Digitas names new UK chief executive

Digitas UK has appointed Jennifer Berry as its new chief executive, following the news that current CEO Dani Bassil is leaving at the end of January.

Berry will join Digitas in the new year from fellow Publicis Groupe agency Razorfish, where she has been in charge of its US northeast regional business as executive vice-president, managing director for nearly three years.

At Digitas, her remit will be to build on the successful first half to 2022, with wins including BT and EE customer engagement and new clients Crocs and Norweigan Cruise Line. The agency has also made several senior appointments.

Berry has spent 15 years at Publicis Groupe, both in her native Australia and North America. She worked at Razorfish in New York for several years before her most recent role, in positions including vice-president, client engagement, as well as client partner on Citibank. Before that, she was at Australia's Amnesia Razorfish, which, ultimately, dropped the Amnesia name from its title.

Bassil became CEO of Digitas in 2018 after joining as chief operating officer in 2017 but is to return to Australia, where she will join Clemenger BBDO Australia as CEO. When her departure from Digitas was reported, Publicis Groupe UK CEO Annette King said the agency would announce Bassil's successor in the coming weeks.

Chris Kay, CEO of Publicis Groupe UK creative practice and Saatchi & Saatchi, said: "Jen is a super collaborative and hyper-modern leader with a proven track record of helping businesses big and small run at the future and embrace new opportunities. Digitas is on a real growth trajectory, and I'm excited about how Jen's smarts and energetic style will continue to drive this brilliant agency forwards."

Berry has worked for agencies, clients and publishers and led teams spanning retail, financial services, FMCG, technology and travel. She worked on Dove's "Project #ShowUs", which won a glass Lion at Cannes in 2019 and an Effie in 2020.

Berry said: "I am so excited to be joining the Digitas team, where there's an infectious energy and passion that's inspiring. When I started out, digital was often the add-on for marketers.

"Now it's the bullseye, and we have the ability to partner with our clients to help them solve both business and societal problems. I can't wait to join this bunch of talented people and champion all their diverse mindsets and skillsets to create powerful, purposeful work for clients."