Williams Lea customer comms arm joins Paragon Group

Paragon Customer Communications has got its corporate cheque-book out once more to purchase Williams Lea CCM, the customer communications division of Williams Lea Tag Group for an undisclosed sum.

The company, which has 425 UK-based employees and an annual turnover of about £40m will become part of Paragon UK, Ireland and Luxembourg business.

Paragon says the investment is in line with its strategy to acquire complementary businesses to augment the company’s capabilities, talent, and market share, with locations in Normanton, Norwich, and Loughborough.

Williams Lea works for NatWest, Virgin Money, Capital One, Aviva and the Student Loans Company and, according to Paragon, “the acquisition brings exciting opportunities to work with these new clients as well as extending relationships with shared clients”.

The deal follows February’s acquisition of digital transformation agency Reason, a retail and financial services specialist which has built platforms for the likes of Waitrose, Gap and T-Mobile.

Paragon Group executive director of corporate development John Rogers commented: “Paragon remains committed to its acquisition growth strategy in a market that clearly remains fragmented and provides outstanding opportunity for further expansion, in particular to cross sell our extensive digital solutions.”

Paragon Customer Communications chief executive Jeremy Walters added: “The acquisition strengthens our position as one of the most trusted and reliable service providers in the customer communications market, and further consolidates our position as a technology-enabled international business services group.

“As we’ve got to know the team at Williams Lea in recent weeks, we have been impressed with their approach to client management and service delivery, so I’m delighted to welcome 425 new colleagues to our business.”

Williams Lea managing director John Evans concluded: “Paragon sets the standard for quality, performance, and innovation that others aspire to. I am delighted to be joining the Paragon family along with my colleagues and clients.”