Stagwell’s Assembly has named Jill Kelly its North America CEO, succeeding Valerie Davis, who left to pursue new opportunities, according to a statement from the agency.

Kelly will report to Assembly Global CEO Rick Acampora and join the agency effective Feb. 3. Davis did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. Assembly called her tenure successful.

Kelly was previously CEO for North America of GroupM’s EssenceMediacom, which she left last year after overseeing the merger of the WPP unit’s Essence and MediaCom agencies. Before that, she was chief marketing officer at GroupM North America and global chief communications officer of Publicis Groupe’s Digitas.

Kelly said that her focus will include continuing to elevate Assembly’s tech capabilities.

“We don’t consider ourselves a media organization that dabbles in a little bit of data, has access to a bit of tech, homegrown, bought or otherwise,” Kelly said in an interview. “It’s truly through the DNA and history of the organization, a tech organization that enables really great media ideas. So how do we continue to build on that legacy?”

The answer includes drawing upon technical resources elsewhere throughout Stagwell, she said.

“Clients in this current climate are certainly under pressure, but I also see them looking for partners that are different shapes, that can move really quickly, create durable media campaigns that actually move the needle,” she said. “I find that very exciting.”

In a statement, Acampora said Kelly’s track record makes her the perfect fit to elevate the agency’s North American operations. “Jill’s strategic vision and dynamic leadership will be instrumental in expanding our market presence, delivering unparalleled results for our clients and attracting the best talent in the industry,” he said.