AtLarge Opens Office in Manchester, England

AtLarge Inc. — the local website, applications, social media and online advertising campaign creator — has opened an office in Manchester, England.

The office is the Sarasota-based company’s first international operation.

“It has always been a personal and business goal of mine to foster a presence in Europe and I cannot be more thrilled to share this expansion — all the more so given that I grew up in this part of the world,” said Anand Pallegar, AtLarge’s chief executive.

AtLarge chose Manchester, in part, because of government investment. Pallegar noted that the English government recently moved the BBC from London to Manchester.

Other factors that drew the business were education and access to talent, including the largest student population in Europe, and international access to key markets, he said.

Pallegar also noted the “creative and digital” sector in Manchester employs about 63,000 people; that the city is home to some of the largest global sports brands, including Manchester United; and that Manchester has the only Internet exchange outside London.

The CEO said that Sarasota would remain “the epicenter of our business strategy.”

“It’s the core of our operations and we are committed to growing it as our headquarters, driving awareness to it through the markets we serve,” Pallegar said.