LONDON--Lewis PR is to invest US$5m in Asia-Pacific over the next three years, following solid growth in the region.

The investment will take the form of at least one acquisition. A further ten new positions within account servicing and two new regional posts will also be created.

Recruitment for the new position of Singapore MD is also underway, following the hire of digital marketing head Sanjana Chappalli in June. Earlier this year, Lewis PR's Asia-Pacific business development MD James Brasher departed for Rice Communications. 

“The performance of the region’s team under the excellent leadership of Andy Oliver justifies this sort of entrepreneurial investment,” said Andres Wittermann, executive vice president of Lewis PR Europe and Asia. “The region is of strategic importance to the global business and we will drive revenues and margin through organic digital PR growth as well as acquisitions.”

Earlier this week, Lewis announced that it had hired former Consolidated PR MD Sarah Robinson to head its global talent capabilities.

Separately, Lewis has won multi-market PR duties for Japan's NTT Data, the world's sixth-largest IT services company.

Lewis PR is charged with leading communications strategy and execution across EMEA and Brazil.

The decision follows NTT Data's recent rebranding, after  a number of European acquisitions, including Cirquent, Intelligroup, Keane and Value Team. 

Lewis will develop the overall strategy and handle local execution via teams in Germany, Italy and the UK. Brazilian duties will be handled by Lewis  partner firm RMA Comunicação.

The programme aims to raise the profile of the new company as a business consultancy with strength in IT innovation and services, by using issues-led campaigns. Lewis also hopes to build NTT's reputation through an executive profiling programme.

Thomas Balgheim, NTT Data CEO in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Argentina and Brazil, said: “Lewis PR presented an experienced team and a well thought-out approach to our rebrand in key European markets. Most importantly, the campaign team is able to help us streamline processes, provide strategic counsel for a joined-up PR effort across EMEA and Brazil, and coordinate local country PR teams.”