Coley Porter Bell has signaled its intent to expand its the corporate design offer with two heavyweight signings.

The agency has recruited Helen Westropp, nee Elliott-Cooper, one of the stars of the 90’s corporate design sector, as a Business Director.  It has also hired seasoned corporate planner Natalie Coombes, from Futurebrand.

Photo: Helen Westropp, the newly appointed Business Director at Coley Porter Bell

Westropp was a well known strategist in the corporate field, working as European Marketing and Consulting Director for Landor before setting up her own consultancy Delphi Marques in the late 90’s. She is also on the Advisory Council of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Coombes meanwhile has considerable experience of planning corporate design projects for such brands as solicitors Linklater’s, Norwegian oil company Statoil and US telecoms firm Verizon.

The two hirings put in the place the final members of CPB’s corporate team. Late last year it signed up experienced corporate designers Richard Clayton and Igor Asrologo.

Coley Porter Bell CEO Vicky Bullen said that the company was now ready to compete at the highest levels for corporate design work. “We have deliberately taken time to get the best and most experienced people to work on our corporate offer. Helen is one of the most accomplished people in this field in London.  With the backup of insight from Natalie and creative work from Igor and Richard, our corporate design offer stands alongside the very best”.

Westropp said she was persuaded to move back into the corporate world because Coley Porter Bell has a unique competitive edge. “I wanted to get back to working on big brands where I can bring breadth and depth of experience. Coley Porter Bell has the ideal collaborative but creative culture that will allow me to do that.”