Co-Founder and Chairman at Essence Global
Pioneering the data-driven programmatic media agency model through Essence Global and helping establish the agency trading desk as a standard industry structure for digital media buying.
Last updated Feb 27, 2026 by AI Enrichment
Andrew Shebbeare is best known as the co-founder of Essence Global, one of the most consequential digital-first media agencies to emerge from the programmatic advertising era. Founded in 2005, Essence distinguished itself by placing data science and algorithmic media buying at the core of its offering at a time when most agencies were still operating on traditional media planning models. Shebbeare's vision helped establish Essence as a blueprint for the modern programmatic agency, attracting Google as a founding client and building a reputation for rigorous, technology-led campaign management. Under Shebbeare's leadership, Essence grew from a London-based startup into a globally recognized agency with offices across multiple continents. The agency's acquisition by GroupM, WPP's media investment arm, in 2015 was widely regarded as one of the defining deals in the programmatic advertising space, validating the agency trading desk and data-driven media model he championed. Post-acquisition, Shebbeare continued in a leadership capacity, helping to integrate Essence's capabilities into the broader GroupM ecosystem while maintaining the agency's distinct identity and culture. Shebbeare has been a consistent voice in industry conversations around transparency, programmatic accountability, and the evolving role of technology in media buying. His influence extends beyond Essence itself — he is credited with helping shape how the broader agency community thinks about trading desks, audience data, and performance measurement in digital advertising.
Essence Global (2005-2015)