Winnipeg-based creative shop Brandish has gone all-in with its director of brand.

Alexandra Martin, who joined the agency in 2017, has now been named a partner in the business, which began the year repositioning itself from a strategic consultancy to a full-service creative agency. Since joining the agency as a project manager, she has gradually worked her way through senior strategy and planning positions and now leads both the brand and strategy teams at the agency. As partner, she will also help shape the future of the agency.

“When Alexandra joined us back in December 2017, we were a tiny agency with an ambitious vision and a lot of hear. She’s been a huge part of keeping that alive for the last five years,” says Lee Waltham, managing partner and founder at Brandish. “Alexandra was instrumental in helping take Brandish to the next level, and I’m excited to see what she will accomplish in this next chapter.”

Martin has led national campaigns on behalf of the agency for brands including AutoCanada, Wawanesa Insurance, Robertson College and the International Confederation of Midwives, among others. The agency’s leadership sees her as “instrumental” to the agency’s growth and success.

“Not many young women can walk into an agency and be given the trust and encouragement to evolve both independently and on behalf of the company,” says Martin. “Five years in and Brandish still feels exciting. I could say it’s the work we do, but it’s not. It’s the people we’ve assembled. The opportunity to see what we can do together is keeping us all engaged. And that’s worth investing in.”