It chose Singapore, where it has nine staff, as its headquarters because
anchor client Nokia is based there. Beijing is also a priority because
Nokia is making a major push into China to topple market leader
Motorola.
Contra's managing director for Asia-Pacific, Ismo Ojinen, also has China experience having worked as managing director of Lowe Lintas & Partners Shanghai.
Contra started in Finland, Nokia's home market, in 1994.