MUMBAI: He is getting on board to get to the depth of finance in tech and marketing services agency Dept. Former global CFO for Dentsu Creative and Tag, David Neal has joined the close-to-30-year old digital agency as its new global chief financial officer (CFO). In this role, David Neal will bring together the global finance and operations team at Dept, driving innovation and streamlining processes by positioning finance as a strategic partner to the business.
“During my conversations with the leadership team and colleagues, I was invigorated by the energy and ambition within Dept,” said Neal. “I realised 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.”
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.
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 has been mandated to harness the potential of AI to transform financial processes, fostering a culture of relentless curiosity and innovation.
“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,” says Dept global CEO Dimi Albers.
Neal is stepping into the role as Mickey Kalifa moves on after two years with the company.
In the past two years, the company has welcomed seven agencies and achieved remarkable growth, with revenues increasing by over 200 per cent. This impressive performance is heavily supported by its AI services; currently, 50 per cent of its global revenue is AI-enabled. Dept continues to set industry standards as a B-corp-certified agency. It works with top-tier brands like Google, KFC, Philips, Audi, Twitch, Patagonia, and eBay, has offices in 30 countries and employs close to 4,000 digital specialists.
