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AKQA's Overview

Total employees2090
HeadquartersSan Francisco
Founded

AKQA is a renowned global agency focused on design and innovation. They collaborate with ambitious companies to create a better future by designing and delivering transformative digital products, services, communications, and brand experiences. AKQA's interdisciplinary teams leverage creativity, technology, and data to deliver solutions that are both meaningful and impactful, consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the digital landscape. They are part of WPP.

Where is AKQA's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The San Francisco studio serves as a major hub for design, innovation, technology, and client services, leading projects for North American and global clients, particularly in the tech sector.

Notable Features:

Located in a modern high-rise in the SoMa district, the San Francisco studio offers panoramic city views, features state-of-the-art technology, and is designed with collaborative workspaces to foster creativity and innovation.

Work Culture:

AKQA's work culture is characterized by a dynamic, collaborative, and innovative spirit. There's a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary teamwork, continuous learning, and a collective passion for creating future-forward digital experiences that make a positive impact.

HQ Significance:

The San Francisco office has been instrumental in AKQA's growth and establishing its strong reputation on the U.S. West Coast, a critical market for technology and innovation. It drives key client relationships and groundbreaking work.

Values Reflected in HQ: The studio's design, advanced technology, and strategic location in a tech epicenter reflect AKQA's core values: innovation, quality, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in crafting future-facing solutions.

Location:

AKQA supports a wide array of functions globally, including strategic consulting, experience design (UX/UI), digital product and service development, brand strategy and identity, content creation, data science and analytics, e-commerce solutions, technological innovation (e.g., AI, AR/VR), marketing communications, and customer engagement platforms. Their studios collaborate seamlessly across borders to serve international clients and deliver integrated, world-class solutions.

Street Address:

100 First Street, 30th Floor

City:

San Francisco

State/Province:

CA

Country:

USA

AKQA's Global Presence

London, UK

Address: 1 St John’s Square, London, EC1M 4DN, UK

Serves as a key center for AKQA's EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) operations, fostering innovation and delivering award-winning work for a diverse range of industries across the region.

New York, NY, USA

Address: 450 West 33rd Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA

Supports North American clients by leveraging New York City's dynamic business environment, with a strong emphasis on innovation across major U.S. industries.

Tokyo, Japan

Address: Ebisu Prime Square Tower 15F, 1-1-39 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan

Drives AKQA's growth in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region, specializing in culturally relevant design, technology solutions, and brand strategy to meet specific market needs.

São Paulo, Brazil

Address: Rua Natingui, 862 - 1º andar, Vila Madalena, São Paulo - SP, 05443-001, Brazil

Leads AKQA's initiatives in Latin America, adapting global strategies to local market nuances and driving digital transformation for clients in this rapidly growing region.

Buying Intent Signals for AKQA

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of AKQA

As of April 2025, AKQA' leadership includes:

Tesa Aragones - CEO, AKQA Group
Ajaz Ahmed - Founder
Sam Kelly - Chief People Officer, AKQA Group
Giles McCormack - Chief Financial & Operations Officer, AKQA Group
Justin Peyton - Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, AKQA Group
Masaya Nakade - International Executive Creative Director

Investors of AKQA

AKQA has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

WPP plc

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire1
Exits1

The most significant executive leadership change at AKQA in the last 12 months was the appointment of Tesa Aragones as CEO of AKQA Group in January 2024. She succeeded Ajaz Ahmed, who founded the company and transitioned from the CEO role while continuing his involvement as Founder. This change marks a new chapter of leadership for the global agency.

Departures

Ajaz Ahmed, Ajaz Ahmed stepped down from the position of CEO, AKQA Group, continuing his association as Founder.

New Appointments:

Tesa Aragones, Tesa Aragones was appointed as the new CEO of AKQA Group, tasked with leading the agency's next phase of growth and innovation.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by AKQA

Discover the tools AKQA uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

AKQA Email Formats and Examples

AKQA commonly uses the email format `firstname.lastname@akqa.com`. While other formats might exist within the organization, this structure is widely recognized as the primary method for professional communication.

firstname.lastname@akqa.com

Format

jane.doe@akqa.com

Example

85%

Success rate

News and media

Campaign UKJanuary 10, 2024

AKQA names Tesa Aragones group chief executive

AKQA has appointed Tesa Aragones as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. Aragones, previously CMO at Discord and with extensive experience at Nike and VSCO, succeeds founder Ajaz Ahmed, who will continue in his founder role, shaping the agency's vision....more

AKQA NewsNovember 2, 2023

AKQA Denmark Joins Forces with &Co. Under The North Alliance (NoA)

AKQA announced that its Danish studio will merge with &Co. to operate under The North Alliance (NoA) family. This strategic move aims to create a stronger creative and technology offering in the Nordic region, combining the strengths of both agencies....more

AKQA NewsJune 13, 2023

AKQA and HOK Unveil Transparent Reality: A New Era of Design Visualization

AKQA collaborated with global design and architecture firm HOK to introduce 'Transparent Reality,' an innovative technology leveraging mixed reality. It enables designers to visualize, interact with, and experience full-scale architectural models within their physical environment, revolutionizing the design process....more

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