LePub announces the appointment of Sol Ghafoor as new Chief Strategy Officer in Amsterdam and Francesca Zedde as Head of Strategy in Milan

The appointments further bolster the integration of data and cultural insights into powerful and effective creative solutions for clients

Amsterdam, 24th August 2023 – Grounded in the belief that culture influences consumer behavior and purchase decisions, LePub has announced two new appointments in its strategic capabilities confirming its commitment towards growth and scalability creating innovative brand experiences that resonate in people’s lives through building brands in culture.

Sol Ghafoor has been appointed as Chief Strategy Officer. Reporting to LePub’s Global CSO and Global CEO, he will be responsible for leading strategy at LePub Amsterdam, the centre of strategic excellence at LePub Network. Here is where the Global Strategy Unit (GSU) is pioneering Data & Culture, Comms, Social Media and Innovation Strategy. Sol will ensure that the strategic thinking of the GSU is best in class and joined up to deliver the highest standard in our industry to lead excellent creative innovation.

With a solid background of more than 15 years developing innovative brand solutions for clients such as Heineken, Arsenal and Nike, Sol is a leader in creating effective and inspiring integrated strategies. With a skillset spanning, brand, comms, data and CX, Sol has joined LePub Amsterdam team leading brand, comms and data strategists who are central to the agency’s offering. Before this, he was Director of Strategic Services at AnalogFolk, where he transformed the strategic services department to deliver integrated brand, data and CX strategies for clients winning numerous awards and driving impact and growth against commercial targets. Prior to AnalogFolk, Sol was Head of Strategy at Publicis•Poke, where he transformed Heineken’s communications approach from TV-led to mobile-first and won multiple accolades for his work in the process.
Francesca Zedde has been appointed Head of Strategy. Reporting to the Global CSO and Global CEO, she will be responsible for leading strategy at LePub Milan, shaping clients’ strategical directions, planning, and identifying growth opportunities. Francesca will sense, guide, and interpret market shifts designing and running the overall strategic process, tackling high impact and key initiatives.

Francesca brings with her a global wealth of more than 12 years of experience, including 4 years at London-based agency Droga5, and achievements in strategic leadership. Prior to joining LePub, she held positions in the field of advertising, luxury, banking, FMCG, publications and automotive working with global clients such as Chanel, HSBC, VISA, Maserati, the Economist and Amazon. Her experience spans from brand building to creative strategy, with a focus on how to make brands relevant in culture. Francesca’s ability to navigate complex challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities is expected to be a driving force in guiding LePub’s strategic decisions in Milan.

Both profiles will cross-set the bar for how rigorous, agile, and sound LePub’s strategic product is in delivering strategic thinking that answers the business problems of our clients. A strategic lead for new and existing business opportunities, leading new business engagements with full autonomy and responsible for managing and advancing portfolios of brands clients. With the rapidly evolving landscape of the creative industry, Sol and Francesca will play a pivotal role in ensuring that LePub remains at the forefront of innovation and adaptability.

Commenting on this appointment, LePub Global CEO Bruno Bertelli said “I know that with their considerable skills and global expertise, Sol and Francesca will help us further unlock the power of LePub in providing unrivalled strategic experience to client solutions. In the key positions of Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Strategy, their in-depth knowledge and vision combined with their strong experience in strategic thinking and execution will be important assets to propel us forward as we continue to innovate and provide unparalleled solutions for our clients and partners.”

Bela Ziemann, Global CSO LePub added “It’s tough to find great talent in our industry. So, I’m really chuffed about Francesca and Sol joining us. They’re both brilliant planners and the perfect addition to help me leading our growing strategy team across culture, data, and innovation. It’ll be fun doing our best work for our biggest clients with them.”