Independent media shop Medialab has made a double appointment, bringing in a head of planning and a business director as the agency expands its senior team after scooping the Standard Life account.
Jess Talbot joins as head of planning from Initiative, where she was communications design director. Her role at Medialab will be to lead the agency’s media planning output to drive creative, effective and integrated campaigns.
She will ensure high quality output by encouraging a culture of curiosity and supporting the wider Medialab team with the knowledge and craft needed to navigate the ever-evolving media landscape.
Prior to Initiative, Talbot spent five years at PHD as media director during which time she led the comms planning for clients including Audi and Porsche.
Talbot said: “I am thrilled to join Medialab during such an exciting period of growth for the agency. The opportunity to bring my diverse experience and fresh perspective to a company with such a strong data-driven approach is truly exciting.
“My ambition is to deliver excellent media planning craft alongside innovation, helping Medialab continue its exceptional work, exploring new client sectors and delivering outstanding results.”
Medialab has also recruited Zaira Cross as business director from All Response Media. During her eight years at the agency, Cross led planning, buying and campaign analysis across several leading ecommerce brands, with particular expertise in TV and offline channels, most recently running the Visit Orlando account and previously launching Omaze on TV.
Medialab managing director Alex Kirk said: “The appointments of Jess and Zaira emphasise our ambition to seek out the best talent within the industry and ensure we offer our clients unrivalled expertise.
“Across our broad charity and commercial client portfolio, it’s vitally important that we are addressing and answering client challenges in innovative ways. Jess and Zaira will bring new ways of thinking and experience to our existing team and I can’t wait to see the impact that they make.”
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