Williams Lea boosts Irish operations

Williams Lea has increased its presence in Ireland with the acquisition of Pierce Corporate Information Solutions (CIS), the outsourcing division of Irelands RW Pierce Group.

Pierce CIS was created in 2001 in a partnership between Williams Lea and RW Pierce Group, a creative services and print specialist.

Williams Lea group chief executive Tim Griffiths said Ireland was a hugely important market. The group declined to put a value on the acquisition or reveal the turnover of Pierce CIS.

Williams Leas Irish operation sources 97% of its products from within the country. Pierce CIS employs 20 staff at its offices in Dublin, and counts Allied Irish Bank, Canada Life and Queens University Belfast as clients.

Astron, Williams Leas outsourcing rival, made its own move into Ireland a year ago when it bought Integrated Print Logistics Solutions (PrintWeek, 15 November 2002).