Pele Cortizo-Burgess

Pele is MEC’s Global head of Integrated Planning. Pele is the driving force in elevating MEC’s strategic leadership on a global scale, working with our global client leaders to deliver thought leadership, creativity and growth for clients, specifically playing a lead role with our U.S.-based international clients such as Citi, Marriott and IKEA. With data and consumer insight fueling ideas and strategies, Pele is the glue that binds strategic planning with the dedicated specialisms at MEC to deliver even more effective communication solutions for our clients.
Prior to joining MEC, Pele worked with some of the world’s most awarded advertising agencies - Saatchi & Saatchi in New Zealand, St Luke’s in the UK, and creative shops Goodby, Silverstein & Partners and Chiat\Day in the U.S. Most recently, Pele served as Chief Strategy Officer at Grey North America where he oversaw strategic planning for clients such as P&G, Diageo, DIRECTV and Canon. Pele also led the development of Grey’s global integrated planning process, Shift.
Pele is also an active member of the industry sharing his strategic prowess as an educator at the Miami Ad School, a judge for numerous industry award shows, and sharing his perspective on the role of planning in communications with key industry publications. His work has been recognized and celebrated through the numerous receipts of Effies, Chiat\Day Planning awards and Cannes Lions - both for creativity and strategic thinking.