Imagination appoints John Steere as managing director for China.

Global experience agency Imagination has appointed John Steere as managing director for China, effective immediately. In the new role, Steere will be responsible for helming Imagination’s continued growth across China, in addition to leading the company’s ongoing commitment to the innovation of technology-enabled brand experiences which resonates with Chinese consumers. Based in Shanghai, Steere will report to Patrick Reid, CEO of Imagination Group. Steere brings over 30 years of experience in marketing across various disciplines including PR, digital, shopper marketing, activation and e-commerce. Prior to joining his latest position, Steere was president at MyMM, a luxury fashion e-commerce platform in China owned by Lane Crawford Group and Wharf Holdings HK, and has held leadership roles at Yooya, McCann, Saatchi X, Visa and Gartner. Steere’s appointment followed significant growth for the agency, with wins including Chinese smartphone company Vivo and Porsche China, and the continued development of their digital offer for Ford across APAC. The company has also launched a technology innovation lab to solidify Imagination China as a leader in delivering technology enabled brand experiences through the seamless connection between physical and digital. “Our desire is to bridge the gap between online and offline customer experiences by integrating the digital and physical environment. We’ve seen a recent growing demand for these connected experiences, particularly for brands looking to engage Chinese consumers. Experience design needs to be thought of exactly in these terms, and is something Imagination has paved the way in like no other,” said Steere. “I am thrilled to bring my knowledge and understanding of this space to help our clients design and deliver authentic consumer experiences, that make people genuinely and viscerally connect with your brand,” he continued.