R/GA has expanded into Japan with the launch of a new Tokyo office.
“Japan is an epicenter of design and technology, and a very long-desired location for R/GA,” R/GA founder, chairman and CEO Bob Greenberg said in a statement. “I believe it is an ideal market to introduce our unique model for innovation, and an ideal place for R/GA to learn new methods and evolve even further.”
“Since announcing plans for Japan-based operations last year, we’ve focused on determining how to best serve the market, and assembling the right leadership team to enable that offering,” added R/GA executive vice president, managing director, APAC, Jim Moffatt. “We’ve brought together an exciting group of multi-disciplined home-grown and network talent, creating a balance of insight and experience needed to hit the ground running here.”
Masami “Sammy” Hazui (pictured) will lead the office as managing director. He joins R/GA with over two decades of brand marketing experience in Japan. Most recently he launched and served as head of e-commerce company Rakuten’s Center of Excellence, which focused on acquiring advanced technologies. Before that he spent six years as head of mobile strategy for Rakuten.
“This is a market poised for a wave of disruption that we’ll seek to help companies navigate,” Hazui said in a statement. “The powerful Japanese economy means local brands are looking to broaden focus and extend activities outside the country, and R/GA Tokyo will be uniquely-positioned to assist by harnessing our worldwide resources, coupled with local expertise.”
R/GA Japan executive creative director George Sugitomo arrives at R/GA from Dentsu where he has spent over nine years, most recently serving as creative director. Primarily working in Dentsu’ Tokyo office, he led Dentsu Japan’s virtual creative solution team and also worked within the Dentsu network at Isobar London and as executive creative director at Isobar Budapest.
Executive strategy director Yosuke Suzuki arrives at R/GA with experience spanning Japan, the U.S., U.K. and Southeast Asia. He has held senior strategy positions at agencies including Dentsu, DDB and Naked Communications.
Rounding out the leadership team are a series of arrivals from within the R/GA network. Executive producer Jon Hingston and creative technology director Kumi Tominaga join the office from R/GA New York, while group technology director Anthony Baker arrives from R/GA London.