January 11, 2021 — INGO Stockholm is opening its first international office in Hamburg. The agency is known for campaigns such as The Swedish Number and The Moldy Whopper. The new office is being managed by German top creative Tobias Ahrens in collaboration with INGO Stockholm. It will operate as an individual entity within the Ogilvy Germany Group. Like the Stockholm office, INGO Hamburg is aiming to become an agency for creative excellence.

INGO Stockholm was founded in the beginning of 2011 by CEO Håkan Karlsvärd and CCO Björn Ståhl. The agency has since been top ranked in Sweden and has won international acclaim, including two Black Pencils, Grand Prix and Titanium in Cannes Lions and Best in Show in The One Show. Known for campaigns for Burger King, discount food store Lidl and not least The Swedish Number. In Stockholm the agency handles BMW, Pernod Ricard, Burger King and Coca-Cola, on Swedish, European and Global basis.

“Ever since we opened the doors to INGO Stockholm we’ve had the ambition to deliver world class creativity and outstanding strategic work to our clients. Why? To sell our clients products. We won’t settle for less in Hamburg. I have known Tobi for a long time and he lives and breathes advertising just like me. I know he will create something wonderful in Hamburg. The timing is absolutely right, INGO is exactly 10 years and we are doing better work than ever. I am very excited,” says Björn Ståhl, CCO of INGO.

INGO Hamburg is aiming for German and international clients demanding outstanding creative work. The operation will officially launch on February 1st, but has already soft-launched with two clients in December 2020. And aims to employ a dozen staff by the end of Q2 2021.

“I couldn’t be more proud. I have followed INGO for several years. Again and again their campaigns have astounded me. It’s one of the best agencies in the world. With their help I will create the German sister of their operation here in Hamburg. We will stand for something new, a slim organization with easy access and big actions, just as in Stockholm,” says Tobias Ahrens, MD/CCO of INGO Hamburg.

Tobias Ahrens has a long career in German advertising, starting in 1996. Coming recently from Scholz & Friends where he was Managing Director Creation and Partner, before from Grabarz & Partner as Executive Creative Director and member of the Management Board. He has done renowned work for brands like VW, Audi, Burger King, and Vodafone. Tobias is a member of the German Art Directors Club, D&AD and The One Show, and has been a front figure in German advertising in numerous national and international juries.

INGO Hamburg will be fully part of the Ogilvy Germany Group but will act individually. At the same time it will complement the Ogilvy offer in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, and in Berlin.

“No doubt INGO Hamburg will be a strong competitor in Germany when it comes to outstanding creative work. INGO Stockholm has set the path and the new agency will also purely focus on creative boutique greatness. This is exactly what Hamburg and Germany needs in a post-Brexit era,” says Björn Bremer, CEO of Ogilvy Germany.