Dept appoints Marlena Edwards as Head of People and Culture for the Americas
Global digital agency Dept has appointed industry veteran Marlena Edwards as its Head of People and Culture for the Americas.
With a wealth of experience in talent development and cultural enrichment within the industry, Edwards will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the agency’s talent strategy for the Americas and leading the region’s People & Culture and Talent Acquisition teams.
Edwards has spent years refining talent and culture experiences and expanding them to a global scale at large design and marketing agencies. She previously served as the Chief People Officer at MetaLab, a technology-focused agency, where she designed and implemented talent strategies that enhanced cultural engagement, productivity, and retention.
Her tenure at HLK, a full-service creative and technology agency, saw her drive a talent strategy that facilitated business impact amidst rapid growth. As the Chief Talent Officer at global digital agency Huge, she specialized in crafting and executing talent strategies emphasizing cultural connection, diversity & inclusion, productivity, and retention.
Edwards: “Dept has an impressive global footprint and client roster, but more importantly the collaborative environment and spirit of growth and innovation sealed the deal. I’m thrilled to be part of a team of dedicated problem solvers and can’t wait to partner with leadership to harness the collective strength of our exceptional teams.”
Sarah Steele, Global SVP, of People and Culture, Dept: “I am delighted to welcome Marlena to the Americas People & Culture team. Her wealth of experience and extensive knowledge is poised to further fuel our culture of growth, collaboration, and empowerment, propelling us toward even greater heights of success within the region.”
Dept continues to invest in its U.S. operation, which accounted for 50% of $500M+ 2023 revenues. Recently, its diversity efforts were recognized as one of Newsweek America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 and Greatest Workplaces for Women.
The global agency is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace that represents the populations the agency serves and does business with, and where its 4,000+ talent feel fully represented and feel a sense of belonging.
Since its global B Corp Certification in 2021, the company has been tracking its progress through annual Impact Reports. In 2022, the company regionalized its approach to DEIB to account for different local cultures and contexts and introduced company-wide employee resource groups (ERG) centered around shared interests.
