Edelman today promoted two of its execs into top U.S. leadership roles. Jordan Atlas, who previously served as chief creative officer of Edelman West, steps up to U.S. chief creative officer, and Melle Hock, former EVP-global strategy director, becomes U.S. chief strategy officer. The pair will form a new creative and strategic leadership unit aimed at driving growth for the agency’s clients. 

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During their combined tenure of more than two decades at the agency, Atlas and Hock built new teams and regional capabilities from the ground up and steered some of its most notable campaigns and brand efforts. Atlas was the company’s first Southern California-based creative and worked on ideas such as the Taco Bell Hotel and the more recent “Pay With Change” campaign for Sports Illustrated that required every advertiser within its Swimsuit Issue to promote gender equity, not product. 

See: Ad Age's tour through the Taco Bell Hotel

“Jordan is an amazing leader whose body of work demonstrates his leadership and belief in ideas that earn their way into culture, and impact society,” said Global Chief Creative Officer Judy John in a statement. “He is the complete package of creativity, optimism, ambition and humanity that inspires everyone around him.”

Hock has built Edelman’s strategy team across its Unilever business and drove ideas such as Dove’s backing of the Oscar-winning short film “Hair Love,” as well as campaigns tackling toxic social media culture around girls, “Naked Truth” and “Selfie Talk.” She’s also worked on other major accounts including, Samsung, eBay, Microsoft, EPC and Church & Dwight. 

Read: Oscar-winning film backed by Dove inspired product line

“Melle brings the best and complete power of Edelman to everyone and everything she encounters,” added Brent Nelsen, global chief innovation and strategy officer. “Her incredibly inspiring enthusiasm and ability to architect compelling, effective, and creative solutions to any problem at hand is endless.”

In their new roles, Atlas will report to John while Hock will report to Nelsen. 

The two step up on the heels of a growth surge at the agency. Last year, Edelman saw a 51% increase in creative revenue across the globe and a 15.4% jump in overall revenue. The pair's promotions follow two Edelman's appointment earlier this month of former Red Fuse exec Anita Valdes as its U.S. head of data and intelligence. 

“Jordan and Melle represent the best of the best at Edelman,” added Lisa Osborne Ross, Edelman’s U.S. CEO. “They are inspiring, empathetic leaders whose signature work is marked by cultural resonance. With Jordan and Melle at the helm in the U.S, alongside Anita, our work will continue to drive attention, action and impact.”