Mediabrands Australia has appointed renowned digital and performance expert Jessica White to the role of CEO Reprise, adding significant firepower to the agency’s capabilities as it continues to build its global reputation as a full service digitally-led performance agency.
Reporting directly to CEO Mediabrands Australia, Mark Coad, White also takes an immediate place on Mediabrands’ Executive Leadership Team.
Coad said he had some incredible conversations with talent from across the globe from both inside and outside the IPG network; and was delighted to find a visionary leader and arguably one of the best global performance experts was already within the group and keen to return to Australia, accept a new challenge and lead the agency to success.
Says Coad: “We’re thrilled to have appointed Jessica. A leader who knows Reprise’s vision as an agency and has the skills and capabilities to stimulate client growth by using the perfect mix of insight and technology to create innovative and best-in-class work.”
White has held senior roles both internationally and locally within Mediabrands, recently returning to Australia from NYC while maintaining her global Head of Activation role with Initiative. She has worked in the media industry for nearly 15 years – both agency and client side – the majority of which has been spent leading the development and implementation of data-led transformation in media and brand communications for some of the globe’s best-known agencies and brands.
Prior to her role as head of activation she was head of data and technology for AKA Kinesso NYC driving the commercial data and programmatic strategy across the business.
Says White: “Increasingly I hear clients wanting more accountability for their media spend, so better connecting media to business outcomes will be an area of focus. In partnership with our agencies, Reprise is uniquely positioned to drive the brand and performance cohesion needed to achieve this.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the industry and I can’t wait to develop my team’s skills and capabilities to deliver truly outstanding work for our clients.”
White takes over from Andy Holford who stepped into the role of Interim-CEO earlier this year.
Says Coad: “Andy has made a profound impact on the Reprise business both internally and with our clients helping to evolve the agency’s capabilities, accelerating clients’ success through performance marketing via Reprise’s e-commerce capability and relaunching its analytics division.
“He is a wonderful leader who has successfully enhanced Reprise’s culture leading his team and clients to success, but he made it clear to us as we embarked on the search for Jessica that his passion lay in building product and solutions for clients, rather than management.”
Says Holford: “I am delighted Jessica is joining Reprise, as a leader I just know she is going to shine and under her watch Reprise will continue to go from strength to strength. The business is pumping; the team are enthused and the clients are enjoying some truly wonderful work. I look forward to spending the next few months working alongside Jess as we transition into a new era of Reprise’s history.”
White’s appointment is effective as of November 1. Reprise Australia has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with a team of more than 150 digital and performance experts.
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