Icon Display, Europe's leading event branding specialist, has recently opened new offices in Germany and the Middle East. Both openings are in response to increased levels of business in the two regions.

The company has been active in the Gulf region for well over a year now stemming from its work on the Gulf Cup in Doha, a very popular local event which involves teams from all over the region competing against each other in different sports. Earlier this month, Icon completed work on two major events in Doha, The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which is part of golf's European and Asian Tours and involves many of the leading golfers on the circuit, followed swiftly by The Tour of Qatar which is the country's premier cycling event.

The German office, based in Berlin, will be essential in helping Icon deliver various projects in the area and will see Icon employing over 200 people working throughout Germany.

A German base will also provide the company with even better servicing and networking links for its existing contracts which involve operations in several different European countries.  The new German office will also help Icon to develop its expanding business in central Europe, particularly in Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

The German office will be run by Rainer Sprechert, who has worked with Icon during the last six years on Euro 2004 and Confederations Cup 2005. The Qatar operation is being spearheaded by Icon Account Director Justine Mills, who is responsible for the company's growing Event Look and Design business, and has overseen all of Icon's work in the region in recent months.

Commenting on the expansion, Icon's Managing Director, John Francis said, “Opening offices in Germany and Qatar is a direct result of a significant increase in the levels of business we now have and are likely to secure in the future. Our involvement in these areas are vitally important to us and give us the opportunity to display our work to huge global audiences. Qatar provides us with a great opportunity as it is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing centres for major sporting events.”