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Columbus, Ohio – Williams Lea, a leading global provider of skilled business-critical support services to financial, legal and professional services firms, has announced plans to expand to the Columbus Region, creating 550 new jobs. Hiring for account management, document production, graphic design, finance and administrative positions will begin in Q3 2019.
Williams Lea will immediately occupy 36,000 square feet of office space in Downtown Columbus, with a rapid expansion plan to grow to 60,000 square feet. This will help the company create long-term assurance and viability as it continues to provide world-class services and support to clients.
“The success, growth and attractiveness of the Columbus Region make this a smart decision for us as we continue to grow our onshore operations in the U.S.,” said Williams Lea Chief Executive Officer Clare Hart. “The ability to expand into a market like Columbus presents a significant talent attraction opportunity and helps us continue to service clients in the most economically feasible way compared to other major U.S. locations.”
Williams Lea has 7,000 employees in offices around the globe, including seven locations in the U.S., with headquarters in New York City and additional offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and Wheeling, West Virginia. The company selected the Columbus Region after considering other major U.S. markets for its expansion.
“The real estate opportunities in Downtown Columbus help attract companies like Williams Lea as it grows its North American footprint,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “We are pleased to support the company as it creates 550 new jobs and a wide range of employment opportunities in one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.”
Financial and insurance-related activities comprise the top sector of economic output in the Columbus Region. Companies ranging from JPMorgan Chase to Nationwide benefit from the Columbus Region’s continuous growth and skilled talent pool. With 52 college and university campuses, the Region boasts one of the highest concentrations of college students in the U.S., totaling more than 134,000 students.
“We are excited to welcome Williams Lea to Ohio, along with the 550 quality jobs the company will create in Columbus,” said JobsOhio Vice President and Head of Economic Development Dana Saucier. “We are proud that the Columbus Region was recognized for its talent capacity to deliver the high-quality services that Williams Lea provides to support financial, legal and professional services firms around the globe.”
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About Williams Lea
Williams Lea is the global provider of skilled business-critical support services to financial, legal and professional services firms. We connect people, processes and technology to manage documents and streamline key back office functions. From our humble beginnings as a print shop in London, to our position today as a global outsourcing leader, our business is built on a strong heritage, great relationships and a talented team. Williams Lea is part of Williams Lea Tag which has combined revenues of $1.2 billion and 10,000 employees worldwide, operating in over 195 cities across 40 countries. Williams Lea Tag is backed by Advent International, one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. Learn more at williamslea.com.
About the City of Columbus, Ohio
The City of Columbus is the 14th largest city in the United States with a population of 879,170 residents. The Columbus economy is balanced with a combination of education, technology, government, research, insurance and health care entities as major employers within the City. Columbus is gaining nationwide recognition for its booming downtown, historic neighborhoods, arts and sporting districts, open attitude and a noticeably affordable quality of life. Learn more about the City of Columbus at columbus.gov/development/Economic-Development.
About Columbus 2020
As the economic development organization for the Columbus Region, Columbus 2020’s mission is to generate opportunity and build capacity for economic growth across 11 Central Ohio counties. In 2010, hundreds of business and community leaders developed the Columbus 2020 Regional Growth Strategy, and the Columbus Region is now experiencing the strongest decade of growth in its history. Consistently named among the best economic development organizations in the country, Columbus 2020 expertly guides companies through the location decision process. Through strategic business outreach and customized research, the Columbus 2020 team leverages public, private and institutional partnerships to grow the Columbus Region’s economy and strengthen its national and international competitiveness. Funding is received from more than 300 private organizations, local governments, academic institutions and JobsOhio. Learn more at ColumbusRegion.com.
Columbus 2020 Media Contact
Amy Harman
614-225-6070
ah@columbusregion.com
Williams Lea Media Contact
Jennifer Materkoski
304-559-9491
jennifer.materkoski@wlt.com