Enigma appoints experienced brand strategist Karl Bates as new executive strategy director

Enigma, one of Australia’s largest independent agencies, has today announced the appointment of Karl Bates as its new executive strategy director.

A highly experienced global brand strategist, Bates brings more than 15 years of management, agency, and client skills to Enigma, with global experience in automotive, FMCG, finance, telecommunications, technology, and government.

Bates joins Enigma from a three-year stint as executive planning director at creative agency Innocean. Prior to that, Bates held executive planning roles at BWM Dentsu, where he delivered award-winning campaigns for Toyota, BOQ, Babylove, and the Garvan Institute, and the McCann Worldgroup, creating work for clients including Coca Cola, MasterCard, Uncle Tobys, L’Oreal and Nimble.

He also founded German agency D-Office, working with clients like Swatch, adidas and Levi Strauss Europe, and has also worked in planning roles for several UK and German-based agencies.

In his new role, Bates will be responsible for leading strategy across the Enigmas’ entire portfolio of clients.

Enigma founder and director, Lisa Sutton Gardner, said Bates’ creativity, focus, and results-driven approach would be an invaluable asset to the agency: “Karl’s passion is rolling his sleeves up for clients and creating from scratch. He’s a highly experienced strategist and is well-respected across the industry. He’s worked on some incredible, award-winning campaigns and gone above and beyond for his clients and on top of that he’s a delightful person. I’m absolutely thrilled he is joining the Enigma team.”

Says Bates: “I’m excited to join Lisa and the Enigma team and work in a fully integrated agency with creative, media and brand under one roof. Enigma’s reputation for delivering highly awarded, effective advertising was a key attraction, along with its commitment to offering world-class design. My passion is creating dynamic campaigns to deliver real-world results, so this new role is a great fit.”

Bates’ appointment is effective immediately.