Spearheading the expansion is the promotion of Gemma Illidge to Head of Digital, alongside the addition of two industry experts to support the agency’s mission of delivering cutting-edge digital solutions.
Gemma Illidge, who joined Absolute in 2023 as Senior Digital Account Director, has quickly proven her proficiency in leading digital strategy and transformation. With over a decade of experience, she now steps into the Head of Digital role, where she will drive the agency’s digital operations, growth, and innovation for its diverse and expanding portfolio of clients.
“I’m thrilled to be stepping into this role at such an exciting time for Absolute Agency,” said Illidge. “With the momentum we've built this year, it's an incredible opportunity to push forward with digital innovation and deliver transformative results for our clients. I look forward to leading our talented digital team as we embark on some ground-breaking new projects—including the launch of the next version of Absolute Control.”
Joining Illidge’s expanding team are two seasoned professionals who bring a wealth of experience to Absolute’s digital offerings. Aaron Hargreaves, a UX specialist with a user-first approach, joins from top-tier brands like FOOTASYLUM and Netflights. His design expertise ensures that every digital experience crafted by Absolute is both intuitive and impactful.
Also reinforcing the team is Sam Austin, a front-end development expert who joins from SCAN Computers. Austin’s technical expertise will further enhance Absolute’s web development capabilities, ensuring seamless delivery from UX strategy through to full digital build.
Chris Hodgen, Managing Director of Absolute Agency, expressed his excitement about Illidge’s promotion and the agency’s continued growth. “Gemma has been an absolute game changer since joining the team. Her tech-savvy, resourceful, and hard-working approach has been instrumental in shaping our digital offering. 2024 has been a transformative year for us—investing heavily in developing the next iteration of Absolute Control, our proprietary CMS, has led to a 48% increase in digital turnover. With Gemma at the helm, we’re poised to deliver even more ground-breaking solutions for our clients.”
Absolute Control, the agency’s proprietary Content Management System, has been a cornerstone of its success since its initial development in 2012. The current version, v6.2, has already yielded outstanding results, with the eagerly anticipated v7.0 set for release in December 2024. This new version integrates AI-driven tools, streamlining content generation and website updates, as well as an updated data dashboard solidifying Absolute’s reputation for innovation in digital development.
This exciting phase of growth and innovation reaffirms Absolute Agency’s position as a leader in both the creative and digital product spaces
