TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles Elevates Jennifer Costello to Head of Strategy

TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles has announced the elevation of strategy veteran Jen Costello from group strategy director to head of strategy, reporting directly to chief strategy officer Simon Wassef. This is the first head of strategy for TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles. 

Jen first joined the agency in 2013 and has since played a critical role in building the department, bringing a refreshed strategic approach for an array of clients and contributing to the agency’s recent new business success including agency of record wins for Blue Diamond Almonds and innovative investing platform Robinhood as well as project work for Google Play and Smashbox cosmetics. During her time at Chiat\Day LA, Jen has spearheaded a 21st-century approach to how creative and strategy work together, blurring the lines between departments to create a cohesive workflow that benefits clients.

In her new role, Jen will be responsible for the growth and development of the strategy team overseeing the day-to-day work, mentoring talent and cultivating new ways of working while continuing to deliver exceptional work for Chiat\Day LA’s existing clients. Jen will report directly to Wassef who will take on an expanded role focused on increasing the agency’s current strategic capabilities and growing the agency’s client roster, while ensuring the standard of work lives up to the iconic legacy of Chiat\Day.

Simon Wassef commented: “Jen is the natural choice for Chiat’s first-ever head of strategy. She has the trust and respect of everyone she works with and I’m fortunate to have her as a partner as we expand our strategic offer. She has a vision for how our strategists will work and I’m excited to help her achieve it.”

TBWA\Chiat\Day has always believed in the power of strategy to equip brands with the key insights and vision to create disruptive work that not only leverages culture, but that leads it. This belief has been at the core of TBWA\Chiat\Day LA’s vision thanks to the agency’s co-founder Jay Chiat who is credited with bringing planning to the United States more than 50 years ago. Jen’s elevation demonstrates the agency’s continued investment in the discipline as part of its commitment to creating breakthrough work that delivers on its media arts philosophy. 

“It is a truly exciting time to be a strategist. Chiat\Day has long been the home of brave and disruptive strategic thinking and it’s been an undeniable privilege to add to that legacy,” said Jen. “Working together with Simon, our focus now is to continue growing this amazing strat-wolfpack to take on even bigger brand, business and communications challenges.”