TOKYO — Allison+Partners has entered Japan via the acquisition of local PR agency Focused Communications, marking the latest step in the MDC Partners firm's international expansion.

Allison has acquired "all of the business operations" of Focused, co-founder and global COO Andy Hardie-Brown told the Holmes Report. All of Focused's current clients and 15 employees will integrate into Allison+Partners Japan, which will remain led by its two co-founders — president/CEO Akemi Ichise (pictured) and chairman Takashi Miura.

The acquisition follows expansion by Allison+Partners in Europe and Asia. In the latter region it now counts offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok and Singapore, as well as Tokyo via this latest deal. "For Allison+Partners, we have to understand that Japan is the world’s third largest economy and, in the context of a lot of new business RFPs, Allison+Partners is constantly asked to represent clients in Japan and in the region."

Ichise, who co-founded Focused with Miura in 2000, noted that the move would give her firm the global network that it requires, amid local market conditions that remain sluggish. "We’d also like to help Japanese clients to go into the global market," said Ichise. "For Focused, that was difficult without a global team to support global clients outside Japan."

Focused has collaborated with Allison for several years on a number of clients, with Hardie-Brown noting that "we believe this integration will continue to fuel growth."