Assembly Appoints Jill Kelly as CEO North America

Jill Kelly to Succeed Valerie Davis as Assembly North America CEO

Davis had been with Assembly for 15 years

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Stagwell media agency Assembly has named Jill Kelly as its North America chief executive officer (CEO), effective Feb. 3.

She succeeds longtime CEO Valerie Davis, who is leaving the agency after 15 years to take a pause in her career. 

Kelly will be based in New York and report to Assembly’s global CEO Rick Acampora.

She joins from WPP agency EssenceMediacom, where she served as CEO since 2022. While there, she led the agency through the merger between Essence and Mediacom, setting the strategic vision and steering operations across North America. Her expertise spans brand strategy, digital transformation, and integrated marketing communications.

Kelly also held chief marketing officer (CMO) roles at agencies like GroupM and Digitas.

In her new role, she looks forward to “creating a culture and environment where people have the tools and the systems to thrive as builders of the organization,” she told ADWEEK.

Davis, who was ADWEEK’s 2024 Media Executive of the Year, told ADWEEK that she is proud of what she accomplished over the years, but that “a pause is necessary” at this moment in her career.

Davis became Assembly’s North America CEO in 2021, fresh off a merger with former sister agency, ForwardPMX, which she joined in 2008. She left for a quick stint at IPG Mediabrands as svp and U.S. head of accounts before rejoining ForwardPMX and then Assembly.

As CEO, Davis oversaw some of the agency’s largest account wins, like Carter’s, T. Rowe Price, Vera Bradley, and Brooks Running.

“This decision [to step down] was made with great care and intention, ensuring a seamless transition for our exceptional team and valued clients,” she said. “Assembly is poised to continue pushing boundaries, and I remain a champion of the agency and its mission.”

Davis said she looks forward to sharing her next role “when the time comes.”

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