LONDON--W has appointed Adam Leigh, the former deputy editor of The Independent, as the agency's first strategy director.

Leigh held a number of senior news and features positions in 16 years at The Independent, including news editor, executive editor and deputy editor. Earlier in his career, he worked on the foreign desks of both The Guardian and The Observer.

Reporting directly to W's founder and managing director, Warren Johnson, Leigh will work across the firm's media, consumer, technology, and lifestyle portfolio, as well as supporting new business opportunities. In addition to maintaining strategic oversight of the agency's output, Leigh will also provide senior counsel to client businesses on a consultancy basis.

"As we continue to build W's reputation for creating best-in-class, award-winning campaigns, delivering unparalleled strategic and creative counsel is at the heart of what we do," said Johnson. "Adam's unique expertise complements the agency team perfectly, driving innovation, insight and planning that has a direct impact on our clients' businesses."