IPG Mediabrands-owned agency UM has announced the appointment of Jessica Paige Ross to the newly created position of director of people and wellbeing, a new position at UM.

Ross has spent the majority of her professional career in California, most recently consulting to technology businesses on designing long-lasting employee experiences at all stages of the employee journey.

She worked with daily-deal platform LivingSocial and has managed global people programs for online ticketing platform Eventbrite. Ross is also a former executive team leader in human resources for US retailer Target.

At UM, Ross will be focusing on people development programs for the agency, with a particular emphasis on initiatives that address people’s well-being at work.

UM Australia chief executive Fiona Johnston said: “Looking after people’s futures is not just the job they have, the role they play or a decent PDP.

“All those things are vital, but it is also about how they exist in the space that is ‘work’ – both the location they reside in and the initiatives they employ to stay happy, healthy and resilient

“We can’t do it all, but we can encourage people to put their wellbeing first and we can ensure that culturally there is always permission to do so.

“Over the coming months we will be working more and more in the space of wellbeing, under our value of ‘goodness’ and with a human belief that we are only as good as we feel, and we only feel as good as we allow ourselves to be.”

“Jess as our director of people and wellbeing is completely central to our future. It’s the same UM, just better for us all.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ross said: “My philosophy is that behind every business metric there is a person with a story and passion to become the best version of themselves. Behind every brand is a team of people working hard to bring their collective visions to life.

“I am thrilled to offer my expertise to UM as a dynamic, inclusive and creative business.”