About Crown

Our story began in 1965

“When you start out in business you can afford to be a bit reckless as there’s nothing to lose, but when you’ve built up a company, your focus needs to change to protect what you’ve created.”
Jim Thompson, Crown Chairman

Our story began over five decades ago, from humble beginnings, when Jim Thompson started the company and our first ever shipment set sail in Japan.

Since then we’ve grown into an extraordinary global business that has helped millions of families relocate their lives throughout the world. We’ve supported company assignments, transported priceless art collections and kept vast amounts of company data and records safe.

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 Coimbatore, India.
2015
Crown celebrates its 50th anniversary.
2017
Acquisition of the records management business from Allied Pickfords in Malaysia.

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Our story began in 1965

People behind Crown