Clever Creative Hires Dania Aguayo and Emily Palmer

Creative agency Clever Creative has hired Dania Aguayo as head of strategy and Emily Palmer as group account director. Clever has been redefining the art of brand innovation, strategy, and transformation for nearly 20 years. Women owned and led from day one - Clever has always stood at the forefront of creative excellence, setting new standards in the industry.

Dania is a versatile brand strategist driven by curiosity and a passion for uncovering cultural connections that drive consumer behavior. She has rich experience in international, Hispanic, and general-market agencies and orchestrates collaboration across disciplines for actionable insights. Her passion lies in fostering inclusivity and multidisciplinary thinking. Working with brands such as Kaiser Permanente, T-Mobile, Toyota, and Nestlé, she has significantly impacted brand narratives and experiences.

At Clever, she leads brand-strategy development, guides creative briefs to drive the creative process, and introduces innovative concepts to keep brands at the forefront of their industries. She collaborates closely with the group account director to develop data-driven strategies that drive disruption in the marketplace, as well. She plays a key role in new business development and pitches and refines processes and tools to meet evolving client needs and support agency growth. Her client focus is VCA Animal Hospitals and Metrolink.

“Dania will apply visionary leadership and foster innovation to ensure that our strategies are insight-driven and differentiate our brand in a competitive market,” said Clever founder and CCO, Shannon Gabor, who believes this is the perfect time to hire a head of strategy. “By aligning our teams and strengthening client relationships, we’re setting the stage for sustainable, long-term success.”

Emily is a seasoned group account director with a passion for steering clients toward success using strategic insights and innovative approaches. Boasting more than 20 years of experience, she specialises in client management and is dedicated to maintaining excellence across all project facets. Her leadership style is not limited to just overseeing her teams - she is passionate about inspiring them to consistently produce top-notch work that exceeds expectations.

Her extensive portfolio includes successful collaborations with high-profile brands such as Red Bull, Aetna, and Virgin Galactic, where she crafted transformative strategies across various industries.

At Clever, Emily is proposing new ideas to support the growth and vision of the agency and collaborating closely with the head of strategy to develop client strategic solutions. She plays a key role in client partnerships and growth and provides vision, leadership, and management to drive growth and profitability in client account management and agency operations. She also refines processes and tools to meet evolving client needs and supports the agency’s growth. Palmer’s client focus is on VCA Animal Hospitals, Metrolink, and FHI Heat.

“Introducing fresh strategic insights and innovative approaches will be key as we celebrate our 20th anniversary,” added Shannon. “Bringing a group account director on board is essential for powering our agency’s growth and deepening client relationships during this milestone year.”