About Us

We are committed to making it simpler to live, work, and do business anywhere in the world

Our story began in 1965 

Our story began some six decades ago, from humble beginnings, when Jim Thompson, the chairman of Crown, started the company and our first ever shipment set sail from Japan.

Since then, we’ve grown into an extraordinary global business that has helped millions of families relocate their lives throughout the world and get settled in their new home. We’ve supported company assignments, office relocations and fit outs, we’ve transported priceless art collections and kept vast amounts of company data and records safe; in both hard and soft copy.

As the world becomes ever more complex, we are working with our clients across all businesses to simplify. This includes helping them to conduct business, move or live elsewhere in the world in the most sustainable ways possible, working collaboratively to overcome challenges; now and in the future.

1965

The company is born in Yokohama, Japan

1970 - 1972

Expansion into Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hawaii and the Philippines. Acquisition of Dean Forwarding from Colombia Export Packers.

1976

First expansion outside of the Pacific Rim in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

1987 - 1989

Further expansion in Hong Kong, plus into the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium, by purchasing Scotpac.

1998 - 1999

Branches open in India, Russia and across South and Central America. Acquisition of Lavanchy means growth into Switzerland, France and Italy.

2001

Bali was Crown's third office in Indonesia.

2006

Acquisition of SIRVA UK’s Business Services Division, one of the largest in the company’s history.

2007 - 2009

Branches open in Tanzania and Nigeria. A new Ultracenter facility opens in Beijing, China.

2010 - 2012

Purchase of both Oxford Exhibition Services, a UK Fine Art Company, and John Nurminen Prima (JNP), a strong European Fine Art Logistics organization.

2013

A tenth branch opened in India, in the city of Coimbatore.

2015

Crown celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jim Thompson meets the Mayor of Yokohama.

2017

Acquisition of the records management business from Allied Pickfords in Malaysia.

2018

Acquisitions of Fusion Workplace Services (FIL) in New Zealand and Premier Workplace Services in the UK.

2019

Strategic expansion into workplace change projects with the global launch of Crown Workspace.

2020 - 2021

Further expansion of Crown Workspace across 12 countries and further development of centres of excellence and services hubs in Prague and Manila.

2022

Crown Records Management furthers its propositions introducing digital transformation services.