AKQA already has offices in San Francisco and Washington DC, as well as in London and Singapore. The new office is to open with a staff of six, some of whom could move over from the London office.
Bastholm joins the office from Framfab, where he was creative director based in the Copenhagen office. He has worked on brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola and Lego.
"I'm very much looking forward to starting AKQA in New York and I'm excited about putting together a world-class team that will continue AKQA's values and push the boundaries of digital communication," he said.
It already counts Energy Brands, which makes drinks such as Glaceau and Vitaminwater, as a client.
Ajaz Ahmed, chairman of AKQA, said: "Lars is one of the most award-winning creatives in the industry, having won three Grand Prix Cyber Lions at Cannes among a host of other international awards."
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