Russell Farnell

Russell Farnell is an accomplished finance professional with extensive experience in various leadership roles across multiple sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Finance at San Francisco Community Music Center since August 2024, Russell previously held significant positions including VP of Finance at Black Girls CODE and Director of Finance at Community Action Marin. Experience spans from The Linux Foundation, where Russell was the VP of Finance, HR, and Operations, to AKQA as Executive Director of Finance and Operations. Russell's early career included financial controlling roles at Antenna Audio, MediaEdge Communications, and Deepgroup Limited, as well as a financial controller position at J Walter Thompson. Russell's tenure at Arthur Andersen as an Audit Senior culminated in obtaining the qualification as a Chartered Accountant. Academic credentials include a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Oxford. Key achievements involve establishing finance operations across multiple continents and partnering with executive teams for local talent acquisition and compliance.