Kemoun and Rebbouh had initially committed to opening agencies outside France within two years of launching in Paris. But they have now accelerated their UK plans and now aim to have KR Media UK fully operational by the New Year.
Although no clients have formally been signed up yet, reports have suggested KR Media will handle LVMH in the UK and France.
KR Media is hiring people to work at the agency and is already believed to have approached several former Carat employees. However, sources close to KR Media said it is still looking for a senior figure to run the agency.
Kemoun and Rebbouh launched KR Media in Paris in January, and in June secured a deal with WPP that saw the network take a minority stake in KR, with the France-based agency given access to WPP's systems, research and group buying clout. The UK launch is expected to plug into WPP's Group M negotiations unit.
The French pair, who left Aegis a year ago, said in June that they planned to launch five or six offices in European markets, all 100 per cent in their control. They were unavailable for comment.
