Elite Media, an independent, Black-owned full-service creative agency based in Harlem, has brought on Gati Desai Curtis in the new role as president. Desai Curtis, a 20-year industry veteran, becomes the first agency president and will report to Christopher Crawford, agency founder and CEO.
“Elite Media is evolving. And we’ve been looking for our needle in the haystack. Someone who has big agency acumen yet still maintains a real connection to culture and a commitment to driving innovation with diverse audiences. Gati is that needle,” said Crawford in a statement.
Desai Curtis was most recently evp, head of product and services at BBDO, where she oversaw organic growth for the agency as well as worked with clients including American Red Cross, GE, Meta, Starbucks and others.
“As clients rethink and re-evaluate their agency relationships and rosters, it’s the agencies that understand who they are and who they serve that will be best poised for growth,” said Desai Curtis. “I am so excited to join Elite Media and help capitalize on the amazing opportunity that is within these walls.”
Desai Curtis went on to say that Crawford has built a company that knows what it wants to be and is always clear on who it serves. The next step for Elite will be taking the work, the growth and the business to the next level for the future.
Elite Media was launched in 2013 as a Black-owned content collective with expertise in understanding and leveraging the influence of celebrity and cultural movements to create partnerships between brands, talent and content creators. Its team is coming off its best year, with work for American Family Insurance being recognized with awards for both its purpose and product work geared toward the U.S.’ major growth targets. Over the past year, Elite Media has won multiple awards at The Telly Awards, American Advertising Awards, ANA Multicultural Excellence Awards and Anthem Awards. The agency’s client and partner roster also includes NASA, Time, the Department of Health and Human Services and Sony Pictures.