Lance Shields joins MRM Japan as digital marketing director

More specifically, Shields is set to focus on MRM's in-depth offerings aimed at meeting client needs. He will lead service design, brand and market positioning, business and customer experience strategy, social networking, SEO and strategies around multi-channel executions.

Shields has been in the digital arena for more than 12 years. He was most recently leading the planning and digital creative business at Amway Japan. There he started the first social media team for the market. Agency experience also includes early days at Scient Japan and Agency.com.

Shields said having been with the client side (Amway), it is exciting to move back to an agency again. "I feel with my new understanding of how to work the bureaucracy on the inside (IT, Finance, Procurement, even the C level), it will be easier now to assist clients in pushing new strategic plans through."

"For example, social media programs are a hot topic in Japan right now, but so few clients can get their heads around how to implement it. Just as important as the agency's big picture approach is helping to orchestrate these programs both inside and outside the client," he adds.

Shields will report to president of MRM Japan Marc Kremer. Kremer said Sheids' "strategic and creative know-how" will enhance the agency to provide more branded experiences across multiple platforms for clients.