Los Angeles independent agency Zambezi has hired Alexandra Gardner as director of business development.
Zambezi CEO Jean Freeman, who was promoted to that role last March, announced the appointment today.
“Alex is one of the most talented business development directors in advertising, but more importantly she’s a perfect culture fit for us,” Freeman said in a statement. “She will lead the charge as we continue to seek out opportunities across brand categories, and strategically enlarge the breadth of our offering.”
“I’m excited to embark on a new journey with Zambezi who I believe has enormous potential for new business growth,” Gardner added. “Everything I’ve learned in my career to date has truly prepared me for this next chapter and I couldn’t be more eager to get started.”
Gardner will be tasked with growing both Zambezi’s main agency and its female consumer insights engine, Zambezi X, which counts Nike Women among its client roster.
She arrives at the agency from 72andSunny Los Angeles, where has she served as business development director for since January of 2017 and helped bring in clients including Allstate, Coors Light, Uber, eBay, National Geographic and SyFy. Before joining 72andSunny as business development manager in August of 2015, Gardner spent three years at BBDO New York, serving as account executive and then manager, new business, helping to bring in clients such as Wells Fargo, CVS and American Family Insurance. Gardner began her career with mcgarrybowen New York, where she served as assistant account executive, new business.