The Instant Group has appointed Marie Barrois as Head of Client Development for France. Barrois will lead the sales team based in Paris with a focus on delivering innovative flexible workspace solutions to Instant’s new and existing clients in the burgeoning French market. Her appointment is part of Instant’s expansion into the European market with more hires and office openings scheduled for 2019. Barrois joins from Regus where she spent seven years and was responsible for multiple corporate clients and business centres over a large area of Paris including Bourse, Opéra, and Vendôme, John Duckworth, Managing Director, UK & EMEA, says: “The market for flexible workspace is growing rapidly across France and Paris is, of course, one of the key global markets for corporates – setting up an office there and appointing an industry expert such as Marie is a critical part of Instant’s growth strategy.” “We have seen a significant increase in demand for flex space from companies of all sizes, as supply of conventional market is constrained. Our view is that domestic and international demand for flexible solutions in the Paris and wider French market will accelerate and we are committed to making further investments in the future.” According to Instant’s data, demand in Paris for flexible workspace has grown by 12 per cent over the last 12 months. The supply of centres offering co-working and serviced offices also increased to meet this demand at a rate of +11 per cent in 2018 but at more than 25 per cent over the last five years. Since the UK’s vote to leave the European Union in 2016, demand for flex space in Paris increased by 25 per cent, fuelled by corporates looking for touchdown space in the city. Instant services more than 500 requirements for flex workspace every year across France, and in the last 12 months has placed clients including Disney, Communisis, and Travelport.
Travelport has hired Marie Barrois to head its client development division in France as part of its European expansion plans. The company is expected to announce more hires and office openings over the coming months. Barrois was formerly at Regus, where she spent seven years managing multiple corporate client relationships and a number of business centres in and around Paris.