UK Owl

17 July 2012

Mayor Boris Johnson welcomes leading social media company HootSuite in London

The Mayor of London has hailed the arrival of Canadian social media management company, HootSuite, as it launched its European headquarters today in the capital. The firm joins the growing number of successful North American digital businesses that have set up their European HQ in London, now the leading digital capital of Europe.

HootSuite’s social media management system allows individuals and companies to manage and track their social media profiles (such as Twitter and Facebook) conveniently from one place. Currently, 79 of the world’s Fortune 100 companies use HootSuite, including McDonalds, PepsiCo, Sony Music and others. The company plans to hire more than 24 sales and support job positions and expand the team to 50 by the end of next year. HootSuite is growing at 300 per cent a year in Canada adding an average of six employees to their office in Vancouver every week.

"Within the next two years our goal is to bring our product to more agencies and brands, integrating it to their social business structure. Our target is to grow the London office to 50 employees by December next year and then grow beyond that," says HootSuite’s CEO, Ryan Holmes. "London’s agency culture is what attracted us to this market. It has been a big advantage to moving here as it opens up access to a wide variety of people who have experience working in these closely networked business structures."

London currently has the largest concentration of digital agencies of any European city, with 85 of the top 100 interactive agencies being based in the capital. Supporting the growth of the technology and digital sector is a key goal for the Mayor, who will be using the Olympic and Paralympic Games to promote London to business audiences through a series of engagement and promotional events which includes hosting business leaders using City Hall as London House to create a business networking hub.

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: 'London is now at the forefront of the high tech revolution, proving itself as a global magnet for the innovative companies that meet the needs and harness the opportunities of the 21 century.

'Our vibrant city has the outstanding workforce, space and infrastructure to nurture the very brightest and best digital talent. This is good news for Londoners meaning job creation and economic growth. Our confidence in our offer for this sector is testified by the decision by fast-growing HootSuite to locate its European base right here. During Games-time it is my mission to ensure that visiting business leaders recognise all world class credentials so even more companies decide London is the top choice for their investment.'

Nick Baird, the Chief Executive of UK Trade & Investment, said:

"London is at the centre of so many businesses and media networks that HootSuite really can grow their business in the UK but also develop their business abroad from here. In this Olympic year they will find the myriad of business opportunities and events create the ideal conditions to accelerate their growth in the UK."

HootSuite were supported in their move to London by UK Trade & Investment, and London & Partners. HootSuite’s offices are located within Central Working’s premises at 11-13 Bayley Street, Bedford Square London, WC1B 3HD.

Notes to editors

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply through HootSuite’s Careers website.

About HootSuite

HootSuite is a social media management system for businesses and organizations to collaboratively execute campaigns across multiple social networks from one secure, web-based dashboard. Launch marketing campaigns, identify and grow audience, and distribute targeted messages using HootSuite’s unique social media dashboard. Streamline team workflow with scheduling and assignment tools and reach audiences with geo-targeting functionality. Invite multiple collaborators to manage social profiles securely, plus provide custom reports using the comprehensive social analytics tools for measurement. Key social network integrations include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ Pages, plus a suite of social content apps for YouTube, Flickr, Tumblr and more - http://media.hootsuite.com/media-kit

About London & Partners

London & Partners is the official promotional organisation for London. Our company attracts and delivers value to business, students and visitors. London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and a network of commercial partners.

Our remit is to drive leisure and business visitors as well as bidding to secure major events in London, to unlock the city for overseas businesses who want to set up or expand in London and to promote the capital’s world class universities to international students.

Our intention is to work in partnership with organisations in London and across the world to deliver our goal - that London be globally recognised as the best big city on earth.

For more information visit www.londonandpartners.com.

About UK Trade & Investment

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy. We also help overseas companies bring their high quality investment to the UK’s economy – acknowledged as Europe’s best place from which to succeed in global business. UKTI offers expertise and contacts through its extensive network of specialists in the UK, and in British embassies and other diplomatic offices around the world. We provide companies with the tools they require to be competitive on the world stage. For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000. For latest press releases, visit the online newsroom at www.ukti.gov.uk/media. You can also keep in touch with developments at UKTI through www.blog.ukti.gov.uk, www.twitter.com/ukti and www.flickr.com/photos/tags/ukti.

Contacts

For more information please contact:

HootSuite Media, Inc.

Sandy Pell, @HootSandy

Public and Analyst Relations

media@hootsuite.com

London & Partners

Toby Hall: +44 (0)20 7234 5710

UKTI

James Clements: +44 (0)20 7215 2491