• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, January 28, 2016

Global digital agency Essence, now controlled by WPP, has hired Jennifer Remling to serve as Chief Talent Officer, a new position at the firm. Remling’s new role will hold her accountable for Essence’s employment brand; external talent pipelining and sourcing; and further bolstering the agency’s proprietary selection process.

The hire comes at a time when many agencies are struggling to find and keep talented digital specialists, especially those that have strong technology backgrounds.

According to Essence the increasingly complex environment has contributed to an industry turnover rate that’s upwards of 30%. Client demands, the agency says, “have created a need for an aggressive talent acquisition program with global scale.” 

Enter Remling, whom the agency believes has a proven ability to execute such a program given her past experience at several blue chip agencies. She also ran her own executive search firm.

Remling most recently served as SVP Global Talent at R/GA, part of the Interpublic Group. Earlier she led the function at AKQA, also now part of WPP and Dentsu’s 360i.

“In order to solve digital marketing’s toughest challenges, we need to arm ourselves with the very best talent,” said Christian Juhl, Global CEO of Essence said Remling "can take our recruitment efforts to the next level as Essence further expands its global footprint.”

Added Remling: “Everyone is competing for the same talent--agencies, technology companies, publishers--and winning requires a holistic approach. with a renewed emphasis not only on finding and attracting talent, but onboarding and retaining it."