Kellen News
For Immediate Release
Keith Keeney 404-252-3663
Cara Clinton 212-297-2109
Kellen Company Acquires Ernst & Young Association Management Practice in Brussels
From left to right are: Peter Rush, president, Kellen Company; Alfons Westgeest, managing partner, Kellen Europe; Michael J. Brooks, CFO, Kellen Company; and Robert C. Gelardi, CEO, Kellen Company.
ATLANTA (June 14, 2004) -- The Kellen Company has acquired Ernst & Young Association Management N.V. from Ernst & Young Special Services in Brussels, Belgium. Ernst & Young Association Management has been renamed Kellen Europe. As a result of this acquisition, the Kellen Company will become the premier international association management company with a full-service subsidiary in the heart of the European market.
The Kellen Company is a premier professional services firm that provides association management, communications, government relations, meetings management and interactive services to associations and companies worldwide. Ernst & Young Association Management, a European leader in the creation, management and representation of trade associations, operated for more than 15 years as a business unit within Ernst & Young International.
The combined company will serve more than 10,000 companies worldwide, either through its 70 client associations or directly. Kellen will now have five strategically located offices, in Brussels and Washington, DC, as well as New York, Atlanta and Tucson.
"Adding a Brussels office provides our clients with professional capabilities to deal with any issue in the European Union," said Bob Gelardi, Chairman & CEO, Kellen Company. "The professionals at Ernst & Young Association Management share our commitment to our values and this provides them with the opportunity for continued growth."
Kellen Company and Ernst & Young Association Management established a strategic partnership in 2002. Ernst & Young, as part of its strategy of fully guaranteeing the independence of its statutory auditors within the framework of the law on Corporate Governance, decided to sell non-core practices. Alfons Westgeest will continue as the Managing Partner of Kellen Europe.
"I am delighted to be joining the professionals at Kellen Company," said Mr. Westgeest. "This provides us with an opportunity to continue to grow our practice in Europe and throughout the world. It is already providing benefits for our clients to tap the expertise in Kellen’s other offices."
"With increasing globalization, it is important for us to lead our clients with resources and knowledge they need. With the expansion of the EU and the integration of the world trading community, our expertise on both continents will provide added value to our clients," noted Peter Rush, President & COO, Kellen Company.
Visit www.kellencompany.com or www.kelleneurope.com for further information.