaffney noted, “As a key economic and digital hub, Ireland is a natural choice for our international expansion and, as part of the Havas group, we believe we offer clients a differentiated digital and business consultancy proposition. The recent change in operating environments for consultancies, brought on by Covid-19, allows Gate One to grow domestically, as well as service global clients from Ireland. We are now actively recruiting entrepreneurial consultants who may be returning home to Ireland from abroad or looking for a change from the norm in Ireland.”

Supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland, Gate One’s target industries for Ireland include the well-established cluster of indigenous and global life sciences companies, retail, consumer goods, financial services and public sector. This feeds into the Irish Government’s current drive to boost employment across the country.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, commented, “The Government is working around the clock to deliver jobs and growth in Ireland. The launch of this exciting new challenger consultancy in Ireland, with a differentiated offering, is a testament to the resilience of the Irish economy, to the strength of our talent pool and to the attractiveness of the business environment. I would like to personally welcome Gate One and I look forward to witnessing their expansion over the coming months and years.”