Experience agency Imagination has welcomed Justin Baird as head of technology for the Asia Pacific region (APAC).
The appointment follows the recent announcement of Chris James as executive creative director for Australia and reflects the experiential agency's plans to expand its technology and creative offering in the region.
Baird says he looks forward to helping to drive technology throughout the business.
“In Australia and across APAC there are significant opportunities to merge experience design and technology in both the physical and digital worlds," Baird says.
"This requires special consideration, but also a unique approach with highly specialised skills, which Imagination is uniquely positioned to deliver."
Baird brings twenty years of technology consulting and agency expertise to Imagination.
He has previously worked at Accenture Interactive where he was managing director of MD of R&D Technology and Innovation, leading the the launch of its Liquid Labs program across Asia Pacific.
He also directed and produced the Accenture Interactive Orchestra for Adobe Symposium 2017, which saw an industrial collaborative robot programmed with AI play and feature as a soloist at the Sydney Opera House.
Baird also worked at Hanson Robotics where he was instrumental in the delivery of next-generation creative robotic performances, including the creation of an AI based text-to-singing system for Sophia the Robot which made its debut in a duet with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show.
He also led Innovation at Google and is a founding member of the Google Creative Council.
Imagination managing director Antony Gowthorp says Baird's appointment mirrors the agency's vision to be the "leading technology-enabled" experience agency in APAC.
“For over 50 years we’ve built an enviable reputation for delivering exceptional integrated experiences," Gowthorp says.
"With the pace and adoption of technology in marketing, we see a unique opportunity to further enhance experiences for our clients and their audiences. Justin’s diverse background anchored in solving the impossible through technology solutions is just what we need.”
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.