R/GA promotes Melissa Jackson Parsey to global chief strategy officer

R/GA has promoted Melissa Jackson Parsey to the role of global chief strategy officer, marking a key leadership move as the company accelerates its transition into the intelligence age.

Jackson Parsey will lead R/GA’s global strategy team, with a remit to evolve the agency’s strategic offering, grow diverse talent and partner with clients across markets to address complex business challenges. She reports to global CEO Robin Forbes.

“Melissa is the kind of leader who sees around corners,” Forbes said. “She understands not just where the industry is going, but what clients need right now.”

Her promotion follows a period of strong momentum for R/GA, which became independent in March after a buyout by Truelink Capital. Since then, the agency has picked up LinkedIn as a client, launched a proprietary AI Search Optimisation Platform and created new AI-enabled work for AB InBev, Google and Moncler.

“In a time when our clients are navigating transformation, complexity, and growing pressure to deliver returns on innovation - strategy must lead,” Jackson Parsey said. “I’m incredibly energised to take on this role at such a critical and exciting moment for R/GA.”

Previously SVP managing director of brand design and consulting at R/GA, Jackson Parsey helped drive the practice’s most awarded and commercially successful years. She has also served as global chief strategy officer at B-Reel and held strategy leadership roles at co:collective and across WPP agencies. Her past clients include Microsoft, Under Armour, Google, IBM, and the UN.