Yonder hires US lead to aid trans-Atlantic growth

Yonder has hired its first US lead, Katie Hankison. She will take charge of continuing to build Yonder’s current offerings in the US.

Founded in 2020, via the merger of four specialist advisory brands, Yonder commenced life as a unified entity in 2020. Led by Abraham and counterpart Michael Simmonds, its client list included Amazon, BT, Costa Coffee, Formula 1, Lane Crawford, Marks and Spencer, Nationwide, Premier League – and the firm served them via a network of 175 people across London, New York and Hong Kong.

Now, as it looks to expand its reach in the US market, Yonder has announced the appointment of Katie Hankison as its first stateside lead. Hankinson will be responsible for building on the consultancy’s current offerings and continuing to connect business, brand and experience for long-term sustainable growth.

“This new opportunity with Yonder allows me to work with the best and brightest in business, and brand strategy, customer understanding, culture dynamics, and employee and customer experience,” said Hankinson. “Today's problems need better questions, imaginative thinking and a really clear sense of how to put strategy into action, and the team at Yonder has all that - I can't wait to dig in with clients to crack open perspectives and identify paths to growth, along with this fabulous team.”

Hankinson brings a track record of success in brand strategy and shaping new offerings to the role. She has formerly worked at Proximity London, BBDO New York, VaynerMedia and, most recently, The Sasha Group. In her new position at Yonder, she will report directly to Manfred Abraham, CEO.

“Welcoming Katie to our US team is a great step forward for Yonder, further cementing our commitment to growth,” said Abraham. “Her ability to connect the dots and look at problems systematically will provide our clients with a fresh perspective. Her skillset, combined with Yonder’s unique customer insights and future-casting tools, clients should be excited about what the future holds.”

The US is not the only front where Yonder is looking to grow internationally. In 2023, the firm established a Singapore outpost operation to strengthen its Asia offering, building on an existing operation in Hong Kong. The company’s US expansion further demonstrates Yonder's commitment to supporting clients on a global scale, across regions and sectors.