Today Publicis announced the promotion of Melissa Nelson to the newly created role of president of its Seattle office. The news comes less than one year after the agency hired Nelson to serve as executive vice president and managing partner of the same operation while leading its marquee T-Mobile account.
In the new role, she will report directly to Publicis Worldwide North American CEO Andrew Bruce and act as senior business lead on all accounts run out of the Seattle office.
"Melissa's leadership on T-Mobile and her passion for their brand and business will be enriched in her new post," Bruce said in a statement. "Additionally, now her expertise and leadership will extend to all clients and the talented individuals who fuel our agency here in Seattle."
Before joining Publicis, Nelson spent approximately one year at New York's Droga5, where she was group account director on the global Motorola business. Droga5 resigned that account earlier this year, attributing its decision to "structural changes" that followed Lenovo's 2014 acquisition of Motorola Mobility and the parent company's subsequent announcement that it would be "phasing out" the brand name for its phone business. The account then went to Ogilvy & Mather, which had been working with Lenovo on a global scale for several years.
Earlier in her career, Nelson held top account management positions at 72andSunny and Goodby Silverstein & Partners, where she handled such complex, large-scale accounts as Target, Chevrolet and HP.
Regarding her new position, Nelson said, "Diving into and leading the T-Mobile business has been a phenomenal experience. It is an amazing brand, with a really strong POV. T-Mobile is a brand, and business, which is pivotal not only to the Seattle marketplace, but to our agency. I am proud to continue to partner with T-Mobile and additionally, to now lead, grow and expand Publicis in Seattle."