AKQA to Open Shanghai Office

AKQA to Open Shanghai Office

October 20, 2006

    SHANGHAI, China, Oct. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- AKQA, a
leading interactive agency, announced today that it will
expand its operations in Asia and open a Shanghai office.
Mr. Ho Chee Yue, who joined AKQA five years ago in
Singapore, will help launch the new office and manage
client relationships in the Asia Pacific region for AKQA.

    (Photo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061020/DCF006 )

    "Our global clients are looking for greater
coverage in Asia and China in particular," said Mr.
Tom Bedecarre, Chief Executive Officer of AKQA. "With
the rapid approach of the high-profile 2008 Olympic Games
in Beijing, AKQA will be on the ground for our clients,
many of whom are Olympic sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and
Visa," Bedecarre added.

    AKQA has started recruiting across Asia Pacific for the
best creative and technical staff for AKQA Shanghai.  Mr. Ho
and his initial employees will open the office in November
2006. AKQA Shanghai's first project will be to support the
implementation of Coca-Cola's global Olympics initiatives
in China. 

    "I have been delighted with the warm welcome that
AKQA has received in China and I am very excited that we
are opening an office in Shanghai, one of the world's most
creative and dynamic cities," said Mr. Ajaz Ahmed,
Chairman of AKQA. "We look forward to delivering
innovative work for our clients in China." 

    Earlier this year, the China Advertising Association
appointed Ajaz Ahmed as an International Advisor for China
Advertising. 

    In accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of
China, AKQA has established a wholly foreign owned
enterprise (WFOE) to operate in Shanghai.  AKQA has leased
office space in China's tallest building, the famous Jin
Mao Building.  AKQA hopes to contribute to the growth of
the Shanghai economy by providing high quality services to
meet the needs of both international and domestic clients.

    About AKQA:

    A recognized pioneer and innovator, AKQA provides
ideas, insights, customer relationship marketing and
e-commerce solutions to the world's leading brands,
including Nike, Xbox, Coca-Cola, Johnnie Walker and
Unilever. An independent agency with more than 475
employees, AKQA has offices in San Francisco, New York,
Washington, D.C., London and Singapore. In the past year,
AKQA was named "Interactive Agency of the Year"
in both the U.S. and the U.K. More information can be found
at http://www.akqa.com .

    For more information, please contact:

    PR Contact: 
     Molly Parsley, 
     Marketing & PR Manager
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

    Shanghai Contact: 
     Ho Chee Yue, 
     Regional Director Asia
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  AKQA