Two Dutch agencies merge with international partner into new operation

June 26, 2017

Cognito opens Amsterdam office to serve financial services with integrated communications strategies

LONDON / AMSTERDAM, 26 June 2017 – Cognito, the integrated financial PR and marketing firm specialising in financial services and technology, will be opening its Amsterdam office as of 26 June 2017.

Cognito is investing in the new venture -Cognito Media Amsterdam – which will be majority-owned and managed by Richard Neve, managing partner, and Jan Jaap Omvlee, strategy partner, who are merging their individual practices to form the sixth Cognito office.

Richard Neve, Cognito Media Amsterdam: “As much as ever, CEOs worry about both growing value and managing reputational risk. While they continue to see a unique role for business media, platforms and channels are in flux. Clients’ methods of identifying and receiving information are changing and so are boards’ expectations, particularly post-Brexit. Clients need visibility and control, and in the movement towards multiple financial centres, we are well placed to serve them in the best way possible from our Amsterdam hub.”

Tom Coombes, CEO of Cognito: “We’re delighted to have Richard and Jan Jaap on board, helping us and our clients to deliver the right integrated solution to any challenge. Cognito has worked extensively for clients across Europe over recent years, and this office further deepens our presence as part of our growing international network. The Netherlands is an exciting market for us, as a Eurozone member with a strong financial sector and an outward looking global trading mentality.

“We share with our new Dutch colleagues the realisation that financial services CEOs and their marketing and communications teams now want a specialist agency partner who can deliver both rigorous advice and strategy, and innovative, integrated campaigns across all channels and disciplines.”

Richard Neve started as a journalist and made the transition to PR by joining the communications team of CNBC Europe. He founded his own agency, sold it and joined boutique financial PR agency CitySavvy in 2009. In 2014, he and his team spun-out of CitySavvy to work independently. Since then he has been creating, producing and managing campaigns that include PR, branded content and corporate events.

Following a career in advertising, Jan Jaap Omvlee became a financial/tech writer to financial institutions, tech and FinTech companies in the Netherlands and abroad. His expertise covers a broad range of skills including technical writing and production of collateral materials and social media campaigns on asset/investment management, boardroom topics, GRC, and cloud connectivity.

Cognito Media Amsterdam currently has a headcount of eight and will continue to serve the clients of Neve and Omvlee including Achmea, Achmea Investment Management, Alvarez & Marsal Benelux, Aon, Duff & Phelps Disputes & Investigations, Dynamic Credit, Equinix, Figlo, Five Degrees, Fund Seminar, Himalayan Fund, Robeco, Unirobe Meeùs Groep.

 

www.cognitoamsterdam.nl

 

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

For interview requests or extra information please contact: Richard Neve, [email protected], Tel. +31 (020) 754 64 64, Mobile (0)6 22 48 37 66 Andrew Marshall, [email protected], Tel. +44 (0)20 7426 9400