Kei Shimada new managing director of R/GA’s Tokyo office

Global innovation and transformation consultancy R/GA has added a heavyweight to its team in Japan.

Appointed Managing Director, Kei Shimada will lead R/GA’s Tokyo office and work with a newly-formed leadership team on expanding the firm’s presence in Asia’s second largest market.

While Tokyo is one of R/GA youngest offices – the consultancy and agency has 16 offices globally – its Japanese hub is enjoying “exponential growth” according to Tuomas Peltoniemi, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of R/GA Asia Pacific. The firm serves a roster of major brands in the country, including recent additions Uber (as part of a global mantle), Nike and Suntory. 

Shimada brings over two decades of experience in the industry to R/GA. He was most recently Associate Partner and leader of Digital Makers Lab, a co-creation lab built within IBM Japan, where he was responsible for both leading the digital transformation of clients and spearheading the creation of new business models and solutions by fusing technology, creativity and strategy.

Prior to IBM, Shimada was Global Director of Innovation and Business Development at Dentsu, where he held a leadership role in its innovation wing, and was Chief Lab Officer of dXLab, Dentsu media’s innovation lab spanning eight countries in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. Earlier in his career, he was an entrepreneur.

“It’s exciting to have a respected, inventive, and influential leader like Kei onboard. With an ambition to leverage new technologies to help clients create new solutions for a more human future, coupled with an incredible track record of commercial and creative success, there’s no one else better to be at the helm of R/GA Tokyo,” said Peltoniemi. 

Last year, R/GA Tokyo appointed creative veteran Masaya Nakade as Executive Creative Director.