Essence Global CEO and leadership

Adam Russell is EVP, Global Client Partner at Essence. With more than 15-years' experience, Adam is responsible for the overall operational enablement and delivery of global work for Google.

Having previously worked at digital specialist agencies, including Digitas, Adam joined Essence in 2014 to join the team working with Google. Having successfully led the overall client team in EMEA for a number of years, in 2019 Adam moved into a global leadership position with responsibility for Google's global performance programs, best practices and service and technology evolution.

Throughout his career, Adam has held a variety of roles, giving him experience across digital media planning and execution, capability development and overall business leadership.

Adam lives in Essex in the UK with his wife and son. In his spare time, Adam embraces his long-held passions of music, writing and creativity, running his own influential music blog and regularly judging up-and-coming artists for Glastonbury Festival.

Adam Gerber is Senior Vice President, Investment, North America for Essence, a data-driven global agency that is part of WPP’s GroupM. In this role, he is building a team that evaluates marketplace opportunities holistically and develops outcome-based investment models and accountability for clients. Gerber joined Essence in 2017 after spending six years as SVP, Client Development & Communications at ABC. Before ABC, he served as Chief Marketing Officer of Quantcast, where he was and an active industry evangelist for the digitally-oriented audience measurement and targeting company. Prior to Quantcast, he served as Vice President, Advertising Product & Strategy, for Boston-based Brightcove, Inc. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Director of Innovation & Strategy for Mediavest Worldwide, and Senior Partner/Director, Media Strategy for The Digital Edge (now Wavemaker). In earlier roles, Gerber served as Vice President, Associate Media Director at Ammirati Puris Lintas; Account Manager/Interactive Marketing for America Online and Media Supervisor/Media Planner for both JWT and D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles. He began his career as a paralegal at Sidley & Austin in Washington, DC. Gerber has been named to Adweek’s Media All-Star and Mediaweek 50 lists. He also served as chairman of the 4A’s Interactive Marketing & New Media Committee from 2001-2003. He holds a B.S. degree in Journalism and a B.A. degree in International Relations from Boston University, and resides in Westchester with his wife and two children.

As Global Chief People Officer, Carrie Galli is charged with leading Essence's talent teams in 21 offices and 12 countries around the world.

A senior human resources executive with a proven ability to drive global initiatives through transformational talent and operational strategies, Carrie is passionate about building inclusive, performance-based cultures that deliver maximum impact to the business.

With two decades of experience across the marketing communications industry, she brings best-in-class talent strategies to Essence that address complex, ever-changing client needs and provides growth opportunities for Essence’s most valuable asset, its people.

Prior to Essence, Carrie was the Head of Human Resources at Real Chemistry, Executive VP, Global Director of Human Resources at Golin, Senior VP of Learning & Development at Edelman, and spent over 10 years in HR leadership roles at FCB Chicago.

Carrie holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a BA from Ithaca College in New York. Based in the greater New York City area with her husband and two children, Carrie enjoys spending time with her golden retriever and traveling to any location surrounded by water.

David Gerrie is a CFO/COO at Essence and is based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He has worked as Financial Controller at ZenithOptimedia Australia, Financial Controller at Publicis Groupe, and Finance Manager at PwC.

Specialties: Audience buying strategy, brand strategy, business development, advertising campaigns, social media, copywriting

Jennifer Klaus is a Chief Talent Officer, Americas at Essence and is based in New, York. She has worked as Senior Director, Human Resources at Interbrand; Executive Director, Talent & Human Resources at GroupM; and HR Representative at PSAV. Jennifer studied at Pace University Lubin School of Business and Eastern Illinois University.