Tokyo, Japan
Anthony Baker
Hi there! Thank you for visiting my site. I’m passionate about helping people uncover business growth potential through innovative brand marketing, modern business strategies and lean technology solutions, partnering to find the right approach to brand marketing and digital acceleration depending on the business maturity and resources.
I have 22+ years of experience creating, building and improving consumer experiences and services that offer better value, making consumers happier while growing businesses. By working with Fortune 500 companies across the Americas, Europe and Asia I have learned how to best help companies build innovative brand marketing strategies and leverage technology and strategic digital initiatives to accelerate growth opportunities according to the capabilities and needs of each business, as well as the market state-of-play.
I’m currently General Manager and founding member of R/GA Japan, having led technology strategy and partnerships for APAC over the last few years. I developed key core long-term business relationships in Japan with clients like Nike, b8ta and Shiseido Digital, as well as our partnerships across the region with best-in-class SaaS platforms and creative technology studios. I’m part of the leadership team that grew Japan business from 5 people to 40+ in 2 years, and made record profit in the 2nd year.
I’m a hands-on brand and technology strategist who created and launched the Lean Experience Stack capability at R/GA on the back of leading and architecting lean digital platforms for clients like Shiseido Professional, Sapporo and b8ta, as well as driving deep-tech, data-driven innovative experiences like “Beyond Time” at Shiseido’s Global Innovation Center. I have also led R/GA Japan through the COVID global pandemic, and helped nurture our APAC Google Relationship over the last 7 years.
Before moving to Japan, I worked at R/GA London leading our creative tech and platform technology capabilities for clients around Europe and Middle East. My work is behind internationally celebrated work spanning digital experiences, interactive installations, and online services and platforms, including EuroBest 2016 Creative Data Grand Prix Nike On Demand, the first fully dynamic Digital Outdoor Campaign Google Outside, and the iconic #ShowYourColor worldwide campaign for Beats By Dr. Dre. I worked on the initial key digital projects with Google in London, which eventually led to the creation of our embedded Google teams in US, and the expansion of our global Google relationship across 4 continents.
Prior to moving to London and working with R/GA, I worked at Schematic (now WPP Digital) where I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best talent in the technology, design and creative industries, including the people behind Minority Report UI special effects and the authors of the world-acclaimed Flash Bible books (when Flash dominated the Web). I worked on the world-first Interactive T.V. applications based on Windows Media Center and the X-box, I was part of the team that spearheaded Silverlight and WPF technologies for Microsoft, and created large scale platforms for Sandisk and Vevo. I also architected and built the backend of the Cannes Touch Wall, the first large scale multi-user, multi-touch, RFID connected wall (back when IoT was not even a thing). My career in emerging technologies and innovation gave me the hands-on experience to understand what works, when and for what purpose, which paired with modern composable architecture platforms allows me to empower companies to accelerate innovation with less risk, investment and ambiguity.
I’m also passionate about sharing knowledge, speaking and writing. I’m often involved in public speaking at international conferences including AdWeek, DigiCon, EuroBest, Campaign360, ICEEFest and have also authored strategic thought leadership and technology articles in publications like Campaign, The Guardian, Marketing Interactive, Senden Kaigi, CIO Advisor and Contagious, among other local publications in Japan, China and the rest of Asia.
Above all, I believe we should strive to live happier lives, and therefore I put a lot of effort in cultivating my life out of work. I’m an avid world traveller, as I believe meeting people from different background and cultures is vital to have a wider view in life, as well as spending a lot of time playing bass, guitar, ukulele and making music. I enjoy learning new things, as well as drawing, gardening, reading, and watching great content. I love learning languages (although it has got harder as I grow older), and enjoy speaking English, Spanish, French and Japanese. In winter I’m always snowboarding in Japan.
Please get in touch. I’m always keen to connect with great people and learn from every single person I meet.