Digitas UK CEO Jen Berry bolsters leadership team

Digitas UK’s chief executive, Jen Berry, who joined the agency at the start of this year, is making moves to bolster its executive team with a new line-up.

Head of data and analytics Leila Seith Hassan and head of talent Jessica Priest have both joined Digitas' executive team as part of Berry's plans to strengthen the agency's leadership.

After joining Digitas just over four years ago (in June 2019), Hassan will now lead a team of more than 60 data scientists and analysts, including the agency’s dedicated AI Lab, which aims to bridge the gap between innovation and client businesses.

Hassan’s move also signals the agency’s focus on helping major clients unlock their data, including Samsung, Marriott and F1.

Priest, who has been with the agency for just over seven years, will continue working to improve Digitas' work environment. She currently fronts its early careers initiative, which promotes different work opportunities for people through apprenticeships, bootcamps and on-the-job training.

Among these initiatives is the agency’s partnership with social enterprise Next Tech Girls, which ran a workshop earlier this year to help more young women pursue careers in technology.

In addition to the promotions for Seith Hassan and Priest, Digitas has evolved the existing roles of former managing director Claire Cootes, who is now chief client officer – and former chief product officer Rafe Blandford, who is now chief technology and product officer.

The executive team also consists of chief media officer Andrew Mason, who is currently behind Digitas’ media offering, and chief growth officer Sarah Hackett, who joined last September and is focused on raising the agency’s position in the market.

Digitas has also worked to scale its strategic offering this year, which is led by chief strategy officer Matt Holt. Together with chief creative officer Carren O’Keefe (the latter joined from AnalogFolk in June), Holt is leading Digitas’ experience offering and building on O’Keefe’s prior experience with major brands, including Nike and Johnnie Walker.

Berry said: “Digitas has a breadth and depth of world-class talent and our superpower is how we bring those unique skill sets together to create impact for our clients.

“Brands today need more from their agency partners than ever before and this re-energised team will allow us to bring our talent together more seamlessly, setting us up for success as we lead our people, our clients and the industry into the future."

The agency said it had welcomed nine confidential new clients since the start of this year.