DEPT® names Mickey Kalifa as Chief Financial Officer

Global digital agency DEPT® today announced Mickey Kalifa will join as Chief Financial Officer. Kalifa – currently CFO of M&C Saatchi Plc – will join DEPT® in May of this year, reporting directly to CEO Dimi Albers and will be based in London. Kalifa will be responsible for supporting the agency’s continued growth and global expansion across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific.

Headquartered in Amsterdam, and backed by investment firm The Carlyle Group, DEPT® is one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the world, represented in 25 countries with over 2,500 people across five continents. With a purely digital DNA, DEPT® brings together tech and marketing in integrated teams for clients like Google, Patagonia, TikTok, KFC, ASOS and Philips. 
 
“We are both a technology and a marketing services company, so it’s important our global leadership team reflects that mix of capabilities,” said Dimi Albers, Global CEO, DEPT®. “Mickey is one of the most experienced financial leaders in the field and has worked across media, tech and creative businesses. He is a team player that builds strong relationships within the companies he works for, as well as with investors. We are thrilled to welcome him to the DEPT® team.”

Prior to serving as CFO at M&C Saatchi for the last three years, Kalifa held leadership roles at Sportech, OpenTV, Liberty Global and Sky. Throughout his career he has worked with numerous financial and consulting institutions and investment banks providing consultancy and guidance on investment matters as they relate to technology, media and telecommunications. Kalifa also founded several online and telco businesses, raising initial capital and managing successful exits/sales. 
 
“DEPT® is on its way to becoming one of the leading digital services companies in the world,” said Mickey Kalifa. “I’m excited to join at a time of fast growth, but more importantly, to join an agency that is devoted to maintaining its strong culture and putting clients first. I look forward to helping further build out DEPT®’s global scale while continuing to produce first-of-its-kind, pioneering work to help solve clients’ challenges.”
 
Kalifa replaces Celestine Fransen, who will step down from the position of CFO of DEPT®. Fransen, who has been with DEPT® since early 2020, will leave the agency at the end of April; both Fransen and Kalifa will work together in the months ahead to ensure a smooth transition.