Advertising Week, the world’s largest annual gathering of advertising, ad tech, marketing and media professionals, today announced a major global expansion with the unveiling of Advertising Week Asia. The Tokyo Midtown complex in the Roppongi area of central Tokyo will host the daytime thought leadership program, with Advertising Week’s signature evening special events to take place across the city. The inaugural event will run from May 30th – June 2nd, 2016.
“Asia is a booming market and Tokyo sits squarely at the intersection of creativity & technology,” said Matt Scheckner, Founder and CEO of Advertising Week. “We’re thrilled to extend our platform from New York City and London to Tokyo, the world’s third largest market, and the Asia Pacific region.”
The expansion is strategically timed as Asia’s advertising, marketing and media industry continues to demonstrate strong and stable growth, especially in the arenas of mobile and social media, experiential, and integrated campaigns which combine traditional & leading-edge digital technology.
Advertising Week Asia will have a similar format to its sister events with programming slated to include select keynotes, seminars and workshops by day and hand-crafted, unique special events each evening, including a kick-off Opening Gala. While retaining the spirit and substance of New York City and London, Advertising Week Asia in Tokyo will be constructed with a keen eye towards the unique culture of the host city/nation and the surrounding region.
“Very much like Advertising Week Europe grew out of the London soil, the objective here is the same – to ensure we are respectful and cognizant of where we are, to capture the essence of our host city and region, and to help pave the way forward by bringing many of the world’s best and brightest to Japan and the Asia Pacific,” added Scheckner.
The announcement comes on the heels of Advertising Week’s 12th and biggest year in New York City which featured Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, AOL’s Tim Armstrong, Google’s Sridhar Ramaswamy, WPP Founder & CEO Sir Martin Sorrell, IPG Chairman Michael Roth, R/GA’s dynamic duo of Bob Greenberg and Nick Law, Droga5 founder David Droga, new Daily Show host Trevor Noah, Nightly Show host Larry Wilmore, Oscar-winning screenwriter John Ridley, Orange Is The New Black cast members Uzo Aduba, Laverne Cox and Dascha Polanco, and musical acts including Bootsy Collins, Demi Lovato, Snoop Dogg, Future and Big Sean.
