The Lede Company has acquired London-based communications agency Aisle 8.

Lauren Winslade (pictured here), founder of Aisle 8, has been appointed President of Brand for The Lede Company in London, bringing her team of 21 into the firm. Matthew Avento will continue to oversee the Talent and Strategic Communications divisions at the London office.

Founded in 2014 and based in Farringdon, Aisle 8's current roster includes MERIT, Ferrari, Astrid & Miyu, Our Place, Jigsaw, Dr Dennis Gross, Wonderskin, Bicester Village, Jo Loves, and Ruggable, with UK launch work for Away, Vuori, Kulfi, and Le Monde Gourmand.

The agency's services - brand development, media relations, influencer and talent partnerships, social strategy, and strategic counsel across fashion, beauty, and consumer lifestyle - will be absorbed into The Lede Company's operations.

"We are so excited to add Lauren, a brilliant brand builder, and her incredible Aisle 8 team to The Lede Company London. With a rare instinct for turning brands into cultural movements, Lauren has built one of London's most respected communications agencies. The team's deep relationships across UK media and their expertise in everyday luxury will both help us better serve our clients and further expand our presence internationally," said Christine Su, Co-CEO of The Lede Company.

"When I launched Aisle 8 in 2014, I saw a gap in the market for an agency built on relationships, commercial focus and a digital-first approach to communications. A decade on, joining Lede brings the scale, talent, expertise and ambition to take that vision even further. More than an acquisition, this is an opportunity to build something bigger for our clients and our people, and I'm thrilled to be starting this next chapter together," said Lauren.

The Aisle 8 team's email addresses will be updated in due course. Active contact emails can currently be accessed via The Lede Company profile on DIARY directory.