R/GA Enters German Market with Launch of Berlin Office

R/GA is officially expanding its presence into Germany with the opening of its 19th global office in Berlin. The office will be located in the iconic Kulturbrauerei (culture brewery), a cultural hub in the Kollwitz neighbourhood of the city. The agency also announces that Sascha Martini has been appointed managing director for R/GA Berlin, effective as of April 1st. Sascha will be responsible for the overall growth of R/GA in Germany, driving and shaping the office’s long-term strategic roadmap and vision, developing new business and overseeing the recruitment of top talent in the region. Sascha joins R/GA from Razorfish, where he previously held the role of CEO, Germany. He will report into Matt Lodder, EVP Managing Director EMEA, R/GA.

“Sascha’s rich history in digital transformation and proven track record in helping the German c-suite innovate and create new business opportunities made him absolutely the right fit for us. We’re very excited to have him on board and to be able to officially announce the opening of our new Berlin office,” said Matt Lodder, EVP Managing Director EMEA, R/GA. “We plan to grow our operations in Germany over the next 18 months significantly, establishing an executive leadership team and building out a full suite of R/GA capabilities for C-level clients in Germany that are looking to capitalise on the disruption of technology. Sascha’s hire is a significant first step in that evolution.”

One of the key strategic reasons behind the agency’s decision to open an office in Berlin is the rich heritage the city shares with R/GA in design, creativity and innovation. With R/GA’s London office acting as the central hub for the agency’s EMEA operations, the Berlin office will grow to act as a full service partner for clients in Germany looking to transform their businesses through the agencies unique approach to consulting, communications, strategy, design and technology. R/GA London already works with Nike in Germany and the iconic German brand Siemens. A formal presence in Berlin will allow the agency to grow these existing partnerships, while also forging new relationships with the region’s leading brands.

R/GA is also looking to engage with the vibrant start-up community in Berlin through its R/GA Ventures Program. By drawing on its experience and expertise running global technology accelerators and venture studios, R/GA hopes to help German clients innovate while leveraging financial and creative capital to help the most innovative start-ups in the region grow.

“This is an extremely exciting new chapter in the history of R/GA and I can’t wait to start building the team here in Berlin,” said Sascha Martini, MD R/GA Berlin. “Clients in Germany are increasingly looking for trusted partners that understand how to solve their business challenges at the speed of innovation, while also being able to rapidly prototype and innovate with new nodes of design and technology. It’s going to be R/GA’s role to deliver this unique proposition to the German market”.

Sascha Martini has over 17 years’ experience in digital transformation across multiple industries. He began his career in digital in 2000, where he joined the interactive agency Netwhere as an Account Director working on Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia. Sascha then became an account director on Fiat and moved to Bassier, Bergmann & Kindler to work with Porsche. Continuing to challenge classic agencies, he started on Porsche as concept lead and, in 2006, went on to become chief executive officer. Sascha then joined Razorfish in 2008, becoming CEO for Razorfish Germany in 2013. In this role, he was responsible for leading 200 employees across its Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich offices. During this time, he oversaw the agency’s key relationships with clients such as Audi, McDonald’s, DHL, Ikea and O2 – successfully helping transform their businesses. Furthermore, under Sascha’s leadership the agency collected several high profile awards at international shows such as Cannes Lions, AME Awards, Lovie Awards and Eurobest.