Contra launches Asia shop and eyes Nokia work

SINGAPORE: Bates and OgilvyOne will now have to compete for Nokia work against the mobile company's European agency Contra, which has just established a Singapore office to service the account in Asia and is also planning to open a Beijing office in the coming months.

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.