StartJG eyes China and SE Asia expansion

With a new global board in place, including recently retired CEO of Virgin Atlantic Steve Ridgway as non-executive chairman, the company is eying expansion.Central to Ridgway's role will be the company's plan to develop into mainland China and across South East Asia, along with exploring new operations in India and Russia.He will also focus on the further development of the "Connected Retail Platform", StartJG's technology behind the adidas Virtual Footwear Wall.Jonathan Cummings, managing director for StartJG Hong Kong, said after five years in Asia, it was time to expand.Cummings said it was likely that a physical presence in Shanghai would be complete within this year, in addition to expansion in Southeast Asia via an acquisition or partnerships."From our Hong Kong base we work for clients across the region and the next stage of development will see us develop a more permanent presence in mainland China and South East Asia," he said.Ridgway recently retired from his role as CEO of Virgin Atlantic after almost 25 years with the airline. He is joined on the newly shaped group board by co-founders Mike Curtis and Darren Whittingham, JudgeGill founder Kevin Gill and long-serving StartJG directors Jen McAleer, Steven Forrest and Jonathan Cummings who is based in Hong Kong.Over the past five years StartJG has expanded from its London base, launching operations in Dubai and Hong Kong and establishing advertising agency Hometown and Illustration agency Breed.