The Union has launched a new agency specialising in sales promotion and field marketing. Called Union Connect, the agency will be led by Kyle Hardie, who joins from Blue-Chip Marketing in Edinburgh. Previously Managing Director at Blue-Chip, Kyle is joined by Blue-Chip’s Account Director, Claire Prentice. Kyle will become a Board Director and take day-to-day responsibility for running the agency. Union Directors Ian McAteer, Andrew Lindsay and Mark Reid will also sit on the board of the new agency. Union Connect will be based at the Union’s Edinburgh offices in Inverleith.
Kyle and Claire bring extensive sales promotion experience through working on a wide range of clients including Warburtons, Highland Spring, Baxters Food Group, Scottish & Newcastle, VisitScotland and Maxxium. The Union already provides a range of sales promotion and field marketing services for clients, including Scottish Milk and the Scottish Executive.
The new agency will complement The Union’s other group companies, Union Direct (direct marketing) and Union Digital (web build and online marketing). Ian McAteer, The Union’s Group Chairman said: “We led the way in Scotland offering integrated communications when we launched direct and digital agencies over seven years ago, but we realise we need to keep improving our services to clients. Sales promotion and field marketing is an area we’ve been moving into for a while now, and by signing up Kyle and Claire to The Union we’re bringing fantastic expertise and passion into the group. I’m very optimistic about the prospects for Union Connect.” Kyle Hardie, Managing Director of Union Connect, said: “I’ve always admired The Union’s creative output and the agency’s excellent reputation, so the opportunity to work with Ian, Mark and Andrew was too good to pass up. Claire and I have the opportunity to build a new agency with new ideas, and with the backing of the Union Group we’re very confident in our proposition. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The new agency opens its doors on 14th May.
