Enigma announces major leadership promotions for long-time employees

BY Matthew Leong

February 27, 2025 11:19

Enigma announces major leadership promotions for long-time employees

(L-R): Justin Ladmore, Amy Dascanio

Enigma’s leadership team is undergoing some changes with the promotions of Justin Ladmore and Amy Dascanio.

For Ladmore, the appointment will see him move up from his current managing director, Enigma Media role to the C-suite as the agency’s new chief media officer.

His new remit will centre on strategy, growth and the full-service agency’s “connected creativity product”, with the overall goal of improving Enigma’s pre-existing integrated approach.

Prior to his more-than-decade-long stint at Enigma, Ladmore worked as a communications planning director at MediaCom Australia for three years, in addition to a digital director role he held from February 2005 to May 2008.

Ladmore’s career has also seen him serve as head of digital at GroupM and communication strategist at Universal McCann.

Meanwhile, Dascanio will take the wheel of a 40-member media team, on top of collaborating with the agency’s managing directors, Joanna Lilley and Jack Mason, as Enigma Media’s new managing director.

She joined Enigma as group director in September 2014 and was promoted to general manager at the end of 2019, after spending more than 10 years at MediaCom Australia in planner/buyer executive, manager and director roles.

Her position will also require her to contribute to Enigma’s leadership group, and the agency’s vision and passion for delivering full-service solutions to its clients.

The news of Dascanio’s and Ladmore’s new roles at Enigma comes a week after Lilley was announced as the agency’s Sydney managing director – a move that saw her depart from brand evolution business Accompany.

(L-R): Justin Ladmore, Amy Dascanio

“I’m delighted with both these well-deserved promotions,” expressed Lisa Sutton Gardner, founder of Enigma.

“Being able to promote from within is testament to the talent we have at Enigma and our established and growing Media offering.”

She spoke further on Dascanio’s promotion, explaining that the media professional’s industry expertise is the perfect justification for the latest stage of her career.

“Amy has played a pivotal role in shaping Enigma Media’s success. I remember the day 10 years ago when I was tasked with ensuring she transitioned up the M1 from her role at MediaCom in Sydney to her new life in Newcastle,” Sutton Gardner said.

“I am thrilled 10 years later to see Amy be recognised for her contribution in her next career milestone here at Enigma. Her leadership and deep understanding of the evolving media landscape make her the perfect person to drive the media business forward.”

Ladmore commented on the news as well, saying that he feels “proud and excited” for his colleague.

“I am so proud and excited for Amy. She has been the driving force behind the growth of Enigma Media, our media product, and all the amazing media staff we have here,” he said.

“We have worked together for a very long time and she is the smartest media operator I know.”

Dascanio added: “I am incredibly proud of what we have built over the past 10 years—fostering an environment where our people can grow, develop their careers and deliver campaigns for our clients that drive real business solutions.

“As we enter this next phase of Enigma’s growth journey, I am honoured to lead such a talented and passionate media team, along with the senior support of [executive director, media] Sally Lawerence and [group director, media] Jesse McColl.

“Partnering with Justin in his new role, presents an incredible opportunity to elevate the business and further strengthen our media and creative offerings. I think he is secretly loving the staff now calling him ‘chief’.”