UM AUSTRALIA APPOINTS JESSICA LAURIA AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF UM SYDNEY

UM Australia has named Jessica Lauria Managing Director of UM Sydney, effective 18 May. With 25 years of global brand leadership experience, Lauria brings a client-centric perspective to drive growth, culture, and transformation, reinforcing UM’s commitment to impactful partnerships and future-ready agency leadership.  

Leading media agency UM Australia has announced the appointment of Jessica Lauria as Managing Director of UM Sydney, a strategic hire aimed at accelerating the agency’s next phase of growth and strengthening client partnerships.  

Lauria steps into the role with a clear remit to spearhead UM Sydney’s vision, continuing to build a high-performing culture while driving strategic growth for clients. Her appointment reflects a deliberate shift away from traditional agency leadership pathways, introducing a fresh, client-centric perspective to the business.  

With a career spanning 25 years across senior global brand marketing and leadership roles, Lauria is widely recognised for her ability to drive transformation from within. She has built and scaled consumer brands by leading strategy, innovation, and growth agendas across markets, earning a reputation as a disruptor who challenges norms, unlocks new revenue streams, and embeds customer-first thinking at scale.  

Most recently, Lauria served as Chief Marketing Officer of OoMee and previously as Head of Brand Marketing at Gopuff, where she oversaw global brand strategy, advertising, media, social, and innovation. Her earlier leadership roles at S’well, Hint, and Chobani further cemented her expertise in brand-building. She began her career in advertising at BBDO, Berlin Cameron, and Anomaly, creating award-winning work for iconic brands including Coca-Cola, Sephora, and Procter & Gamble.  

Stevie Douglas-Neal, CEO of UM Australia, said Lauria’s appointment reflected a deliberate choice to bring fresh perspective into the agency. “Rather than following the traditional path, we prioritised finding a leader who not only deeply understands the real impact agency output has on marketers but brings a fresh perspective to UM. With extensive client-side experience and international kudos, Jess brings first-hand insight into the pressures marketers are navigating in 2026, and the role UM can play as true business partners.”  

Lauria expressed her excitement about joining UM Sydney: “UM’s ambition is to be the most impactful agency in its client’s ecosystems. That starts with deeply understanding our client’s business needs, pressures and routes to growth. I’ve always believed media is one of the most powerful levers a business has, not just for reach, but for brand-building, culture-shaping and creating impact at scale. Right now, we’re in one of the most dynamic moments the industry has ever seen. I’m excited to join UM Sydney to help shape the strategy and bring my experience to the table to ensure creativity and media are truly connected to drive meaningful growth for our clients.”  

Douglas-Neal added that Lauria’s appointment represents a broader investment in strengthening leadership across the agency and enriching the client experience. “Jess’s appointment is a huge part in UM’s commitment to invest in our brand, and she will not only build momentum in UM Sydney to support our existing clients and team, but she will also help us transform and grow at pace. Our team deserve it, our clients deserve it, and we’re excited for the future.”