Independent full-service digital marketing agency, Flume, has opened its doors in Amsterdam and has appointed Janique Smeets to lead the agency as Account Director in Europe.
Flume has seen great growth in South Africa and has begun to develop a portfolio of international clients based in Europe.
Jacques Du Bruyn, Managing Director at Flume, states that the agency has been very intentional about their expansion into Europe, and that this move into Amsterdam will contribute toward fast-tracking their growth in the region. “Amsterdam is home to some of the world’s best agencies and is also one of the fastest growing agency hubs in the world, so it makes sense for us to set up shop in the city. The beauty of digital marketing is that the tools and platforms don’t change based on where you’re sitting in the world. Our expert understanding of technology and platforms enables us to serve global marketing from anywhere in the world. Our local team in Amsterdam will have the regional knowledge and understanding, and that paired with our technical expertise, we believe, will achieve great results,” says Du Bruyn.
When it came to appointing the right candidate to lead the agency’s expansion into Amsterdam, Du Bruyn notes that Smeets came highly recommended through his network, and has solid experience and expertise, particularly within Europe. In addition to this, Smeets is also the perfect culture fit, aligning to Flume’s ethics and values as an agency.
Smeets started out in fashion design before studying Cultural Heritage with a specialisation in marketing and entrepreneurship. Her most recent qualification is an Executive MBA at the Rotterdam Business School. She has extensive experience working within an agency context, and has been responsible for growing a client base in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Smeets will be responsible for growing Flume’s client base in the European market and building client relationships with current and potential clients, and is looking forward to the journey ahead with the Flume team.
“I really enjoy building something from the ground up, and to work together with a team that is very excited about the opportunity as well is something I am most looking forward to. I already have a taste of working with the European market in my previous role and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and expertise by doing this in a more extensive manner with Flume. When it came to my next role, I was looking for a company in which employees are seen as a very important part of the business and in which development and encouragement of their people is a priority. I also value responsibility and a certain level of freedom. Together with a great company culture, these were all aspects I found within Flume,” says Smeets.
Flume first opened its doors in 2013 and over the years has expanded into a full-service digital marketing agency, integrating all aspects of digital marketing to provide best-in-class outcomes. With a staff complement of just over 100, headquartered out of Johannesburg and with offices in Cape Town and Europe, Flume currently serves a multitude of clients from around the world and in various regions.
Du Bruyn notes that with Flume’s expansion globally, it feels like a startup again. “Flume is now a large agency in South Africa and the excitement of ‘starting’ something new is electrifying. Not to mention the fact that the staff in South Africa are also excited about the venture. Personally, I’m looking forward to growing something from the ground up again,” Du Bruyn adds.
