Elite Media has hired Gati Desai Curtis as president, a new role at the independent, Black-owned full service creative agency. A 20-year industry veteran, Desai Curtis will report to Christopher Crawford, founder and CEO of the Harlem-based shop.
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 on clients such as American Red Cross, GE, Meta, Starbucks and more. While at the agency, Desai Curtis excelled in orchestrating the convergence of people, business strategies, data analytics, consumer insights, creativity, and craftsmanship, leading to recognition for her clients via Cannes Lions, Pencils, One Show, ADDY, D&AD, Effies and more.
“Elite Media is evolving,” said Crawford. “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. We’re excited about how the melding of our approaches will play out as we evolve both the agency and our industry.”
Desai Curtis stated, “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. I am so excited to join Elite Media and help capitalize on the amazing opportunity that is within these walls. Chris has built a company that absolutely knows who it wants to be and is always clear on who it serves. So, now it’s just about taking the work, the growth, and the business to the next level for the next decade and beyond.”
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 win-win partnerships between brands, talent and content creators. It is coming off its best year ever, with work on behalf of its American Family Insurance client having been recognized with awards for both its purpose and product work geared toward the U.S.’ major growth targets (millennials and multicultural consumers). Over the past year alone, Elite Media has secured multiple awards from competitions such as The Telly Awards, American Advertising Awards, ANA Multicultural Excellence Awards and Anthem Awards. The agency’s client and partner roster includes NASA, TIME, the Department of Health and Human Services, and Sony Pictures.
