SocialChain has appointed Tom Fenwick-Smith as executive creative director, strengthening the agency’s creative leadership as it looks to build on its next phase of growth.
Fenwick-Smith joins from VodafoneThree, where he was senior conceptual creative and strategy social lead. Over the past five years, he has played a key role in growing Three Mobile’s social presence, helping make it one of the most engaged telcos on socials in the UK.
In his new role, Fenwick-Smith will lead the creative department across SocialChain and its sister agency Engage Digital Partners, reporting into SocialChain’s CEO, Jacinta Faul. His remit will focus on the agency’s creative ambition, developing talent and creating work that earns attention across culture, communities and platforms.
Fenwick-Smith said: “I’m joining SocialChain because I believe the future of creativity belongs to teams that understand people, culture and platforms equally well. My role is to help elevate the creative ambition of the agency, develop world-class talent and create work that earns attention rather than simply buying it.
“SocialChain has the platform, the talent and the ambition to do that, and I’m excited to help lead the next stage of growth.”
SocialChain CEO Faul added: “Tom is exactly the kind of creative leader we were looking for as Executive Creative Director. He’s built work that understands how people actually behave on social and combines creative excellence with tech know-how and strategic thinking.
“His work with Three showed how powerful social can be. As we continue to grow, Tom will play a major role in shaping the standard of the work, the ambition of the team and the next stage of SocialChain’s creative offer.”
Social Chain was famously founded in Manchester by now Dragon Steven Bartlett and Dominic McGregor in 2014. The agency merged with Germany’s Lumaland in 2019 to form Social Chain AG, with both high-profile founders stepping down soon after. It was then acquired by London-based Brave Bison in 2023 in what many saw as a cut-price £7.7m buy out and operates hubs in Manchester, London and New York.
