Top digital agency AKQA opens office in Tokyo

November 8 2012, 9:00 pm | BY Lynchy | No Comments

AKQA_Ajaz_Ahmed_Rei_Inamoto_low-res.jpgAKQA, the ideas and innovation company, has expanded its international network by opening a new office in Tokyo, with Nike and Nissan as launch clients.

AKQA has more than 1,300 employees across the globe and is currently the world’s most awarded digital agency – holding Digital Agency of the Year titles on both sides of the Atlantic. Responding to strong client demand and the opportunity to attract world-leading talent, Tokyo is the fourth new office AKQA has opened this year.

 

“I fell in love with Japan on my first visit over ten years ago. I’ve returned many times since and the opening of our eleventh AKQA office in Tokyo is a wonderful goal realised for our team,” said Ajaz Ahmed (pictured left), founder and CEO of AKQA. “We are honoured that Nike and Nissan are AKQA Tokyo’s founding clients.”

 

Rei Inamoto, (pictured right) AKQA Chief Creative Officer and Vice President, said, “Japan is the most advanced market – it’s where the future happens. It’s been a dream of mine to open an AKQA office in Japan to inspire and be inspired.”

“As one of our key digital agency partners for more than ten years, we are delighted to welcome AKQA to Japan,” said Tagu Kato, Director of Brand Communication, Nike Japan. “Nike and AKQA share the same determined focus on innovation. We look forward to deliver ground-breaking experiences to our consumers in Japan.”

 

At launch, the AKQA team in Tokyo has ten people on board. The agency is currently hiring for design, strategy, creative and project management roles. Within the first half of 2013, AKQA plans to recruit an additional thirty people to its Tokyo office.

 

AKQA also celebrates the launch of the Japanese edition of Velocity: Seven New Laws for a World Gone Digital. This no. 1 marketing best-seller is co-authored by Ajaz Ahmed and Nike Vice President of Digital Sport, Stefan Olander. Published by PIE books, this is the first international translation of Velocity and features a foreword by Sir Richard Branson and a new epilogue by Rei Inamoto.