Independent agency Enigma has tapped London-trained strategist Jenna Russell as Executive Strategy Director, bolstering its strategic bench at a time when indies are competing harder with holding groups for brand-building briefs and senior talent.
Russell joins from B-Corp creative agency Elvis, where she led global strategy across Mondelez brands including Cadbury and OREO, as well as Kimberly-Clark’s Huggies, Greenpeace and WaterAid.
Her 18-year stint in the UK also included creative and strategy roles at Fall Off The Wall and Fox International Channels.
The appointment adds senior strategic capability across Enigma’s media and creative offering, as brands look for partners capable of navigating culture, attention and commercial outcomes with equal weight.
“Jenna’s a rare hybrid planner with a POV on culture, style, taste and creativity that you feel in every conversation,” Enigma chief strategy officer Dom Hickey said.
“She’s whip-smart and exactly the right fit as we grow the multi-discipline strategic offering for our clients. Jenna brings a wealth of experience and we’re incredibly excited to have her onboard.”
Strategy to match scale
Russell said the appeal was a business operating with scale, but still with independent pace and appetite.
“There’s a real sense of energy at Enigma and the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders like Dom Hickey and Simon Lee is incredibly exciting,” she said.
“From the first meeting it was clear the ambition to deliver world-class creative work is brought to life by the energy and momentum the team are building together. I’m looking forward to bolstering the agency’s strategic offering and helping deliver work that truly connects with and moves real people.”
The move comes as independent agencies continue to build multi-discipline capability to pitch against networks on brand strategy and integrated campaigns, supported by a talent pool increasingly reshaped by Australians returning from overseas roles.