Atlanta-based indie agency Chemistry has promoted Taylor Guglielmo to president and hired Milla Stolte as chief strategy officer, it shared exclusively with ADWEEK. Tim Smith, the agency’s current president, will move to partner and CMO.
Guglielmo, who has been with Chemistry since 2016, was previously the agency’s chief growth officer (CGO). Under her leadership, Chemistry secured clients such as Netflix, Five Guys, IHG, and the NBA.
She said that Chemistry is looking to expand the team but is not immediately planning to hire a new CGO.
As president, Guglielmo will oversee growth and client relationships while focusing on supporting the agency’s culture. “My job is to scale and protect our culture at the same time,” she told ADWEEK.
“This industry is going to change more in the next 10 years than it has in the past 50, and I need to set us up to succeed,” she continued.
Most recently EVP and head of strategy at Tombras, Stolte brings over 20 years of experience in brand, digital, and integrated strategy. She has worked at agencies including The Martin Agency, Arnold Worldwide, and DDB with global brands including FritoLay, Google, and Activision.
She replaces Taylor Grimes, who is now VP of global marketing communications and strategy at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
At Chemistry, Stolte will integrate strategy across the agency’s brand, communications, digital, cultural, and media activation work. In a statement, she noted Chemistry’s “healthy, collaborative culture” and “team that truly respects each other.”
“The agency is at such a great size and inflection point for growth, with so much diversity and expertise across disciplines,” she said. “It felt like the perfect environment to make a real impact.”
“I’ve never worked with such an empathetic leader in my professional career,” Guglielmo said of Stolte. “She brings a sense of calm and vision in this perfect package, and I cannot think of a better culture fit.”
PE Fuel
Chemistry’s leadership changes come shortly after the agency received private equity investment (PE) from Breakwater Management in May.
Chemistry, which has 170 employees, has grown organically since launching 18 years ago. Its divisions—production arm Test Tube, digital solutions arm REACT, and Hispianic marketing group Chemistry Cultura—have grown organically to meet specific client needs.
