Independent Sydney advertising agency The Works has appointed former Whybin\TBWA human resources manager Cassie Sacks to lead staff development.

Sacks (pictured) will manage the agency’s talent including career planning, training, performance measurement and retention as well as recruitment.

Damian Pincus, creative partner and founder at The Works said: “Cassie is a great addition to our growing team and will help ensure that we have the most ambitious people for what is already shaping up to be another big year at The Works.

“We’re only ever going to be as good as our people and while all agencies talk about their talent as being the most important thing, it’s surprising that only a small number actually have someone in place that’s tasked with harnessing their most important asset.

“We’re joining that select few who want their employees to excel professionally and deliver the very best for our clients.”

Sacks, who is a member of the Communication Council’s Gender Diversity Group and the Australian Human Resources Insititute, managed HR at Whybins from October 2010 to December last year, during which time the Omnicom-owned agency won significant new business and the title of Agency of the Year at the B&T Awards.

Sacks looked after both the Sydney and Melbourne operations in addition to subsidiary agencies including Tequila/DAN, Integer and Eleven PR, where she implemented a cost-saving recruitment strategy.

She also worked with universities to establish a graduate intern program as well as other HR initiatives.

Sacks said: “It is exciting times to be joining as the agency adds new business and is focused on the development of its talent to best meet the needs of its clients. They have an ambition to be the best place to work and I’m looking forward to helping them build that.”