Assembly has hired Pele Cortizo-Burgess as its first global chief strategy officer, the media agency shared exclusively with Campaign US. The hire is effective immediately.
He will report to Assembly’s global CEO, Rick Acampora, and serve on the global leadership team. Tom Manning, Assembly’s global head of consultancy, will shift into a global head of strategy role, reporting to Cortizo-Burgess.
“Pele and I have worked together in the past and I have admired his vision, leadership, approach to innovative strategies and especially his creative approach to problem-solving,” said Acampora.
Cortizo-Burgess joins from Initiative, where he started as chief strategy officer in 2018 and later served as its chief culture and inclusion officer, defining the agency’s inclusivity efforts and holding it accountable to them. Prior to Initiative, he was Grey’s chief strategy officer.
He has worked with brands including Citibank, Got Milk?, Nike, PlayStation and Tiffany & Co.
Assembly created the new global chief strategy officer position to scale its organizational design as it “continues to grow exponentially around the globe,” according to Acampora. Assembly merged with ForwardPMX in 2021, scaling the agency to 1500 people across 30 offices.
He noted that Assembly’s structure provides clients with a leadership team rather than a single client lead, building “the right expertise around a client’s business to deliver on that proposition at speed.” This has been implemented regionally and locally but not on a global scale, he said.
Cortizo-Burgess is tasked with steering Assembly’s strategic vision while fostering innovation and inclusivity in its media strategies. He will also lead and continue to grow Assembly’s global insights and connection (I&C) practice while bolstering strategy capabilities across the business.
“I am perhaps most excited for his ability to democratize, recognise and reward strategic thinkers wherever they sit — and in doing so, strengthen our entire agency when it comes to strategies that help our clients find the changes that will fuel their growth,” Acampora said.
Cortizo-Burgess’ background in elevating DE&I and cultivating inclusive agency cultures was a key factor in selecting him for the role, said Acampora, who pointed out that he “has the know-how to drive inclusive, ethical media strategies and build connected experiences that drive brand performance.”
In 2023, under Cortizo-Burgess’ leadership, Initiative grew its diverse staff when many other agencies saw a decline, according to Campaign US’ Agency Performance Review; its DE&I commitments earned Initiative a Most Inclusive Workplace distinction.
“I’m excited to help make a positive difference in Assembly’s growth, globally,” said Cortizo-Burgess. “That means putting into practice and evolving some of the fantastic lessons I’ve learned — not just through creative and strategic lenses, but also in contributing to an environment that strives for equity, diversity and inclusion.”
This article first appeared on Campaign US
