LONDON — Strategic communications consultancy Maitland has relaunched as Maitland/AMO, reinforcing its position as part of the global AMO network of financial and corporate communications consultancies.

The rebrand aligns Maitland/AMO with its international partners in the AMO network – including Llorente & Cuenca and Hallvarsson & Halvarsson – who are all making the move to add “/AMO” to their brands while retaining their heritage agency names.

Maitland was one of three Havas Group financial communications agencies that co-founded AMO in 2001; Maitland founder Angus Maitland is the network’s CEO and chairman. AMO members now include strategic advisory agencies in 51 countries, employing 1,200 people.

The move follows a pledge from Havas to invest €100m over the next five years to support AMO and the organic growth of its wholly owned agencies within the network, particularly in the US, UK, France, Germany and China.

The group is also looking “to acquire strategic assets for AMO in other key markets where they are considered best-in-class,” it said.

According to AMO, last year its agencies advised on almost 300 M&A deals worth around $280 billion, and in the first six months of 2018 Maitland/AMO has advised on 48 M&A deals in the UK, worth $73.5 billion, putting it at the top of the UK M&A league table.

Neil Bennett, chief executive of Maitland/AMO (pictured) said: “Our new name emphasises the global firm we have become. As the world and markets have become ever more interconnected, the demands and support clients require have become more nuanced. We have been unique among our global competitors in keeping the best-in-class agency brands that enjoy a leading reputation in their respective markets.”