Enigma appoints Dom Hickey as hiring spree continues

Enigma’s hiring spree has continued, with the appointment of Dom Hickey as its new chief strategist.

Hickey will lead the agency’s ‘Central Intelligence’ department, providing clients with integrated strategy across brand, creative, connections, CX, and media disciplines.

Designed to bolster the agency’s leadership team, her appointment makes Enigma “better equipped than ever” to deliver integrated work for clients, according to Justin Ladmore, chief media officer.

She will work closely with Ladmore, who was promoted to the C-suite in February, and chief creative officer Simon Lee, who joined Enigma in March. She and Lee previously worked together at Lavender, forming a creative partnership she that described as one of the strongest of her career.

Dom Hickey

Lisa Sutton Gardner, founder and director of the agency, said the only way to have true media and creative integration is for the “insights and thinking that guide and drive them to be coming from the same brains trust”.

After a search where she “scoured the country, and a fair few others” to find the best leader, she said Enigma has “more than found” what it was looking for in Dom.

“From our first conversation, it was clear that we have a shared view of how deep strategic insight can deliver the most potent impact for our clients but also shared values on how we like to work and the kind of business we want to build,” she said. 

“Dom’s appointment is a key step in Enigma’s ongoing evolution. I’m delighted to have her on board.”

 Hickey was most recently chief strategy officer at Howatson+Co. She spent three years there, responsible for building the agency’s strategic output, deepening relationships with clients, and contributing to industry recognition, including at the 2024 Mumbrella Awards.

Under her leadership, Howatson has created a number of notable campaigns including Modibodi’s ‘I’m Dying Inside’, ABC’s ‘The Great Unsubscribe’, and Domain’s ‘Know What We Know’ with Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannevale.

She said Enigma has huge ambition. She was drawn to Sutton Gardner’s vision and investment for “what’s next”, describing it as “super compelling in a market where many are running scared”.

“With their strong regional heritage, Enigma has a deep understanding of real Australians. I’m excited about leading a department that continuously deepens this understanding and so enables us to connect our clients’ brands with their audiences in meaningful ways,” Hickey said of her appointment.

Enigma also recently hired BMF’s Clare Yardley as its new head of creative services, who will be responsible for embedding agency-wide processes to drive efficiency, foster cross-department collaboration, and contribute to business growth for the agency and its clients.

It welcomed Aldo Ferretto last month too, as creative director and head of art. Ferretto — who worked with Lee at his previous agency, The Hallway — said the agency has a “bold creative ambition” and that “really resonates” with him.

Earlier this year, it also promoted Amy Dascanio to managing director of Enigma Media, and welcomed Joanne Lilley as Sydney managing director.

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