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Akcelo launches in Canada with TikTok and the Tribeca Film Festival as clients

Aden Hepburn’s brand experience and innovation company Akcelo has opened its doors in Canada with TikTok, the Tribeca Film Festival and a multinational e-commerce retailer as foundation clients.

Former Australasian-based marketing, advertising and communications executive Jason Carnew, who relocated to Vancouver late last year, will lead the business there.


Former VMLY&R co-CEO, Hepburn, launched Akcelo with two members of his former agency leadership team, Miles Scott and Dave Di Veroli last year.

Carnew, a Canadian native, has held senior roles across integrated agencies including BMF, Saatchi & Saatchi Wellington, Havas Sydney, Y&R and Haystac. He has led premier brands including Procter & Gamble, Diageo, Airbnb, Facebook, Instagram, HBO and Lenovo and his work has been recognised globally, including a D&AD Black Pencil and Cannes Lion for Good award for Project Revoice on behalf of the ALS Association.

Carnew

Hepburn said: “On the back of growing interest in Akcelo’s model internationally, we’re taking the opportunity to expand Akcelo into Canada at a time when the need to fuse brand and customer experience is gaining greater traction with marketing decision makers.

“It is a huge privilege to be able to open our doors internationally, partner with fantastic brands, brilliant people and ultimately have Jason lead the team. He is an outstanding leader who truly understands how to bring experience, emotion, creativity and technology together to create brand experiences.”

Carnew added: “I’m absolutely thrilled to partner with Akcelo and launch the first office outside of Australia. Besides being the smartest and bravest team I’ve ever met in the industry, they have built a model that delivers unique branded experiences that drive true affinity and memorability for customers. I’m looking forward to building the team and our brand in Canada and across North America.”

Akcleo has enjoyed recent growth as marketers look to inject brand and creativity into customer experiences, and recently appointed Anne Ngo as martech and customer strategy director and Mark Berry to lead its design practice as partner and executive design director.

It is currently seeking new staff for the Canadian presence.

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