Code and Theory Names Craig Elimeliah Chief Creative Officer

Craig Elimeliah has been appointed chief creative officer at Code and Theory. Craig is a highly decorated creative leader with a proven track record of success guiding multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex challenges through technology, creativity and innovation.

Craig joins Code and Theory at a time of unprecedented momentum. Code and Theory was recently named Ad Age Business Transformation Agency of the Year, Fast Company Design Agency of the Year and a Campaign Digital Innovation Agency of the Year honoree. The agency continues to build on this momentum with new hires, including Raj Bhatia, who joined as global chief technology officer from Deloitte Digital last month. It has also been actively promoting from within, naming Kristen Cromer its new head of strategic accounts.

Now Craig joins as chief creative officer of a staff of 50% engineers and 50% creatives. Craig's experience is uniquely suited to Code and Theory, a technology-led creative agency. 

Throughout his career, Craig has championed the transformative power of creativity to drive business results. Most recently, Craig was chief creative officer at Lippe Taylor, where he also helmed the start-up agency /prompt. /prompt is an earned-first creative agency that embraces the essence of the moment, captures the imagination and improves the human experience. Before /prompt and Lippe Taylor, he spent nearly eight years at VML as chief experience design officer.

His impressive client roster spans most industries and includes T-Mobile, Amazon, Google, New Balance, BP, Motorola, Pfizer, Humana, Time Warner Cable, J&J, NBCUniversal, Clorox, Mattel, Nestle, Novartis, Microsoft, Intel, Fila, AXE, Perdue, HP, Samsung, John Varvatos and MINI.

A sought-after speaker and thought leader, Craig has been recognised at prestigious award shows such as Cannes, D&AD, ADC, LIA, Clios, The One Show, and The Webby Awards, further cementing his reputation as an authority in his field.

In his free time, he indulges his passions for art, design, technology and food and finds joy in cooking, running, travelling and learning.

Craig said, “In an era where the industry is witnessing unprecedented change, the fusion of creativity and technology has never been more tightly bound. I am thrilled to be at a place that epitomises this integration, aligning with the ethos I've championed throughout my career. Code and Theory's commitment to marrying technology with creativity is not only forward-thinking but also reflective of the transformative power these elements hold. I'm inspired to lead a team that embraces this synergy to redefine categories, embed culture and drive impactful solutions for our clients.”

Code and Theory co-founder Dan Gardner said, "In a world where creativity can sometimes feel commoditized, he stands out as a remarkable exception. He identifies unique opportunities by skillfully navigating the balance between anticipating future trends and implementing practical solutions for the present. Craig is a thought leader and a tech-enabled creative pioneer. He is unparalleled in leading our balanced team of 50% engineers and 50% creatives. His leadership is key to delivering impactful solutions that promise long-term growth for our clients while being a partner in our own transformational growth moment."

Code and Theory CEO Michael Treff said, "Craig brings an unrivalled passion for culture, technology, science, and data, and how they merge with creativity, craftsmanship and storytelling. He seamlessly blends new and unconventional approaches to connect brands with customers, resulting in captivating experiences that redefine categories, embed culture and disrupt the status quo for clients."