Digital agency Happy Medium appoints Kristen Sabin as COO

Business, Digital & Media, People

Full-service digital agency Happy Medium bolsters its C-suite with the promotion of business leader Kristen Sabin to Chief Operating Officer.

For seven years, Sabin has been integral to the agency’s success, helping to grow its services across marketing, branding and advertising. Formerly the Director of Client Experience, her transition to COO was a natural next step in the evolution of Happy Medium amid their clients’ growing need for more creative ways to tell their story – using everything from web design and social media strategy to media buying. In her new role, Sabin will take on a host of management duties, overseeing sales, services, processes and policies, human resources, and working closely with the CFO on budgets and financial planning.

“We’re entering a huge time in the company’s growth and I think focusing on developing strong processes and policies will take our agency teams so far. That’s really motivating to me,” explains Sabin. “I want to help the company continue to grow and scale in a predictable way.”

A longtime member of the agency, Sabin was initially drawn to Happy Medium’s mission of fostering curiosity, happiness, integrity, and (most importantly) teamwork. “The company was founded on principles that are really attractive to me,” says Sabin. “Even now, the most important thing that defines our work culture is that we’re a group of really smart, hard-working people. It’s inspiring and exciting to come into the office every day with teammates who truly want to do their best at everything they do. We all pour our hearts and souls into our projects, don’t have egos and genuinely care about one another.”

As COO, Sabin will strive to embody those values, building an environment that continues to have a positive impact on the agency’s brand work, including campaigns for long-term partner and retail giant, Mattress Firm, as well as the digital development of The Art of Education University, one of the world’s largest online graduate programs for emerging K-12 art teachers.

Beyond client work, her leadership style is also reflected in the company’s One-On-Fun event, a workshop which invites local business owners and entrepreneurs to receive free consultations on marketing and technology. Now, in managing operations, Sabin looks forward to bringing that same community feeling and commitment to service to their work with a wide range of brands and organizations.

Happy Medium Founder and CEO Katie Patterson reflected on the promotion, saying, “We work in a fast-paced industry, one that is constantly evolving. I founded Happy Medium eight years ago with the philosophy of executing distinctive work and making client relationships thrive. Kristen Sabin is one of the key members of my team who epitomizes what it means to go above and beyond for not only our clients but for our entire Happy Medium family. I am thrilled to have her serve alongside me as we continue to grow our agency for years to come.”