Assembly Welcomes Pele Cortizo-Burgess as First Global Chief Strategy Officer

Assembly, a global media agency, proudly announces the appointment of Pele Cortizo-Burgess as the agency's first global chief strategy officer. With an illustrious career that has spanned continents and iconic brands, Pele brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Assembly. Based in New York City, Pele will report to global CEO Rick Acampora and serve on the agency's global leadership team. Reporting to Pele, Tom Manning, formerly global head of consultancy, will now be moving into a global head of strategy role.

Pele joins Assembly from Initiative, where he started as chief strategy officer and later transitioned into a chief culture and inclusion officer role, allowing him to define and increase the agency's accountability efforts related to DE&I. Over the span of his career, Pele's previous roles have included stints at MEC, Saatchi & Saatchi, Chiat\Day, St Luke's, and as chief strategy officer at Grey NY, among others. Pele's strategic and cultural prowess has impacted brands across the spectrum - from Air New Zealand, Got Milk?, and PlayStation, to Citibank, Tiffany & Co., and Nike - not only resulting in award-winning campaigns but also cementing his reputation as a formidable force in the brand and creative strategy. An Adweek Media All-Star, Pele has also contributed to the industry as a guest lecturer, shaping minds at Parsons and Miami Ad School, and has held judging positions at international industry events like the Cannes Lions, Festival of Media Awards, and the EFFIES.

As global chief strategy officer, Pele will steer Assembly's strategic vision in the face of a rapidly evolving media landscape. His focus will be on fostering innovation and inclusivity in media strategies, aligning with the agency's commitment to evolving its strategic guidance and delivering truly connected brand performance. His appointment underscores Assembly's dedication to incorporating diverse perspectives into its work.

"Throughout his career, Pele has proven to be a leader across this industry, crafting innovative strategies and creative solutions with the latest tech innovation and brand performance deeply embedded," said Rick Acampora, global CEO of Assembly. "Our vision is to deliver true brand performance by creating connected omni experiences that make client's brand perform and Pele's skill set, dynamism, and history of delivering outcomes make him an invaluable asset to our agency, our people, and our future. I'm looking forward to partnering with Pele again and absolutely delighted to have him on board."

Pele adds, "How could I say no?! Assembly's proposition to 'Find the Change that Fuels Growth' resonated with me as someone who's passionate about creating positive, inclusive change in culture and in business. The opportunity to contribute to Assembly's already successful trajectory is a privilege for me, as is the enormous chance to work alongside Rick and the incredible team to sent new standards for our industry."

This appointment is effective immediately.