Brand and digital studio Koto has officially launched its Sydney office, marking its expansion into the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Damian Borchok, former For The People co-founder and CEO of Interbrand Australia takes on the role of MD APAC. Gerald Torto, previously with Re (part of M&C Saatchi Group), joins as senior strategy director. They will lead the new office and regional efforts, with a senior creative leader joining the leadership team in the next months.
Founded in 2015 by Caroline Matthews (COO), James Greenfield (CEO), and Jowey Roden (CCO), Koto has grown from a three-person brand studio to a global team of over a 100, with offices in Berlin, London, Los Angeles, New York, and now Sydney. The studio has delivered projects for global brands such as Amazon Music, Discord, Glassdoor, Netflix, and Whatsapp.
Koto's primary focus will initially center on extending its presence across Australia, India, Singapore, and South Korea. While Koto's local footprint was absent until now, it has already engaged with several APAC enterprises, including Australian-founded Airtasker, Zip, Gumtree and Korean-based Need, a digital cancer protection system.
Koto's service offering covers three pillars, from brand strategy and identity to digital and campaign work. The studio leverages deep immersion and strategic thinking as the foundation for ensuring relevance and creative excellence in every project it undertakes.
Greenfield said after launching Koto's second US studio in New York just over a year ago, it felt right to set sights on the APAC region.
"We’ve worked with a number of APAC clients in recent years and we can see the potential here is immense, with thriving economies and leaders aiming to make their brands global forces," he said.
"I've always believed APAC brands hold untapped possibilities to display their identity, differentiation, and strategic growth.
"Exceptional brands shouldn't be limited to the US – there are a lot of interesting products and services in APAC. Koto steps in with Damian, G, and our upcoming Executive Creative Director, soon to be unveiled. Together, they're the dream team writing this next chapter with us.”
Borchok said sooner rather than later, Asia will be home to 3 of the 5 largest economies in the world and brands from this region will have global impact like never before.
"While there are internationally networked branding agencies across APAC, few are yet to bring much of a sense of dynamism, vision or ambition. The region deserves to see more brands that elevate Asia’s growing status and influence — commercially and culturally," he said.
“Koto was born out of the technology and innovation world. Our work is informed by the entrepreneurial drive to build something better. In our case, it’s brands. We’re looking forward to partnering with like-minded businesses and contributing to the exciting times ahead in Asia and the Pacific.”
Torto said he's really excited to be contributing to Koto’s vision of building the world’s most iconic brands, in the world’s most iconic places.
"The opening of a studio in Sydney to service the region is a real signal of intent and too good an opportunity to miss," he said.
"For me there’s an unmatched optimism and pragmatism to the way the business goes about its work, and that drives an approach to brand strategy and verbal (as well as visual) identity that I feel can make a real difference to the ambitious businesses across APAC.”
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