Real Chemistry is expanding its footprint in Europe with the planned opening of a new office and addition of four leaders.

The 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree announced Thursday that it is opening a second office in the United Kingdom based in Manchester, which will be operational early next year. The agency already conducts its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business out of hubs located in London and Zurich. 

To support the expansion of its EMEA presence, the agency hired Jason Gardner to serve as SVP, head of medical; Celine Parmentier as SVP, head of client Services as well as both James Graham and Greg Barter to serve as EVP, executive director at 21GRAMS, part of Real Chemistry.

The four leaders bring a wide variety of executive experience working in the pharma industry as well as in the advertising and marketing sectors.

“We have had tremendous growth in the EMEA market since opening our London office in 2009,” Real Chemistry CEO Shankar Narayanan said in a statement. “We bring something completely unique to the market, offering healthcare brands one partner that combines unparalleled audience intelligence, engaging creative, medical and scientific expertise, and integrated communications across the commercialization spectrum.” 

Through the personnel moves and plans for a second European office, Real Chemistry is the latest in a series of advertising agencies making a concerted effort to expand on the continent.

Earlier this month, The Bloc, another 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree, formalized its partnership with Impact Communication Partners and its sibling agency BioMedCom Partners to expand its medical communications offerings in both North America and Europe.

This came weeks after the agency bought Italian communications firm Thenewway and X-Ray, a Swiss creative agency, and established The Bloc in Germany.

Klick Health, another 2023 MM+M Agency 100 honoree, also bolstered its leadership team during the fall with the hiring of six leaders to join its EMEA hub in London.

Outside of its international growth, Real Chemistry also announced a strategic partnership over the summer with Writer, a generative AI platform, to focus on “creativity, strategy and innovation in creating content.”

To read a February 2024 article on Real Chemistry’s revenue growing 7% in 2023, click here.