Pleon makes Helfer its first UK managing director

Jennifer Helfer has been promoted to become the first UK MD of Pleon's London office.

The newly created role is aimed at helping drive European expansion for the agency, whose tech clients include T-Mobile, Memorex data storage products, computer manufacturer Commodore and software developer Infosys. Helfer is also expected to grow business in London.

Helfer, a US national, became director of the agency's corporate and marketing practice at the start of this year. She will continue to direct that practice in addition to her new responsibility for the management of the 35-strong London office.

Her position mirrors the structure of Pleon's other 31 European offices across 15 countries. She reports to the agency's UK CEO Geoff Beattie.

Helfer joined Pleon UK as associate director from Firefly Communications in December 2004 with a remit to grow and develop Pleon's corporate and marketing offering.

As part of her role she was based for a time in The Hague with Pleon client Shell Renewables, Hydrogen and CO2 as interim vice-president of external affairs.

Helfer previously worked with SME Corporate Finance where she built a partnership of London-based services firms to support the growth of small technology companies.

In the US, Helfer was director of marketing and corporate comms for £265m-turnover Nasdaq-listed iGATE, an IT services company.