Amsterdam, Netherlands – Global digital agency DEPT has appointed David Neal as its new global chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, David will bring together the global finance and operations team, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business. 

David brings substantial experience as a chief financial officer, with a proven track record in the marketing and advertising sectors across South and Southeast Asia and global leadership positions. Most recently, he served as the global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Dentsu’s production unit, Tag. 

In his new role, David will be based in London. He will leverage his extensive background to redefine the finance department as a strategic ally within DEPT, enhancing collaboration with other business units—especially operations, and people & culture. Neal will also harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation. 

Speaking on his new role, David said, “During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within DEPT. I realized this is a place where we can do things differently. I hope to transform finance into a true strategic partner, providing insights, analysis, and driving commercial growth.”

Meanwhile, Dimi Albers, global CEO at DEPT, commented, “At DEPT, we’re all about keeping innovation at the core of everything we do. By bringing our finance and operations teams closer together, we are merging two key business areas to drive strategic growth. David will help us unlock new opportunities and ensure that innovation remains at the heart of everything we do.”

David is stepping into the role as Mickey Kalifa moves on after two years with the company. 

“Mickey has been instrumental in creating a more integrated and connected finance team, but his contributions go far beyond the numbers. He’s been an invaluable part of DEPT®, leaving a lasting mark on our culture and everyone he’s worked with. We’re deeply grateful for all he’s done and wish him great success in his next chapter,” Albers said.

Sydney, Australia – Wippli, the smart workflow that connects suppliers, clients, and teams to initiate, produce, and deliver work from anywhere, has appointed Publio Lorenzo, former vice president of finance for technology and operations at HBO, to be its acting chief financial officer.

Wippli aims to use its online tool to disrupt the digital remote-work productivity market. Its end-to-end solution covers task creation between a supplier and a client, through work in progress and collaborative efforts, in neat, branded experiences for all.

Lorenzo brings with him his 25 years of experience in the media and technology industries. He has previously held financial leadership positions at HBO LATAM, Mattel, and Motorolaincluding developing markets in intricate regions.

As part of his new role, Lorenzo will be leading Wippli’s valuation, reviewing and pressure-testing Wippli’s revenue streams and innovation pipeline for fundraising purposes. He will also be charting the company’s expansion to the United States market. 

On the other hand, the incoming chief financial officer will be laying the foundation of the United States operations, in line with Wippli’s vision and foreign market development strategies.

“I am thrilled for the opportunity to jump into the trend of digital collaboration and remote work. I can’t wait to do my part in making Wippli the digital disruptor to fear in the remote collaboration arena,” said Lorenzo, regarding his appointment.

Meanwhile, Jay Marcano, Wippli’s founder and CEO, commented that the company is proud to welcome someone of Lorenzo’s caliber to their leadership team.

“We’re sure Publio will be invaluable to the company’s early growth and success, and to begin Wippli’s scaleup into the US on the right foot,” said Marcano.

Sydney, Australia – Local-based adtech Cartelux has appointed Geoff Reilly as the company’s new chief financial officer to drive Cartelux’s financial function through the next stages of significant growth.

He will be responsible for guiding Cartelux through its current phase of rapid expansion as it closes its seed funding round and aims for a significant Series A round later this year.

Reilly’s background spans 20 years’ experience both in Australia and internationally in the capital markets, operations, and financial functions of technology companies, and more specifically enterprise SaaS startups with similar business models to Cartelux. He was previously chief financial officer at Singapore-based software-as-a-service company (SaaS) TradeGecko and helped steer the company through its merger with Intuit in late 2020.

Commenting on his appointment, he said, “I’m very excited to be joining Cartelux at this important time and look forward to working with Josh Williams and the executive team in their objective of executing the delivery of the business’ global growth strategy. My aim is to build on Cartelux’s strength and negotiate the best opportunities for the business through its next phase of funding.”

According to Joshua Williams, chief executive officer and founder of Cartelux, Reilly’s appointment signifies an important milestone for the company as it looks to the next phase of its growth.

“Geoff’s appointment will ensure Cartelux can navigate its way through this crucial phase of our journey, scaling global operations and navigating significant growth. He brings extensive international experience and has successfully driven a number of substantial growth programs throughout his career. As we continue to evolve as a company, Geoff’s financial acumen, steady demeanor, and strategic thinking is a great addition to our leadership team, and Cartelux.”

Williams also added that Cartelux has had a hugely successful 2020 as COVID-19 saw the adoption of ad technologies expedited by approximately half a decade, including its recent global deal with Kia Motors.

“The demand for Cartelux’s services has never been higher and Geoff will provide an experienced set of hands to help steer us through this exciting period,” Williams stated.