AKQA on Tuesday announced that Jim Rossman will join the digital marketing agency as its president and chief operating officer. Rossman is currently the chief operating officer at Digitas, the
Publicis Groupe direct and digital marketing unit.
Rossman joined Digitas in 2001 to manage the New York office and he served as the Digitas COO for the past five years. Previously,
he held senior management positions at Young & Rubicam and Wunderman.
Separately, AKQA has hired Johan Vakidis as executive creative director at AKQA Shanghai. AKQA Shanghai offers strategy,
creative and technology services for its clients, including Unilever, Diageo and Guerlain, Most recently, the office won business from Kraft, Stiefel and Hilton.
Vakidis was formerly the
national creative director, Digital at OgilvyOne Worldwide, Shanghai. Johan joined OgilvyOne in January 2001. Vakidis is teaming with Leo Chu, AKQA general manager in Shanghai who joined the agency in
July 2008.
AKQA provides digital strategy, creative, media and technology solutions to clients, including Coca-Cola, Diageo, McDonald's, Nike, Unilever and Xbox. The company presently has more
than 750 employees in Amsterdam, London, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington.--Gavin O'Malley