GMR Marketing Expands Presence in Tokyo Ahead of 2020 Olympic Games
Agency hires Satoshi Saito in-market as Director of Sponsorship Planning + Activation
MILWAUKEE, Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- GMR Marketing, global sponsorship and experiential leader, announced today that it will be expanding its global presence in Japan by hiring Satoshi Saito as Director of Sponsorship Planning + Activation with an emphasis on Olympic sponsorship and activation and the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
GMR, which already has 28 offices in 15 countries, sees its expansion into Japan as a key step in ensuring success for its current and prospective Olympic hospitality and experiential clients.
"With experience spanning 14 Olympic Games, we understand that the best way to navigate the complex marketplace and logistics at an event of this magnitude is to augment our global knowledge with local expertise. Expanding our footprint in-market by hiring the top local experts delivers great value to our clients," said Cameron Parsons, CEO of GMR Marketing. "Satoshi has strong ties to local partners and vendors and has immense experience in Japanese sport. We look forward to welcoming him to GMR's global team and sharing his invaluable insights across our client portfolio."
In this new role, Saito will be responsible for developing marketing strategies and supporting Olympic and sponsorship clients in the Japanese market. He has a proven track record in sponsorship management, commercial sales and business development and has experience working on major sports events like the FIFA World Cup.
"We understand the transformative environmental, social and economic impact that Tokyo 2020 and sport can have on Japan," Parsons said. "So we sought an individual with the highest level of proven experience in Japanese sport—someone who understands the local market and its global context. Satoshi's expertise is exemplary on all counts."
Previously, Saito was the Deputy Director for the Office of Special Mission at the Japan Football Association (JFA), the governing body of football in Japan. There, he was responsible for Japan's international match operations in the Competitions Department as well as the JFA Youth & Development Program. During that time, he was also appointed as a FIFA Marketing Consultant to support Asian football nations.
From 2009 to 2012, Saito worked for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as Marketing Director. There, he oversaw marketing strategy, commercial and media rights, sales, deliveries, and professional league and club development.
Saito holds a law degree from Japan's Keio University and a Master of Business Administration from ESADE Business School in Spain.
For more information about GMR Marketing's Olympic experience, visit GMRMarketing.com or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
About GMR Marketing
We believe experience matters. Founded in 1979, GMR is an innovative global sponsorship and experiential leader, connecting brands and their consumers through shared passions. We change how people think, feel and behave through the power of experience. Experiences founded on data, rooted in insight, grounded in strategy, designed meticulously and executed flawlessly. Our passionate global team creates, consults and activates in more than 70 countries, covering every continent from 28 offices in 15 countries. We're headquartered in the United States and are part of Omnicom Group Inc.
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