Interviews, insight & analysis on digital media & marketing

Talent Tracker: Octaive, The Corner, XLMedia and more

Conversational media platform Octaive has announced the appointment of PHD founder David Pattison as its new Chairman. Pattison has had a long and illustrious career in the advertising industry. He co-founded PHD in 1990 and more recently he has been involved in a number of startups in a range of industries including, marketing, publishing, construction, motorsport, AdTech, MarTech, FinTech, production and broadcasting. He has also written a book called The Money Train: 10 things startups need to know about investors, that helps startups prepare for the fundraising journey. 

The independent creative agency, The Corner has announced the appointment of Alex Duyile as Talent Brand Manager, a new role within the agency that will help grow its ever-expanding influencer talent base, whilst managing the creation and launches of intellectual property for their creators. With over seven years of experience, Duyile’s expertise lies in the management of influencers and industry front-runners, identifying talent and helping them to promote and deliver products, events and aiding them in the establishment of their overarching creative identity. Previously he held the position of Marketing Manager at online menswear retail platform S IS FOR SHOP, whilst also managing DLTBrunch; working with influencers and industry front runners such as Stormzy, Mo Gilligan, So Solid Crew, Reggie Yates, Chris Eubank Junior, Ms Banks and NSG.

XLMedia has announced the appointment of Nigel Leigh as Chief Information Officer. Leigh will be responsible for defining XLMedia’s long-term technology roadmap, architecting the Group’s technology vision and driving value creation across the Company’s portfolio of publishing websites through data-driven innovation. Most recently, Leigh held the role of Chief Digital Officer and sat on the executive management team at JPIMedia where he spearheaded a fundamental reshaping of the media organisation’s digital assets, structures and commercial propositions. Prior to his role at JPIMedia, Leigh worked for The Telegraph Media Group where he played a major role in its successful turnaround and digital transformation, leading its Ad Tech strategy.

Iterable, the cross-channel platform that powers unified and memorable customer experiences, has appointed Markita Jack as Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Jack joins Iterable with over 17 years of human resources experience, most recently as the Senior Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at First Horizon Bank. In this capacity, Jack managed the design and execution of various DEI programs in support of the company’s strategic priorities.

Integrated B2B tech marketing agency, Fox Agency, has recruited ten new team members. Fox Agency’s latest appointments reflect investment across all areas of the business – including specialists in fields such as CGI, Motion Graphics, PR and Digital. With four new hires in Client Services, three in PR, two in the Studio and one in Digital, Fox Agency has seen a 25% team expansion in less than six months. The full roll call of new recruits includes Group Account Director, Rachel Lofthouse, Account Director, Dave Beresford, Account Director, Amanda Holmes, Account Director, Beatriz Paiva, Senior Motion Designer, Joe Lyons, 3D and Motions Designer, Hannah Leadbeater, Digital Campaigns Executive, Ricky Sayles, Junior Producer, Hannah Teasdale, PR Executive, Eloise McCormack and Associate PR Executive, Rebekah Pittman.

Jellyfish has appointed Thomas Byrne as Executive Vice President of Sales & Partnerships, and Adam Guilfoyle as Vice President of Sales & Partnerships, as the business continues on its steep growth trajectory. Byrne and Guilfoyle join Jellyfish from Dentsu’s Merkle, where they held the posts of Executive Vice President, EMEA, Agency Services, and Head of Agency Sales respectively. As digital natives, they bring to their new roles a wealth of experience engaging global brands and creating solutions at the intersection of creativity and technology. The appointments follow that of Tom Roach, who joined Jellyfish as Vice President, Brand Planning, earlier this year from Omnicom’s Adam & Eve/DDB.