Global strategic communications consultancy, FTI Consulting, has announced the divestment of its creative engagement arm to Emperor, a leading British creative communications reporting firm.

The deal, the value of which was not disclosed, will see Emperor and FTI Consulting working closely in partnership when dealing with annual reporting, says FTI’s senior MD & UK head of strategic communications, John Waples. “Either you invest internally or you invest with a partnership,” he says. “Our clients will hopefully get an enhanced service.”

He notes that the relationship between the companies has existed for some years and the development will allow FTI Consulting’s corporate reporting clients to have access the best design work possible. Steve Kemp, co-founder of Emperor Design, says he and Waples had been discussing this move for some time and only recently decided to make it a reality. He adds that the partnership will benefit from FTI's international network – as Emperor has recently expanded into the Middle East and Eastern Europe – while providing focused design and digital work in IPO communications, investor relations and branding for clients.

For FTI Consulting, this marks a refocusing on its core offering in a strategic communications consulting and coincides with the establishment of a public affairs business based in London, due to launch by mid-September. Waples also notes a renewed investment in the firm’s digital capabilities, “Digital is at the front and centre of what we do with our clients and what we’re lacking is a strong public affairs function.” FTI Consulting's creative team will make the move to Emperor's offices on 1 September.

As stakeholders have begun to desire more from corporate annual reports – largely in terms of strategic reporting and design-led communications – those responsible for creating the annual report have had to change their approach to the document.

Kemp adds, "I set up Emperor 18 years ago as a corporate communications business. Then we set up a digital division in 1998 and the two businesses ran in parallel. The world now is becoming so much more integrated; over the last couple of years we’ve merged our creative teams to have one team focusing on print and digital solutions. This allows us to make sure that the thinking and the messsages are absolutely consistent wherever you communicate. Especially on the reporting side, it’s about making sure that all the hard work in corporate reporting is exploited in digital as well."